Combatting Antisemitism
In May of 2024, Attorney General Brenna Bird created the antisemitism task force to combat the growing spread of antisemitism as witnessed by the October 7 attacks in Israel -- the largest attack on the Jewish community since the Holocaust.
The statewide task force was launched to bring together key partners to provide education, lead targeted trainings, and serve as a central, trusted resource for combating the rise in antisemitism. The 14-member task force is made up of local leaders in state government, law enforcement, and Iowa’s Jewish community. Members meet on an “as needed” basis and communicate about current events as well as stay in touch on a regular basis to develop ideas for the task force or other similar groups with whom they are associated.
Task force members:
Brenna Bird – Iowa Attorney General
Daniel Breitbarth – Assistant Attorney General, Legislative Affairs
Charles Schneider – counsel, Principle Financial, Former Iowa Senate President
Jarad Bernstein – Executive Director, Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines
David Adelman – Jewish Federation Foundation President, Cornerstone Government Affairs
Eric Wessan – Iowa Solicitor General
Allan Ross – Executive Director, Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities
Brian Cohen – Temple Judah President
Greg Berenstein – Beth Shalom Congregation, Sioux City
Paul Fitzgerald – Story County Sheriff
Sarah Jennings – Assistant Attorney General
Members from Iowa’s Department of Public Safety
In addition to creating the task force, Attorney General Bird has taken various actions to protect against antisemitism both in Iowa and the United States:
Attorney General Bird Urges Congress to Defund Terrorist-Embedded U.N. Agency
Attorney General Bird Leads Brief Supporting Justice for October 7th Victims of Terrorism
Attorney General Bird Launches Investigation into MSCI over Antisemitic Allegations
Attorney General Bird Leads 16 States in Opposing Harvard’s Antisemitic Actions
