ADL Heartland applauds bill aimed at protecting houses of worship, community centers, nonprofits
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – ADL (Anti-Defamation League) Heartland today expressed deep appreciation to the Missouri General Assembly and Governor Mike Kehoe for passing Senate Bill 71, which includes the creation of the Missouri Task Force on Nonprofit Safety and Security.
The measure, now state law, marks a critical step toward protecting houses of worship, community centers, and nonprofit organizations that increasingly face threats of violence and hate.
The new task force will study the threats facing nonprofit organizations, recommend best practices in security, and explore how the state can support nonprofits that serve vulnerable populations across Missouri. It will bring together leaders from law enforcement, emergency management, homeland security, and the nonprofit community to develop actionable strategies for enhancing safety.
“We are incredibly grateful to Missouri’s legislators and Governor Kehoe for enacting this important part of a broad public safety agenda,” said Jordan Kadosh, ADL Heartland Regional Director. “This task force will help ensure that all Missourians can work and pray safely, and that nonprofits can fulfill their mission in safety and security.”
Kadosh has led ADL Heartland’s advocacy efforts in support of the Missouri Task Force on Nonprofit Security for months, submitting public testimony, meeting directly with lawmakers, and organizing a statewide lobby day with Jewish community leaders. “We appreciate the support we received from our community partners in this effort. We showed up together. Our representatives heard us, and they acted,” Kadosh added.
Quotes from other Jewish nonprofits:
Nancy Lisker, AJC St. Louis Regional Director: “SB 71 is crucial to ensure the safety of members of nonprofit organizations, minority groups and faith-based communities. American Jewish Committee (AJC) applauds the leadership of the Missouri General Assembly and Governor Mike Kehoe for this policy victory.”
Myron Freedman, Executive Director: “The St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum was built with security in mind – a testament to the threats that institutions like ours face. We are grateful to the Missouri legislature and Governor Kehoe for their support on this crucial issue.”
Danny Cohn, President and CEO of Jewish Federation of St. Louis: “The threats facing our Jewish community are very real, and we applaud the ADL and all those whose collective advocacy will help ensure Jewish life remains open, vibrant, and safe. Thank you to Governor Kehoe and our legislators for recognizing that this important issue is about protection, not politics.”
The task force comes at a time of growing concern around hate-fueled threats in Missouri. The state recorded the 7th-highest number of antisemitic white supremacist propaganda incidents in the nation, according to the latest ADL Audit of Antisemitic Incidents. Missouri experienced a 250% increase in annual antisemitic incidents over three years, in addition to the bomb threats, harassment campaigns, and acts of hate.
ADL Heartland serves Missouri, Kansas, and Southern Illinois.
ADL is a leading anti-hate organization. Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of antisemitism and bigotry, its timeless mission is to protect the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. ADL is the first call when acts of antisemitism occur. A global leader in exposing extremism, delivering anti-bias education, and fighting hate online, ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate. More at www.adl.org