Following is a statement by Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD, president of the American Psychological Association, in response to reports of rising antisemitism throughout the United States:
“The recent surge in acts of hatred and violence against the Jewish community is deplorable and must stop. On a daily basis, we are seeing reports of Jewish people being physically assaulted on public streets or subjected to antisemitic slurs, synagogues vandalized, and religious symbols desecrated.
“APA stands against antisemitism and hate in all forms. APA’s Resolution on Anti-Semitic and Anti-Jewish Prejudice calls on psychologists to act to eliminate all antisemitic discrimination. It commits APA to use its influence to promote fairness, respect and dignity for all people, regardless of religion or ethnicity, in all arenas in which psychologists work and practice, and in society at large.
“Hate crimes, including those derived from antisemitism, can have dangerous physical, psychological and societal consequences. Forty percent of U.S. Jewish people experienced antisemitism this past year and 63% experienced it in the past five years. Psychological research shows that hate crimes create fear, anxiety and insecurity among victims and others in the community, leaving them feeling vulnerable, angry and depressed. These acts make people feel unsafe in their homes, their communities and their places of worship. Research demonstrates that acts of discrimination affect the immune systems of victims and those who witness hateful acts, and the effects of hate crimes change attitudes and behaviors at a societal level for years. Psychological science even shows that these vile acts cause long-lasting damage for perpetrators by desensitizing them to violence.
“Prejudice and discrimination based on ethnicity and religion have caused untold human suffering throughout recorded history. The impact of this continued and insistent hate on an entire community has the potential to harm generations.
“There is much for us to do. We must bring together all that psychology has to offer to eradicate hate in all its forms.”
American Psychological Association
