Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox on Wednesday joined with Republican governors from 26 other states to express solidarity with Jewish Americans and affirm support for Israel.
Cox signed on to a letter issued by the Republican Governors Association marking the first day of Jewish American Heritage Month, a month that has been recognized annually by U.S. presidents starting with President George W. Bush in 2006.
"We're honored to recognize May as Jewish American Heritage Month," Cox said in a social media post Wednesday. "Utah and the United States have a long history of supporting Israel, and we continue to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community as they face antisemitism at home and across the globe."
The politics of supporting Israel have increased in intensity at the state and national level since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks against Israel — in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed and 253 hostages taken — and the subsequent war in the Gaza Strip. Many American politicians have continued to express support for Israel, a close U.S. ally in the Middle East, but pro-Palestinian protests have spread on college campuses with many calling for a ceasefire in Gaza — where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza health officials.
Protests have sprung up on the University of Utah campus this week, and at least 20 people have been arrested. Protesters at the U. have called for the institution to divest from Israel — a request similar to those made by protestors at Columbia University in New York City and other campuses across the country.
On Monday, Cox issued a statement defending First Amendment rights to protest, saying the amendment "does not protect violence, threats to public safety, property damage, camping or disruptions to our learning institutions."
"We will protect protesters and arrest those who violate the law," he added.
"Our country has a long history of supporting Israel, and now more than ever, it's important we stand in solidarity with the Jewish community against horrific acts of antisemitism, religious bigotry, and terrorism both in our country and across the globe," the governors state in their letter.
They added that "Jewish people around the world face unspeakable persecution" and reaffirmed "unwavering support for the nation of Israel and her people."
Speaking to a Senate committee in October, FBI Director Christopher Wray said 60% of all religious-based hate crimes in the U.S. are perpetrated against Jews, and he expected that the Oct. 7 attacks could inspire violent extremists at home.
President Joe Biden, a Democrat, released a statement to honor Jewish American Heritage Month on Tuesday.
"As we celebrate the Jewish American community's contributions this month, we also honor their resilience in the face of a long and painful history of persecution," the president said. "Hamas' brutal terrorist attack on Oct. 7 against Israel marked the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, resurfacing, including here in the United States, painful scars from millennia of antisemitism and genocide of Jewish people. ... Our hearts are with all the victims, survivors, families, and friends whose loved ones were killed, wounded, displaced, or taken hostage — including women and girls whom Hamas has subjected to appalling acts of rape and sexual violence."
