WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� President Joe Biden condemned the 鈥渇erocious surge of antisemitism in America and around the world鈥� during a Tuesday ceremony to remember victims of the Holocaust at a time when the Hamas attack on Israel and controversy over the have sparked of violence and hateful rhetoric .
鈥淲e鈥檙e at risk of people not knowing the truth," Biden said of the horrors of the Holocaust, when 6 million Jews were systematically killed by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. 鈥淭his hatred continues to lie deep in the hearts of too many people in the world.鈥�
Biden鈥檚 remarks at the Capitol played out as pro-Palestinian protests 鈥� some of which have involved antisemitic chants and threats toward Jewish students and supporters of Israel 鈥� rock college campuses across the country. It comes as the Democratic president has struggled to balance his support for Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack 鈥� the deadliest day for Jews worldwide since the Holocaust 鈥� with his efforts to protect civilian life in Gaza.
Biden said that on Oct. 7, Hamas "brought to life" that hatred with the killing of more than 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians.
鈥淣ot 75 years later, but just seven and a half months later, and people are already forgetting, they're already forgetting, that Hamas unleashed this terror that it was Hamas that brutalized Israelis, that it was Hamas that took and continues to hold hostages," Biden said. 鈥淚 have not forgotten, nor have you. And we will not forget."
Biden, whose relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has grown strained over his government's push to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, said American support for Israel is 鈥渋ron clad...even when we disagree.鈥�
Biden steered clear of the upcoming presidential election in his speech. But his address comes as former President Donald Trump has the incumbent for not doing more to combat antisemitism 鈥� while ignoring his own that invokes the language of Nazi Germany and plays on stereotypes of Jews in politics.
The Capitol event, hosted by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, also featured remarks from House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Holocaust survivors, local youth and elected officials took part in the remembrance ceremony, which included a recitation of the Jewish prayers for the dead.
The campus protests have posed a political challenge for Biden, whose coalition has historically relied on younger voters, many of whom are critical of his public support for Israel.
Biden said 鈥淭here鈥檚 no place on any campus in America鈥� or any place in America for antisemitism or threats of violence. He added, 鈥淲e鈥檙e not a lawless country 鈥� we are a civil society鈥�
In conjunction with Biden鈥檚 speech, his administration was announcing new steps to combat antisemitism on colleges campuses and beyond. The Department of Education鈥檚 Office of Civil Rights was sending every school district and college in the nation a letter outlining examples of antisemitism and other hate that could lead to federal civil rights investigations.
The Department of Homeland Security was moving to educate schools and community groups about resources and funding available to promote campus safety and address threats. And the State Department鈥檚 special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism was meeting with technology companies on how to combat the rise in hateful conflict online.
On Monday, Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris and the first Jewish spouse of a nationally elected American leader, met with Jewish college students at the White House about the administration's efforts to combat antisemitism. He heard students describe their own experiences with hatred, including threats of violence and hate speech, his office said.
Trump鈥檚 campaign on Monday released a video on Yom Hashoah, Israel鈥檚 Holocaust remembrance day, that aimed to contrast the 2024 presidential candidates鈥� responses on antisemitism.
The video shows images of Trump visiting Israel and speeches he has given pledging to stand with Jewish people and confront antisemitism, while showing footage of the protests on campuses and clips of Biden responding to protesters upset with his administration鈥檚 support for Israel in its war against Hamas.
One of the clips shows Biden saying, 鈥淭hey have a point,鈥� but does not include the next sentence in which Biden said, 鈥淲e need to get a lot more care into Gaza.鈥�
Biden campaign spokesman James Singer said in response that 鈥淧resident Biden stands against antisemitism and is committed to the safety of the Jewish community, and security of Israel 鈥� Donald Trump does not.鈥�
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Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price in New York and Seung Min Kim in Washington contributed to this report.
Zeke Miller, The Associated Press
