On the heels of the conflict unraveling in Israel, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Friday took a public stand against antisemitism. 

Polis, who is Jewish, issued a proclamation on Friday condemning antisemitism and vowing to preserve Colorado as a state “that welcomes Jewish people and honors their meaningful contributions to our state and country.”

“In Colorado, we value and are committed to protecting everyone’s right to safely practice their religion and express who they are,” the proclamation reads. “Calls for violence against Jews in Colorado and across the world, exacerbated by recent terrorist attacks targeting Jews in Israel by Hamas, continue to undermine safety and security of Jewish Coloradans.” 

This comes after the Hamas terrorist group attacked Israel on Saturday, killing around 1,300 people as of Thursday. The initial attack is believed to be the largest number of Jewish people murdered in a single day since the Holocaust. Retaliatory strikes from Israel have killed around 1,900 in Palestine. 

Polis denounced the attack on Israel in a statement released Thursday with the National Governors Association. But Friday’s proclamation speaks more broadly to antisemitism at home and abroad.

Antisemitic incidents in the U.S. rose 36% in 2022 – marking the third time in five years that incidents of harassment, vandalism and assault targeting Jewish people and communities were the highest ever recorded, according to an audit by the Anti-Defamation League.

Jewish people make up only 2.4% of the U.S. population but are the victims of 63% of reported religiously motivated hate crimes, NPR reported. 

“In a time of increasing antisemitism, we should be vigilant in ensuring people understand and speak out against antisemitism when they hear it or see it, and that the state of Colorado shows support for Jewish Coloradans,” the proclamation reads. “While antisemitic incidents most directly and intensely affect the Jewish community, antisemitism, like all forms of hate, threatens all Coloradans.” 

More than 100,000 Jewish people live in Colorado as of 2021, according to the state. 

Polis said he’s met with Jewish leaders and faith communities in recent months to discuss ways to combat antisemitism in Colorado. Such partners worked with the governor’s office to draft Friday’s proclamation, he said.