Jul. 25, 2023 By Carlotta Mohamed
With antisemitic incidents on the rise in New York and across the globe, Congresswoman Grace Meng brought the state Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, to Queens on July 24 to address the increased attacks on the Jewish community.
Lipstadt, who is based at the State Department in Washington, D.C., leads U.S. efforts to fight antisemitism across the globe. She has served in the role since May 2022, after she was nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the United States Senate. She is also a Queens native who was raised in Far Rockaway.
The fireside chat with Meng and Lipstadt took place at the Kupferberg Holocaust Center located on the campus of Queensborough Community College in Bayside.
Meng and Lipstadt during the event at Queensborough Community College’s Kupferberg Holocaust Center.(Courtesy of Meng’s office)
Meng and Lipstadt also visited CHAZAQ in Kew Gardens Hills, which provides a wide range of social services to residents of the Jewish community.
During the event with Meng, Lipstadt discussed how the Biden administration is working to protect the Jewish community from the rise in antisemitic hate crimes, including initiatives such as the White House’s new national strategy to combat antisemitism, which the congresswoman contributed to earlier this year. Lipstadt also spoke with local Jewish leaders in attendance at the event.
“Congresswoman Meng is an essential partner and exemplary leader in the fight against antisemitism,” Lipstadt said. “I deeply appreciate her steadfast support on the Hill and continuing to act on a local level to ensure the safety of Jewish communities.”
For Meng, it was an honor to host Lipstadt in her congressional district.
“Her position as Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism is more important than ever amid increased attacks on the Jewish community,” Meng said. “I thank her for addressing the concerns that our local Jewish leaders have about their safety and for listening to the challenges they face. Unfortunately, my constituents have not been spared from these hateful incidents. I will continue doing all I can to fight this despicable and disgusting surge in hate, and look forward to continuing to partner with Ambassador Lipstadt on this vital effort.“
In Congress, Meng serves as a co-chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism which works to ensure that Congress plays an integral role in condemning antisemitism, and spearheads initiatives that promote tolerance worldwide. She has also worked to address the increase in antisemitic incidents, and two weeks ago, helped secure a historic $2.5 million for the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, an increase of $1 million over the amount it received last year.