Mr. President. today I am pleased to participate in the Congressional Call to Conscience Vigil for Soviet Jewry. Over recent years the oppression of Soviet Jews has increased to alarming levels. The recent surge of state sponsored antisemitism equates Judaism with racism. Likewise. the study of Jewish culture is being considered "antiSoviet propaganda." Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union has diminished to historically low levels. In 1979. 51.000 were allowed to emigrate. Last year. the number fell below 1.000. Those who attempt to leave have been threatened by confinement in psychiatric hospitals. dismissal from their jobs and internal exile. Members of the Jewish community have been singled out as targets for harassment.
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