Responding To Anti-Semitism In The Age Of The Alt-Right

[Behind the Aegis]

“To truly understand anti-Semitism, one cannot look through the lens of race-based discrimination alone.”


Two weeks ago, a man wearing a swastika armband showed up — twice — on our university campus. Citing his First Amendment right to freedom of speech, Michael Dewitz, 34, questioned the Holocaust and extolled the Nazi party, seemingly well aware that authorities could legally do nothing to obstruct him.


Coincidentally or not, his unwelcome visits happened to fall during the week of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day the United Nations designated to commemorate the victims of the genocide that resulted in the murder of over six million Jews, along with homosexuals, disabled people, and other groups the Nazis deemed “undesirable.”


That same day, President Trump provoked anger within the Jewish community when he signed an executive order banning Syrian refugees from entering the United States, evoking memories of Jewish refugees turned away from U.S. shores during World War II, and then proceeded to issue a statement regarding Holocaust Remembrance Day which failed to mention Jews or anti-Semitism at all—a move later endorsed by white supremacist Richard Spencer.


Last week, the latest in a series of ongoing bomb threats were called in to Jewish Community Centers in Albany, N.Y.; Syracuse, N.Y.; West Orange, N.J.; Milwaukee, Wis.; San Diego, Calif.; and Salt Lake City, UT. The centers were evacuated, and though the threats were deemed not to be credible after the fact, that did not quench the feelings of intense vulnerability and uneasiness that lingered.


Over the weekend, Chicago authorities released a surveillance video of a man smashing the front window of a synagogue and placing swastika stickers on the front door. In Houston, Rice University campus police launched an investigation after a swastika was drawn on the base of a school statue. In Manhattan, passengers on a subway car witnessed anti-Semitic graffiti, including swastikas and the phrases “Jews belong in the oven” and “Destroy Israel, Heil Hitler,” scribbled with Sharpie over advertisements and windows. As passengers sat in uncomfortable silence, one brave man announced that the alcohol in hand sanitizer could remove Sharpie. Promptly, passengers searched their pockets for sanitizer and tissues, and proceeded to scrub away the hate-filled messages.

much, much more...

[hr]

The article should be titled: "Don't ignore anti-Semitism" as it makes some very good and interesting points about anti-Semitism and Jews.

[Soxfan58]

1. The subway story

Is a good metaphor for all of us to stand up a clean this stain from our society. We can't let it continue , hate must never win again.

[leftstreet]

2. DURec

Also a good link there to the voyage of the St. Louis

[Warren DeMontague]

4. More about the St. Louis

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/01/29/a-ship-full-of-refugees-fleeing-the-nazis-once-begged-the-u-s-for-entry-they-were-turned-back/?utm_term=.4fc05de41b2d

[Behind the Aegis]

13. A sad history.

Most who even know the name, only know it was turned away, and don't know the entire story. Thanks for providing a link to a story about it.

[leftynyc]

3. It's the oldest hatred

And it seemingly will never end. I love my fellow NYers who dug into their purses and pockets to help get rid of the disgusting graffiti on the subway. I would have gladly served up my Purel for that cause.

[Behind the Aegis]

5. So you know...

...your fellow NYer is also a fellow DUer.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141693157

[leftynyc]

6. Thank you for that link

I just added my unbound joy that he makes this city better just by living here.

[murielm99]

7. We should all go out and buy Purel and carry it with us,

along with kleenex, just to be ready for this.

[leftynyc]

9. Most of us already do

With all the sneezing and coughing on the subways, then holding onto the bars, it's self defense. It never occurred to me to use it for this noble cause.

[Solly Mack]

8. K&R

[colsohlibgal]

10. Divorced From Reality Types

This scourge of half wits just will not end, half wits with mental defects.

[brer cat]

11. K&R

[mitch96]

12. My problem is my conservative Jewish friends

that back tRump. I just don't get it.. With all this alt-right/Bannon push back and they think he is great for the country.. WTF?
The remind me of the Jews in 1930's Germany who loved Hitler and thought they were in the "club" and were untouchable..... ahhh no.

How does that saying go? Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it...
m

[Sissyk]

14. K&R

From the article:

For decades, American Jews have stood alongside other marginalized groups as allies. In the 1960s, we marched in the Civil Rights Movement. Today, we stand alongside our brothers and sisters proclaiming “Black Lives Matter.” We position ourselves on the ground among those at Standing Rock. We advocate for LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, and Muslim rights. Many Jewish organizations like the Anti-Defamation League, originally constructed with the purpose of fighting anti-Semitism following World War II, have since expanded their mission to encompass all forms of bigotry. Perhaps due to our own collective trauma, social justice runs through our veins, heeding us to stand up to injustice anywhere as a threat to justice everywhere. Otherwise, “Never Again” will be nothing more than a hollow slogan.

Unfortunately, we don't always stand up for American Jews. No longer! I will go out of my way to defend you.

[Behind the Aegis]

15. Thank you for your comments.

It is always nice to see those who are willing to stand up for us, even though it isn't popular. I thought you might also like this: Washington Post: Five myths about anti-Semitism, the same article is also posted in the Jewish Group, if you'd rather comment there.