Speaker Johnson Marks One Year Anniversary of Israel's October 7 Attack
October 8, 2024
Contact: Greg Steele
LAS VEGAS, NV – Speaker Mike Johnson joined Jewish faith leaders and community members at Young Israel Aish in Las Vegas yesterday to mark the one year anniversary of Hamas's barbaric terrorist attack in Israel. Speaker Johnson participated in a candle lighting in remembrance of those lost and delivered remarks voicing America's support for our ally Israel and against the rise of Antisemitism across the world. Also delivering remarks were Rabbi Yitz Wyne and Matt Brooks, CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition. Following the remarks, prayers were offered recognizing the American and IDF soldiers risking their lives to protect the state of Israel and its people, and the memory of those lost in the last year.
An excerpt of Speaker Johnson's remarks below:
"This is a tragic anniversary. In some ways, it seems like it just happened yesterday, but in other ways, it seems like an eternity, and it certainly does for the families of the hostages that are still there and all of us who are so deeply affected.
"Since World War II, there's not been anything like this that's happened at this level, of course, to the Jewish people, and what it's unleashed. And it's been a very difficult thing for all of us. But there is good versus evil, there is light versus darkness, and this really is civilization versus barbery, as Prime Minister Netanyahu said in the days following October 7. The people who are unable to see that or don't have the courage to say it, are part of the problem.
"As we've been reflecting on what October 7 has meant and the lessons that it has taught all of us. I think it boils down to three things among many others, but three things.
"I think one thing that we've learned here is that we can never let our guard down. You cannot take the threat of antisemitism and this radical terrorism lightly. There are barbarians in this world, and they will do evil things, and they have to be met with an appropriate level of force to prevent that from happening.
"The other thing we've learned with regard to stability around the world is that if America is weak, everybody's in trouble, and Israel, not the least of those. What's happened is when America shows weakness on the world stage, our adversaries, the enemies of freedom, take advantage of that. You cannot appease terrorists. You have to call a spade a spade. I believe that in the Reagan principle of peace through strength. And I think if the White House and America projects weakness on the world stage, I think we can see right now exactly what comes from it. So I think we have to take that lesson to heart.
"I think we also have to recognize one more thing, that our enemies, the greatest adversaries of America, are on the side of the terrorist regime. Russia and China are in coordination with Iran and its proxies, the terrorists. If we don't prevail here, if America does not show a strong hand, if we don't stamp this out, then liberty is in jeopardy around the world and freedom everywhere is in jeopardy.
"We have a fateful election in 29 days. I believe we have to return Donald J. Trump to the White House. Our adversaries fear Donald Trump, and there's real value in that. He is not weak. I also believe we are going to grow my House Majority. We're going to win the Senate back as well.
"Why that matters is not just for the economy, not just for energy policy, not just for reduced crime, the cost of living. All of those things are true. But most important is so that we can project strength on the world stage again so that our enemies will fear us, and our allies will respect us, and we can take our rightful place that we have had since World War II when the leadership of the free world was placed upon the shoulders of the United States."
Watch coverage of the Speaker's visit here.
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