RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin signed 100 bills, including SB7 and HB18 which safeguard Virginians from unlawful discrimination, hate crimes, and antisemitism on Tuesday, April 2. The Governor also vetoed four bills.
“From day one, we have made combating antisemitism and religious bigotry a top priority. As one of my first executive orders, I formed the Commission to Combat Antisemitism, which issued a recommendation that Virginia revise its laws to ensure Jewish Virginians are protected from hate crimes, along with Muslims, Sikhs, and other ethnic and religious groups,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.
“Today, after two years of hard work, I’m pleased to sign SB7 and HB18 which codify that recommendation, and 98 additional bills sent to me this session. As the first state to weave religious freedom into the fabric of our nation, Virginia is leading once again and sending a clear message that Virginians should not be the victim of a crime simply because of their religion, race, or ethnicity,” he said.
“Hate has no place in our communities. As the grandson of Holocaust survivors and a Jew whose children have confronted antisemitism in our schools, this bill is personal for me,” said Delegate Dan Helmer. “I’m grateful to the Governor for signing this bipartisan legislation to protect people of every ethnicity across the commonwealth.”
The Jewish Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater (JCRC) advocated for this legislation during the 2024 Virginia General Assembly session, following the Governor of Virginia’s Commission to Combat Antisemitism Task Force report recommendations.
To learn more about the JCRC, their advocacy work, or how to get involved, contact Julie Kievit at JKievit@ujft.org.