Press Releases

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Rep Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) announced that she and members of the Congressional Jewish Caucus (CJC) sent a letter to Google urging the company to reverse its decision to remove International Holocaust Remembrance Day and Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) from its default calendar display. The letter requesting that Google reverse this decision marks the first initiative to be endorsed by the newly formed CJC.

Google Calendar recently removed references to International Holocaust Remembrance Day and JAHM from its default display, according to various press reports. The timing of the removal comes as the Trump Administration ramps up attacks on a broader array of public and private diversity efforts.

“Reversing Google’s decision will not stop hate or antisemitism in its tracks, but it will serve as an effective and necessary tool to combat this most ancient hatred and uplift the Jewish American community,” the CJC members wrote Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and parent company Alphabet. “Choosing to remain silent in the face of these ageless animosities, however, is a conscious decision to aid them.”

“One of the most effective tools for combating antisemitism and hate is education. We commit to ‘never again’ by ensuring that society learns from the horrors of unchecked antisemitism and to dedicate ourselves to remembering and bringing awareness of the Holocaust,” the letter notes. “It is alarming that globally, 1 in 5 adults have not heard of the Holocaust, with less than half recognizing the Holocaust’s historical accuracy. Given your controlling reach in global searches, decisions such as Google’s will only exacerbate this unacceptable ignorance and blindness to hate.”

Wasserman Schultz sponsored the original resolution that created JAHM in 2005. Since then, JAHM has been recognized annually by Presidents of both parties, including Presidents George W. Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden.

The full letter with Member signatures can be found here, or read the letter below:

Dear Sundar Pichai:

As Jewish Members of Congress, we are deeply concerned with Google’s decision to remove International Holocaust Remembrance Day and Jewish American Heritage Month from the default calendar display and urge you to reverse this highly disappointing decision.

On October 11, 2023, you wrote on X that it is “important to call out and stand against antisemitism at this terrible moment. It’s never acceptable.”[1] Regrettably, antisemitism is at a record high, with 77% of American Jews expressing they feel less safe, especially after Hamas’ terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023. In fact, for the first time ever, a majority of American Jews last year reported altering their behavior due to this escalating threat.[2] Google’s decision to remove Jewish references from its default calendar is tantamount to a gut punch for the American Jewish community and is a repudiation of your previously stated commitment.

One of the most effective tools for combating antisemitism and hate is education. We commit to “never again” by ensuring that society learns from the horrors of unchecked antisemitism and to dedicate ourselves to remembering and bringing awareness of the Holocaust. It is alarming that globally, 1 in 5 adults have not heard of the Holocaust, with less than half recognizing the Holocaust’s historical accuracy.[3] Given your controlling reach in global searches, decisions such as Google’s will only exacerbate this unacceptable ignorance and blindness to hate.

The United Nations designated International Holocaust Remembrance Day to coincide with the liberation of the German concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau to serve as an annual reminder that when left unchecked, hate can evolve into deadly actions of the worst kind. Each January 27, communities around the world come together to remember the six million Jews murdered by Nazi Germany.

However, supporting the Jewish community is not just honoring the more than six million Jews murdered during WWII but honoring the contributions of Jewish Americans throughout American history. Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) is an effective educational tool to uplift Jewish voices and has been recognized annually since May 2006.

Since its creation, each American President has issued Presidential Proclamations to recognize JAHM, and it is now part of the rich culture of recognizing and celebrating heritage months, where we learn about one another, honor the wealth of the diversity of our nation, and strengthen the fabric of civil society in the United States.

As the world moves increasingly online, schools, communities, and governments use online resources to educate about the horrors of the Holocaust and to find tools to combat antisemitism. One of the most versatile ways to honor those lost lives and remind ourselves that the fight against antisemitism did not end with the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, is ensuring users of your calendar are aware when these commemorations are honored. We appreciate that Google has previously taken steps to support Holocaust remembrance and combat antisemitism, including through educational resources and search features. Reinstating these calendar entries would be a small but meaningful action that aligns with those commitments.

We respectfully request Google swiftly take the following actions:

1.       Restore International Holocaust Remembrance Day and Jewish American Heritage Month to Google Calendar’s default display.

2.       Clarify Google’s policy on commemorative events to ensure transparency and fairness in how historical and cultural observances are selected for inclusion.

3.       Engage with community stakeholders to ensure Google’s platforms continue to be a tool for public education and awareness, particularly at a time of rising antisemitism.

Digital platforms like Google have the ability to shape public awareness, and ensuring that key historical commemorations remain visible is an important step in strengthening collective memory and combating hate. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response. Reversing Google’s decision will not stop hate or antisemitism in its tracks, but it will serve as an effective and necessary tool to combat this most ancient hatred and uplift the Jewish American community. Choosing to remain silent in the face of these ageless animosities, however, is a conscious decision to aid them.

We look forward to your response to the urgency that necessitates International Holocaust Remembrance Day and Jewish American Heritage Month be given the platform both deserve with the restoration of these commemorations to Google’s default calendar.

Sincerely,

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