Civil and Human Rights

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, a Chief Deputy Whip and member of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, issued the following statement after the family of slain human and environmental rights activist Berta Caceres reported being harassed and violently threatened:

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky released the following statement after White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer declared that Adolf Hitler had not used chemical weapons:

“On the first day of Passover, Sean Spicer used the White House Press Briefing Room as a stage from which to downplay Adolf Hitler’s crimes against humanity. Sean Spicer claimed today that Hitler “didn’t use gas against his own people”. Millions of European citizens, mostly Jews, including Germans, were killed in gas chambers during the Holocaust. I am absolutely outraged at this revisionist history.

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky issued the following statement in response to a bomb threat made on the Hyde Park JCC caused panic and evacuations:

“Fear and anxiety in the Jewish community continues to mount, and the hateful threat made to the Hyde Park JCC is the latest example of rising anti-Semitism in the United States. It is not an isolated incident, coming as part of a rise of instances of ‘telephone terrorism’ targeting Jewish spaces around the country.

Chicago- Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky issued the following statement in response to a violent act of anti-Semitic vandalism perpetrated on the Chicago Loop Synagogue this weekend:

“The attack on the Chicago Loop Synagogue is a hate crime. It comes as part of an uptick in violence not only against Jews, but against all religious and ethnic minorities in our country. Along with the rest of the Jewish community in Chicago, I am anguished and angered to see this happen so close to home. I hope and expect that the perpetrator of this vandalism will be promptly brought to justice.

“I have decided to join the growing group of my colleagues who will not attend the Inauguration in protest of a President who used bigotry, fear, and lies to win an election that was tainted by foreign interference and voter suppression — and who intends to betray the interests of the ordinary working people who put him in office.

On Saturday, I will join the Women’s March on Washington and the many busloads of constituents who will be there to fight for the progressive agenda. My constituents and I are fired up in opposition to the Trump Agenda and are determined to not allow the Republicans to destroy the hard fought progress we’ve made.”

Today, after joining 168 of her colleagues in a letter asking President-elect Donald Trump to take back his appointment of Steven Bannon as Chief White House Strategist:

"Following up on my statement from yesterday, I joined over 160 of my colleagues today in signing a letter to President-elect Donald Trump asking him to reverse his decision to appoint Stephen Bannon as White House Chief Strategist. Donald Trump cannot become a President for all Americans unless he repudiates the anti-Semitism and hatred that Bannon and his alt-right news outlet represent."

“Donald Trump has failed his first test as President-Elect. Only days after declaring that his presidency would strive to bring our country together, he has chosen to put one of the most important roles of his Administration in the hands of a man who could not possibly be more divisive.”

“Steve Bannon has a documented history of anti-Semitism and support for white nationalism. As Chairman of Breitbart News, he is responsible for the rise of the alt-right movement and has provided a forum for these racist, hate-filled views to develop and thrive. I am appalled that such a figure would even be considered for a position of this stature.”