Hoyer Statement Condemning Antisemitic Graffiti at the University of Maryland

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today condemning antisemitic graffiti at the University of Maryland campus:

“I am deeply disturbed whenever millennia-old antisemitic tropes, hate, and acts of violence surface in our society, but to see 'Holocaust 2.0' graffitied on the campus of my alma mater – the University of Maryland, College Park – during a Justice for Palestine rally was particularly sickening. Whether it's references to the Nazis' genocidal extermination campaign or chants of 'from the river to the sea,' these dangerous, abhorrent words call for the complete destruction of the Jewish State of Israel and the Jewish people. These sentiments have no place in America. Indeed, they have no place in the world. I echo the University's strong condemnation of this hate.

“My thoughts are with Jewish students at UMD and with Jews around the world as they show tremendous courage and resilience in the face of a disturbing spike in antisemitism. The Anti-Defamation League reported that in the weeks following Hamas' brutal attack on Israel, the rate of antisemitic incidents in America increased by 388 percent. We must do everything we can to combat the vile antisemitism that has plagued society around the world and across millennia.

“I will continue my work in Congress to promote the safety and inclusion of Jews – no matter where they live. Right now, that commitment means delivering unconditional aid to Israel as soon as possible and ensuring Hamas' swift and total defeat. We will never allow antisemitism to undermine our effort to achieve that outcome, which is essential to securing a safer, more peaceful future for both Israelis and Palestinians.”