President Joe Biden on Sunday marked the sixth anniversary of a gunmanB次元官网网址檚 deadly attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue and called out what he called an B次元官网网址渁ppalling surge of antisemitismB次元官网网址� amid the war in Gaza.
The 2018 attack claimed the lives of 11 worshippers from Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life congregations, which shared space in the synagogue in Squirrel Hill, the heart of PittsburghB次元官网网址檚 Jewish community. Two worshippers and five responding police officers were also injured in the attack, the deadliest act of antisemitism in U.S. history.
Biden said in a statement that the attack B次元官网网址渟hattered families, pierced the heart of the Jewish community, and struck the soul of our nation.B次元官网网址� But he said that in the years since, the Jewish community B次元官网网址渉as also shown the country how to courageously turn pain into purposeB次元官网网址� launching B次元官网网址渁 global initiative to counter hate and hate-fueled violence.B次元官网网址�
Biden noted that the remembrance of the Pittsburgh synagogue attack comes weeks after the anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack in Israel B次元官网网址渄uring which Hamas killed more than 1,200 people, took another 250 hostage and committed horrific acts of sexual assault.B次元官网网址�
He said the trauma and losses of Oct. 7 are made worse by B次元官网网址渢he appalling surge of antisemitism against Jews in America and around the world.B次元官网网址�
The attack sparked a war between Israel and the militant group Hamas and has resulted in widespread destruction and civilian deaths in Gaza.
Biden said his administration was implementing a national strategy to counter antisemitism, including securing $1.2 billion for security of nonprofits such as synagogues and Jewish community centers and day schools. He also cited the Justice DepartmentB次元官网网址檚 investigation and prosecution of antisemitic hate crimes and said his administration had B次元官网网址減ut colleges on notice that antisemitism is discriminationB次元官网网址� and barred under laws protecting civil rights.
Vice President Kamala Harris also cited a rise in antisemitism in a statement marking the anniversary of the Pittsburgh attack.
B次元官网网址淚 will always work to ensure the safety and security of Jewish people in the United States and around the world, and will always call out antisemitism whenever and wherever we see it,B次元官网网址� she said.
The Pittsburgh attacker was sentenced to death last year after being convicted on 63 counts, including hate crimes resulting in death.
In June, ground was broken for a new complex on the Pittsburgh site that is to include a cultural center, sanctuary, educational center and museum along with a memorial to the slain worshipers from three congregations.
