WATCH: ‘Acts Of Anti-Semitism Must End,’ Says Pence
Mike Pence Image by Getty Images
Vice President Mike Pence addressed the Ministerial To Advance Religious Freedom on Thursday, where he defended religious freedom, expressing that “acts of violence and hatred and anti-Semitism must end.”
At the first-ever event, held at the State Department, Pence gave examples of the frequency in which Jews are attacked.
“Just 70 years after the Holocaust, attacks on Jews, even on aging Holocaust survivors, are growing at an alarming rate,” he said.
He cited how last year, hate crimes against Jews hit a record high in the United Kingdom. In France and Germany, Jewish religious leaders have warned their followers not to wear kippahs in public out of fear.
“These acts of violence and hatred and anti-Semitism must end,” he said.
Pence continued: “My own faith is of the greatest importance to me personally,” he said. “As an American, I’ve been blessed with the right to live out what I believe without fear of persecution or reprisal from my government. I want everyone else to enjoy this blessing too.”
Alyssa Fisher is a news writer at the Forward. Email her at [email protected], or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher
