(TRENTON) – Legislation Assemblyman Gary Schaer and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto sponsored condemning the White House for issuing an International Holocaust Remembrance Day statement that failed to mention Jews or the anti-Semitism that led to the Nazi genocide was approved 46-2-11 Wednesday by the Assembly.
“It’s unconscionable that the leader of the United States of America – a nation that was founded on the principles of religious freedom, justice, tolerance and human rights – would purposely fail to remember and condemn one of the worst atrocities in recorded history perpetuated against a people who observed a particular religious belief,” said Schaer (D-Passaic/Bergen). “The Holocaust was about exterminating Jewish people. It’s scary that President Trump failed to acknowledge that basic fact, but New Jersey won’t stay silent. We condemn anti-Semitism in all its forms.”
“President Trump has done many inexplicable things in its first three weeks, but this one is very concerning,” said Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen). “The explanations given by Trump’s team for not mentioning Jews or anti-Semitism raise the awful specter of Holocaust denying. That is unacceptable, immoral and offensive at every level, and the People’s House showed that it does not stand for it. We have made our voices clear – we do not and never will stand for anti-Semitism.”
The resolution (AR-213) will be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to Trump, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, each member of Congress elected from this state and to prominent leaders of the Jewish community in New Jersey.
“We cannot look askance at anti-Semitism and coded anti-Semitic language,” Schaer said. “President Trump’s actions here were inexcusable and inexplicable. The excuses coming from the White House haven’t cleared anything up. In fact, they heightened the concern. The Holocaust was about Nazi genocide against the Jewish people. That is inescapable fact that must be acknowledged.”
