Screenshot Doug Emhoff, the Second Gentleman, said during American Jewish Committee (AJC) Los Angeles’ 76th Kaufman Family Annual Meeting that he “forcefully” stands against antisemitism.
Speaking virtually, Emhoff said that President Joe Biden decided to run for president after seeing the 2017 “Tiki torchers” chant “Jews will not replace us” in Charlottesville and touted how his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, “has been fighting these issues her whole career.”
“For me, it’s really important to know that they’re not just saying the words and signing the bills, but they feel very strongly about this the same way I do and the way our community does.”
Emhoff added that he has been “speaking out” and working behind the scenes to fight antisemitism “and I will continue to do that as strongly and forcefully as I can.” He also pointed to a call he was on with Jewish leaders “about a week or so ago” about the Biden administration’s efforts to combat antisemitism.
“It’s antisemitism, but it’s hate of all kinds that’s reared its head,” Emhoff said, “and it’s this hate and Asian hate, Islamophobia, homophobia, you name it. We’ve got to stand up as an administration, as a country to do what we can and snuff it out.”
The Second Gentleman also discussed his prior work with Bet Tzedek, a Jewish organization that provides free legal services to those in need. “I was so impacted as a young lawyer … going downtown to court and just seeing all those folks in need, and that just affected me.” He added that he “really represented a client and they needed you” and “30+ years later, you still remember those faces, you still remember those cases.” Emhoff has been traveling the country as Second Gentleman and hearing similar stories of those who cannot afford legal services or may not even know their legal rights.
“To be to listen to that and bring it back to the administration, is a great way to spend my time as Second Gentleman, and it really marries all the things I care about: justice and fighting for people, standing up to bullies, standing up to injustice, which is why I went to law school,” Emhoff said.
The full conversation can be seen in the video below at the 44-minute mark:
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