New York, NY, February 1, 2024 ... Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and National Director of ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) today issued the following statement about the organization’s partnership with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in fighting antisemitism, extremism and hate in all forms.
“ADL has had the privilege of working closely with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas for over a decade in his capacity as a senior government official, protecting our nation from all kinds of threats, whether foreign or domestic. I have had the personal experience of knowing and working in government with Secretary Mayorkas in a wide range of his positions both at the Department of Justice and Homeland Security, as have a number of members of our staff. Throughout, Secretary Mayorkas has always shown high character and integrity, reverence for the U.S. Constitution, and a determination to protect all Americans, including vulnerable communities. As the son of a Holocaust survivor, he has been an indispensable voice for the Jewish community.
"As the American Jewish community has faced an unprecedented surge in antisemitic incidents, Secretary Mayorkas has worked tirelessly to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security meets the moment. He oversaw the expansion of Nonprofit Security Grant funding – ensuring that faith-based and other nonprofit institutions at risk of a terrorist or other violent extremist attack receive the vital resources needed to protect themselves.
"In his role as Secretary of Homeland Security, he has been a champion of countering antisemitism and extremism in America. Over the past three years, Secretary Mayorkas has made an indelible mark on America’s security preparedness. We laud his work shepherding the Administration’s first-of-its-kind National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism, his leadership in helping to implement the historic National Strategy for Countering Antisemitism, and his critical work to establish a domestic terrorism branch within the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis.
"On October 7, during a distressing moment for the Jewish community, Secretary Mayorkas immediately reached out to ADL and has been a consistent and steadfast partner for our communities since that fateful day. His remarks in the days after 10/7 to more than a thousand of our ADL volunteer leaders and Jewish communal partners provided critical reassurance that the Administration was committed to protecting the Jewish community at a time of unprecedented threats and vulnerability.”
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all.