Amy on the Issues

We must stand together to combat the rise in antisemitism, hate and hate crimes, and harassment. The FBI’s 2022 Hate Crimes Statistics Report found an increase in hate crime incidents by 794 in 2022, based on race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, and gender or gender identity. The report also found that the top bias categories reported were anti-Black or African American for race-based bias, anti-Jewish for religion-based bias, and targeting gay men for LGBTQI+ targeted bias. 

Hate crimes and incidents have been on the rise here in Newton. Given the recent rise in hate crimes specifically targeting the Jewish community and building on the recommendations of the 2023 US National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, I support the following measures to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate:

Increase understanding and awareness of our different cultures and communities, and the history of hate against them

• Support the inclusion of cultural, ethnic, religious, and identity histories, and the history of hate against them. Massachusetts has already adopted mandatory genocide education, but more still needs to be done to bring awareness and appreciation of the contributions of our many diverse communities.

• Support the recognition and accommodation of major cultural holidays of all faith communities, including Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Orthodox Christian, and Sikh communities.

• Increase access to foods compliant with cultural and religious dietary needs in government funded programs.
  

Improve safety and security

• Make it easier to report hate incidents to the appropriate authorities.

• Share data on the rise in hate incidents in an easy to access public web portal.

• Increase support for victims. Ensure that victims have access to legal, medical, and social or mental health services.
  

Reverse the normalization of hate and discrimination

• Speak out against antisemitism and all forms of hate.

• Review anti-discrimination laws and identify all tools that can be used to address every form of discrimination and hate.
  

Build cross-community solidarity and collective action

• Continue to build relationships with other targeted groups.

• Work with the local human rights commission, youth groups, faith organizations, and local law enforcement and host town halls and meetings to discuss ways to combat hate.
  

My record as a public servant demonstrates that I always have, and always will stand against antisemitism and all forms of hate. I have a diverse coalition of supporters who hold a wide range of opinions on many issues, united by their trust and belief that I am the right choice to represent them in the Massachusetts State House.