WASHINGTON (JTA) — President Joe Biden is set to deliver a speech next week in honor of Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day amidst growing concerns over campus anti-Israel protests and a rise in antisemitism.
Officials from the White House and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum have confirmed reports that Biden will be the keynote speaker on May 7 at the annual ceremony at the U.S. Capitol marking Yom HaShoah. Previous presidents from both major parties have also spoken at this event.
Biden will provide an update on the progress of his strategy to combat antisemitism, which was introduced a year ago. The strategy was aimed to be fully implemented within a year from its unveiling in May 2023.
The announcement of Biden’s speech comes amid recent incidents where police had to intervene to clear out pro-Palestinian encampments on various campuses across the country, resulting in arrests of protesters. Some Jewish students have reported facing intimidation and hate speech on these campuses.
During the same timeframe, violence erupted at the University of California, Los Angeles encampment when pro-Israel activists clashed with protesters.
Biden has publicly condemned the use of the term “intifada” by protesters and the illegal occupation of a building by Columbia University students. He also addressed the surge in antisemitism in his proclamation for Jewish American Heritage Month.
The U.S. Holocaust Museum issued a rare statement condemning the antisemitic expressions on college campuses, particularly highlighting chants at Columbia University.
Following the conflict between Hamas and Israel, Biden expedited certain aspects of the antisemitism combat strategy, particularly focusing on campus-related issues. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona initiated numerous civil rights investigations into allegations of campus antisemitism within the past seven months.
House Republicans are also capitalizing on the campus turmoil and antisemitism, viewing universities as progressive activism strongholds.
Abraham Foxman, former national director of the Anti-Defamation League and a Holocaust survivor, is also scheduled to speak at the ceremony next week at the Capitol.