In a watershed moment for state-level advocacy in the United States, former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has presented a comprehensive blueprint designed to confront the unprecedented surge of antisemitism across the country. Developed in collaboration with the Combat Antisemitism Movement, this legislative and law enforcement model aims to empower state and local authorities to protect Jewish communities effectively. By outlining practical measures such as adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism, establishing dedicated task forces, and implementing specialized training, the blueprint offers an actionable pathway for public officials. This initiative represents a critical defensive shield for the American Jewish community during a period marked by rising hostility and public anxiety.
The Development of the Virginia Model
The development of Virginia's anti-antisemitism strategy began under the leadership of Attorney General Jason Miyares and Governor Glenn Youngkin, who recognized a critical gap in local security architectures. Recognizing that federal resources are often stretched thin, they established the first-of-its-kind antisemitism working group within a state attorney general's office to coordinate response efforts. This state-level proactive approach was built upon the necessity of providing immediate, localized protection and clear definitions of antisemitic actions. By formalizing this administrative infrastructure, Virginia created a robust framework capable of being replicated across all fifty states.
In partnership with the Combat Antisemitism Movement, Miyares transitioned this local framework into a nationwide proposal during a special briefing in July 2026. The briefing highlighted that state governments possess unique police powers and educational oversight necessary to dismantle hate at its grassroots level. Sacha Roytman Dratwa, the chief executive officer of the organization, hosted the briefing to demonstrate that localized, state-level legislation is the most efficient method to defend Jewish citizens. Through this unified effort, the coalition established a standardized national model designed to assist governors and attorneys general across the United States.
Key Empirical Facts and Strategy Pillars
- A recent Combat Antisemitism Movement study revealed that 57 percent of Jewish Americans, representing approximately 205,000 children, directly experienced antisemitism in the past year.
- The same study documented that 58 percent of respondents felt significantly less safe than they did in the previous year, leading roughly 38 percent of Jewish Americans to actively hide their Jewish identity in public.
- The Virginia model focuses heavily on adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition, establishing law enforcement training, auditing foreign funding networks, and enacting state education curriculums.
An Analytical Approach to State-Level Defenses
The core strength of the Virginia blueprint lies in its structural codification of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism. As documented by the Combat Antisemitism Movement report, adopting this clear standard allows prosecutors and law enforcement officers to accurately identify and track hate crimes. Without a standardized definition, local authorities frequently fail to recognize sophisticated anti-Israel rhetoric as a modern manifestation of classic antisemitism. Codifying this definition ensures that there is no ambiguity when hostile actors attempt to mask systemic harassment under the guise of political discourse.
Furthermore, the blueprint emphasizes the necessity of auditing and restricting foreign funds that flow into domestic educational institutions. These financial networks frequently sponsor radical anti-Western and anti-Israel movements, creating hostile environments on public university campuses. By integrating financial transparency with police training, state authorities can address both the immediate physical security of Jewish institutions and the ideological roots of hatred. This multi-layered defense mechanisms ensure that states are not merely reacting to crises but proactively dismantling the networks that breed extremist rhetoric.
The Civilizational Significance of the Blueprint
At its core, combating antisemitism is not merely a localized security issue but an existential necessity for Western democratic societies. In his address to public officials, Attorney General Miyares warned that any civilization embracing or tolerating antisemitism invariably experiences societal decline and moral rot. This perspective is echoed in detailed legal analyses from the Jerusalem Post report, which stresses that defending the Jewish community is a litmus test for the preservation of individual liberty and the rule of law. When a democratic society fails to protect its minorities, the fundamental principles of religious freedom and civil rights are compromised for all citizens. Therefore, implementing this blueprint acts as a vital mechanism to preserve the integrity of American democratic institutions.
By mobilizing state leaders to take decisive legal action, the Combat Antisemitism Movement and state attorneys general are filling a critical leadership vacuum. As hostile state and non-state actors continue to weaponize digital algorithms and artificial intelligence to propagate hatred, local defenses must be robust and active. This blueprint establishes a clear moral precedent, reminding public servants that neutrality in the face of prejudice is a form of complicity. With this national model now available, elected officials across the United States have the tools and the moral obligation to shield their citizens from the ancient hatred of antisemitism.