The directive mandates that a “chief coordinating officer” will oversee a “situation room,” one that will be focused on “enhancing our comprehensive efforts to protect houses of worship and religious affiliated institutions in the Commonwealth of Virginia” through collaboration with law enforcement.
The directive also calls for the expedition of grants to organizations “facing religious or ethnicity-based persecution.”
The directive in Virginia comes amid reports of rising levels of antisemitism throughout the United States. FBI Director Christopher Wray warned Congress this week that the threat of antisemitism “is reaching, in some way, sort of historic levels.”
The heightened threat of antisemitic bigotry in the U.S. comes amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, which began with the Hamas terrorist group’s invasion of Israel on Oct. 7 that killed over 1,300 people.
Last month Franciscan University of Steubenville announced the creation of an expedited transfer process for Jewish students in danger of antisemitic discrimination and violence on campuses across the United States. University President Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, said that the U.S. is “witnessing a very troubling spike in antisemitism and serious threats against Jewish students.”
In addition to coordination between law enforcement bodies, the measure directs the state secretary of public safety and homeland security to “collaborate with and offer resources and training on combating antisemitism and other religious and ethnic-based violence” to campus safety officials throughout the state.