! Opinion
# Politics
Nancy Leong // March 18, 2025
In the face of increasing instances of anti-Semitic violence, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called on President Trump to halt what he sees as a dangerous national trend. Schumer’s comments on the Senate floor echo calls from other Jewish leaders and lawmakers for action to address the growing threat.
In recent weeks, a shooting at a Jewish community center in Kansas left three people dead and three wounded. In a follow-up attack days later, a man opened fire outside a church, only to be killed by police before he could carry out an apparent plan to storm the building. Additionally, vandals defaced a Jewish cemetery in Missouri, causing thousands of dollars in damage.
During a speech on the Senate floor, Schumer decried the spike in anti-Semitic incidents and urged the president to take a more aggressive stance against the issue. While he acknowledged some efforts by the White House to combat anti-Semitism, Schumer called for greater vigilance and a more forceful response in the face of this growing threat.
In an effort to build momentum for legislative action against anti-Semitism, several lawmakers in attendance at the speech wore Jewish prayer shawls (tallit) as a show of solidarity. The move was reminiscent of a similar action taken by a group of Senators in 2017, following the Charlottesville protests in which white supremacists chanted “Jews will not replace us.”
Many of the Jewish leaders and lawmakers who called for action have described the current climate as the most openly anti-Semitic in decades. In response to Schumer’s plea for action, Trump promised to address the issue and work with lawmakers to find solutions. He also pledged to increase security measures at Jewish communities and other institutions that are vulnerable to attack.
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