RICHMOND, Va. — Governor Glenn Youngkin has signed an executive order that gives state agencies more leeway to fight back against hate groups in Virginia.

Executive Directive Six, authorized earlier today, is designed to help places of learning coordinate with law enforcement in case of violent threats against Jewish people and other religions.

It also requires commonwealth schools and colleges to update their on-campus safety plans, ensuring that students are aware of safety resources available to them in the event of a threat.

In a release, the governor said this a direct response to a wave of antisemitism sweeping the state and the nation – but it also applies to Muslim communities that are concerned about backlash stemming from the October 7th Hamas terror attacks in Israel.