Jews in many states across the US are reporting anti-semitic crimes following the cease-fire in Gaza and Israel. From states with small Jewish communities, to states that were previously thought to be Jewish sanctuaries, activists are vandalizing synagogues and attacking individuals all under the guise of pro-Palestine activism.
The Diamond District in New York saw violence in its streets Thursday. Groups of pro-Palestine protestors shouted at Jewish people while waving Palestinian flags was captured on video. An explosion was also captured by someone with a cell phone. Police confirmed later that an individual had shot a firework out of a car.
In California, a truck with Palestinian flags was captured on security footage chasing a Jewish man who was on foot Monday. He was likely targeted because this happened near a Los Angeles synagogue on the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. Rep. Mike Loychik (R-CA) brought attention to the issue of anti-semitic crime in LA on Twitter.
Why is Joe Biden REFUSING to condemn the anti-Semitic hate crime committed by pro-Palestinian criminals in Los Angeles?
— Representative Mike Loychik (@MikeLoychik) May 20, 2021
Synagogues in Illinois and Arizona were vandalized Thursday. In Skokie, Illinois, a pro-Palestine activists attached a “free Palestine” sign to the door. They also smashed several windows before they left. The attack was captured on security footage.
Sickening! In a blatant act of antisemitism, pro-Palestinian supporters vandalized a synagogue in Skokie, Illinois, with a "Free Palestine" sign and smashed several of the synagogue's windows. pic.twitter.com/emUKYiSBcD
Tuscon, Arizona also saw its synagogue vandalized, but weren’t able to capture the culprits. Someone threw a rock through the glass door. State Rep. Alma Hernandez (R-03) brought attention to the attack by tweeting photos. Since, the synagogue has started a Go Fund Me to raise money to further secure the building.
I'm a complete mess in tears as I write this. I just got off the phone with my Rabbi our synagogue was vandalized someone through a rock at our glass door. This was NOT and accident! I feel numb. This is in #tucson Send prayers our way. It's just the beginning 😪 #Antisemitismpic.twitter.com/YFZCL3tgFM
— (((Rep.Alma Hernandez,MPH)))💉😷 (@almaforarizona) May 19, 2021
It just so happened to be the synagogue of ex-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (R-AZ). She called the attack “disgusting,” but also wrote in a tweet “despite these actions, we will not be shaken. Hate has no place in Arizona.”
Gabby Giffords’ synagogue vandalized in Tucson — as part of the spasm of anti-Semitic incidents across the country.
Rabbi Avremi Zippel discovered a swastika etched into the glass of his synagogue in Salt Lake City, Utah Monday. Zippel vowed, “We will not cower in fear.” He saw this as a direct result of the conflict in Jerusalem. “But tell me more how this is about a land dispute….” he tweeted.
A swastika scratched into the front window of a synagogue.
Still, even as these attacks become several days old, there has been no comment from President Biden, who recently signed an anti-Asian and Pacific Islander hate crime law. Even some major news organizations have left it out.
Zero stories on the NYT page about the anti-Semitic hate crimes wave. Zero on the WaPo page. But both sites currently carry op-eds calling for the destruction of the Jewish State.
After three and a half days of deliberation, the jury acquitted Kyle Rittenhouse on all counts. “Jurors in the polarizing case said they had voted to acquit Rittenhouse, 18, of homicide, attempted homicide and other charges related to the August 2020 shootings in Kenosha, Wisconsin” reports The Washington Post.
Rittenhouse testified during the trial during which he became so emotional he was unable to speak in between sobs as he attempted to describe the shootings. The judge called a brief recess for Rittenhouse to regain composure.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Rittenhouse said on the stand. “I defended myself.”
National Review reports “As the verdict was announced, Rittenhouse, overwhelmed with emotion, burst into tears and dropped to the ground, struggling to breathe. After collecting himself, he embraced the defense counsel who represented him throughout the trial.”
Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time, shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and injured Gaige Grosskreutz, who was 26 at the time. Rittenhouse testified that he fired in self-defense and pleaded not guilty to all counts.
National Review reports:
“Rittenhouse was arrested on August 26, 2020, after shooting three people during the riots that followed the police killing of Jacob Blake, a black man who was brandishing a knife and in the process of violating a restraining order when police arrived on scene.
He was initially indicted on charges of first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless homicide, attempted first-degree intentional reckless homicide, failure to comply with an emergency order from a local government, and possession of a dangerous weapon.”
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