Friends,

Seventy-five years ago today, Allied forces liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp, the site of unspeakable acts of brutality. It is estimated that at least 1 million people were murdered at Auschwitz, and more than 6 million women, children, and men were slaughtered during the Holocaust by the Nazi regime.

On a trip to Israel this summer with fellow Congresswomen, I had the opportunity to pay my respects at Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Center. I was incredibly moved by the stories of the victims at Auschwitz and the other concentration camps, as well as the center’s unwavering dedication to education of the Holocaust and its important lessons.

Anti-Semitism and hate are on the rise across America, and right here at home in New Jersey. The Anti-Defamation League estimates New Jersey saw the third highest rate of anti-Semetic incidents in the United States. That’s unacceptable.

Our country was built on the belief that freedom and opportunity make us stronger. We must do more to beat back the flames of anti-Semitism and stand together against hate.

I take my role seriously to stand up for our values of inclusion, acceptance, and diversity. I’m working in Congress to make sure that the history of the Holocaust is never forgotten, and I’m sponsoring legislation to provide grant funding for schools to teach students about the Holocaust. I’m also proud that Congress approved funding last year to protect our houses of worship so New Jerseyans can gather, worship, and learn in peace. I will continue to meet with our interfaith community and find ways to promote our values in the 11th District of New Jersey.

As the last living survivors of the Holocaust age, it’s up to all of us to keep the lessons of the Holocaust alive. As your Congresswoman, I will be one of these voices, and continue to fight against anti-Semitism and hatred in all its forms.

Respectfully,

Mikie Sherrill