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Audit: 2020 Was Third-Highest Year For Antisemitic Incidents In The US

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This story was first published by The Dark Wire Investigation Foundation

It’s been two years since the deadly antisemitic attack on the Chabad of Poway, when a shooter entered a synagogue full of Jewish worshippers and killed beloved community member Lori Gilbert-Kaye. Kaye sacrificed her life to save Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein in the attack.

Unfortunately, two years later, antisemitism remains at a historic high, and in 2020 was the third-highest year on record for incidents, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which released its annual audit of antisemitism in the U.S. on Tuesday.

In 2020, the ADL recorded 2,024 antisemitic incidents across the nation. The incidents include 1,242 acts of harassment, 751 acts of vandalism and 31 assaults.

The total number of incidents decreased by 4% from 2019, which saw 2,107 incidents. The only incident category that rose in 2020 was acts of harassment, which increased 10%.

Further, incidents of antisemitism occurred in 47 states and the District of Columbia. New York, New Jersey, California, Florida and Pennsylvania combined account for nearly 57% of the total number of antisemitic incidents, the ADL notes.

“While any decline in the data is encouraging, we still experienced a year in which antisemitic acts remained at a disturbingly high level despite lockdowns and other significant changes in our daily lives and interactions with others,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director. “We can’t let our guard down. As communities begin to open up and people spend more time in person with others, we must remain vigilant.”

The COVID-19 pandemic also played a role in the antisemitism Jews in America experienced this year. And although incidents in schools declined with most children in remote learning, Zoom school saw an uptick in ‘Zoombombing’ incidents.

‘Zoombombing’ is a term used to describe someone who hacks into an online video conference. One incident, reported by StopAntisemitism.org in April 2020, targeted students at Yeshiva University, a Jewish institution.

The ‘Zoombombers’ wrote antisemitic messages and slurs in the students’ virtual meeting including, “SHUT THE F*** UP JEWS,” “hail hitler,” and “IMMA GAS YALL.”

“There was a marked decline of school-based incidents after March, when nearly all schools moved to fully remote learning, so the pandemic definitely played a role in shifting how and where antisemitism manifested in 2020,” Greenblatt said. “This was offset to some degree by the high number of Zoombombing incidents targeting Jewish people and other marginalized communities.”

The ADL has been tracking antisemitism since 1979.

You can follow Jennie Taer on Twitter @JennieSTaer

Click here to read the original report.

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Florida Congressman Byron Donalds Considers Gubernatorial Run in 2026

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Republican Representative Byron Donalds from Florida is contemplating a potential bid for the governorship of the Sunshine State in 2026, according to a source close to him confirmed by Fox News Digital.

Donalds, who has been a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, revealed to Fox News Digital his current focus on assisting Trump’s bid to return to office, stating, “I’m committed to making Biden a one-term president. We’ll focus on that other stuff after President Trump gets inaugurated.”

This announcement comes as Donalds finds himself at the forefront of the ongoing efforts in the House to pass a continuing resolution aimed at preventing a government shutdown. He has been actively involved in seeking a bipartisan consensus to ensure government funding through the end of October, as the September 30th deadline approaches.

Additionally, Donalds has expressed his willingness to serve as Trump’s running mate if asked by the former president, adding intrigue to his potential gubernatorial ambitions.

Notably, this development emerges amid speculations about a gubernatorial run by another prominent Florida Republican, Representative Matt Gaetz. Gaetz recently dismissed such rumors, affirming his focus on supporting Trump’s prospective 2024 White House run.

The timing of Donalds’ potential candidacy for Florida’s governorship coincides with the state’s constitution barring current Governor Ron DeSantis from seeking re-election in 2026 due to term limits.

While House Republicans have generally reached a consensus on the funding measure, some holdouts, including Gaetz, threaten to disrupt the process. Gaetz has even raised the possibility of a mutiny against House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to challenge his leadership.

However, McCarthy has downplayed these threats, responding to Gaetz’s intentions during a House GOP conference meeting with the directive to “file a f—ing motion” if he intends to remove him from his position as House Speaker.

The outcome of the continuing resolution and the dynamics within the House Republican caucus will undoubtedly influence the political landscape in Florida and the aspirations of figures like Byron Donalds in the years to come.

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