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Jarrad Saffren | Staff Writer
O n May 1 inside the Capitol Media Center in
Harrisburg, a group of Jewish and Black
representatives walked onto the stage.

They lined up in a row and stood behind the podium
as their leaders, Rep. Jared Solomon and then Rep.

Jordan Harris, stepped forward to speak.

Solomon, who is Jewish and represents the 202nd
district in Philadelphia County, and Harris, who is Black
and represents the 186th district, also in Philadelphia
County, were introducing the new Black-Jewish
Caucus in the PA General Assembly. They pledged to
build a relationship, work together to combat antisem-
itism and racism and collaborate on legislative issues.

But about 18 minutes into the press conference, the
camera panned out over the audience in the room.

It was mostly empty, save for four people sitting in
chairs and two more standing with cameras. There
Rep. Jared Solomon speaks at the press conference
announcing the Black-Jewish Caucus in the Capitol
Media Center in Harrisburg on May 1.

was only one reporter in the room asking questions,
and he led with the obvious one.

“We heard a lot about conversations. I’m just
wondering in terms of what this caucus can do to
back each other’s priorities,” he said.

“I think that legislative priorities, legislative victo-
ries, begin with relationship building,” Solomon
answered. For now, as Solomon repeated afterward, that’s
the goal.

“It’s reestablishing the importance of the relation-
ship,” he said.

According to Solomon, the Black-Jewish alliance
hit its high point during the civil rights movement.

But since then, it has not been the same “organized,
coordinated, comprehensive, growing majority that
builds relationships, handles issues and speaks
authoritatively,” he said.

“What we need to do is make this relationship
relevant to the new generation of Blacks and Jews in
our communities,” Solomon explained. “Jordan and I
want to model this type of behavior. We are friends.”
“Friendships are about give and take,” Harris
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PA Lawmakers Announce
Black-Jewish Caucus