Jason Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia, has emphasized the need for unequivocal condemnation of antisemitism and criticized Virginia Democrats for what he perceives as their equivocation on the issue. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
“Dehumanizing Jews and glorifying terrorists is wrong,” said Jason Stuart Redding Miyares, Virginia State Executive – Attorney General. “If you can’t stand up to antisemitism, you won’t stand up for anything else. Virginia Democrats need to be much more clear on this — and equivocation is a choice.”
Virginia has recently been embroiled in high-profile controversies related to antisemitism. One such case involves a lawsuit alleging that Nysmith School in Herndon expelled three Jewish students after they reported incidents of bullying involving antisemitic slurs and offensive depictions. According to The Washington Post, the Attorney General’s office is currently reviewing this case amid broader concerns about antisemitism in schools.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reports that antisemitic incidents in Virginia increased to 266 in 2024 from 223 in 2023. Additionally, data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) indicates a nationwide increase of 63% in religion-based hate crimes, with Jewish Americans comprising approximately 68–69% of victims.
A Gallup poll conducted in July 2024 found that 81% of Americans consider antisemitism a very or somewhat serious problem. Furthermore, a survey by NORC revealed that over half of respondents believe at least one antisemitic trope, with 20% accepting six or more.
Miyares has served as Virginia’s Attorney General since 2022 after representing the state’s 82nd House District. He is noted as the first Hispanic American elected statewide and has recently initiated a school program aimed at combating antisemitism.
