The January 6th capitol insurrection — with Nazi symbolism alongside Confederate flags — was a stark reminder of how rising antisemitism is deeply connected to entrenched racism in America. We cannot continue pretending that "both sides" of the political spectrum are equally dangerous to Jews. We cannot continue to unjustly target Palestinians, college students, and human rights advocates who are fighting for justice alongside us instead of going after white nationalists who put our lives in danger.

It is a new era: time to fight antisemitism with integrity. President Biden has an urgent responsibility to replace Trump’s approach on antisemitism — which prioritized protecting the Israeli government from criticism rather than keeping our community safe. Biden’s new approach must take on racist extremists, not students.

Biden and Blinken can start by appointing a Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism — the most important appointment you’ve never heard of — with integrity.

What do we mean by integrity? We want the Biden administration to appoint a special envoy that meets the following four criteria:

1. Understands that the fight against antisemitism is part of the fight for multiracial democracy everywhere.

2. Committed to prioritizing the fight against racist extremists to keep all of our communities safe.

3. Will not conflate criticism of Israeli policies with antisemitism.

4. Has a proven track record of working with the community to get things done.

We want a special envoy who understands that the fight against antisemitism is part of the fight for multiracial democracy everywhere. The next special envoy needs to see the fight against antisemitism as connected to the fight against racism and Islamophobia. Separating the fight against antisemitism from all other forms of oppression puts Jews in more danger by separating us from our natural allies. They need to understand this fight as a global one, combating rising ethnonationalism in places like Hungary, Brazil, and the United States. By positioning the fight against antisemitism as a piece in the larger fight for multiracial democracy, the special envoy can guarantee Jewish security through collective safety.

We want a special envoy who is committed to prioritizing the fight against racist extremists to keep all of our communities safe. Whereas Trump’s envoy used his power to go after students for criticizing the Israeli government, the next special envoy must promote policies that experts and leading organizations have proposed, such as investigating white nationalist infiltration of law enforcement and using existing legal avenues to take on the racist extremists that pose the clearest threat in our country.

We want a special envoy who will not conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. For years, the American Jewish establishment has shielded the Israeli government from accountability by using false accusations of antisemitism against progressive people of color who criticize policies that undermine Palestinian rights. Silencing criticism of Israeli policy does not keep American Jews safe — it puts us in more danger by letting Republicans and their supporters use support for the Israeli government to distract from their violent racism. The next special envoy must understand that Palestinian rights are part of the fight for multiracial democracy.

Finally, we want someone who has a proven track record of working with the community to get things done. This position is what the nominee puts into it. We cannot let a campaign donor or anyone else as a favor. The special envoy must be committed to listening to all American Jews — not just those who claim to represent us. An envoy with integrity will use this position to do real work that will make our community safer.

We believe that the above four criteria are more than reasonable requests from the Biden administration. Can you send a letter to President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken asking them to appoint a special envoy with integrity?