Jewish shops in Rome defaced with swastikas

[sabra]

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1154525792306&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Jewish shops in Rome defaced with swastikas
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
ROME


Jewish shops across Rome were vandalized and defaced with swastikas in an apparent neo-fascist attack linked to fighting in the Middle East, officials said Wednesday.

Owners of about 20 shops in the center and outskirts of the Italian capital reached their workplace Tuesday morning to find door locks filled with glue, shutters nailed closed and swastikas defacing nearby walls, said Riccardo Pacifici, a spokesman for Rome's Jewish Community.

Although not all the shops targeted were owned by Jews, the raid was apparently conducted in reaction to hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas, Pacifici said.

Flyers signed by a group calling itself Armed Revolutionary Fascists were left at the shops denouncing "the Zionist economy" and including pro-Hizbullah slogans, Pacifici said.

[Ian David]

1. Maybe it's not anti-semitic. They just disagreed with Israel's policies.

:sarcasm:

See:

America's Roadmap to The Apocalypse
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2747646

[Lone_Star_Dem]

20. Hate pure and simple

If they'd wanted to make a statement against Israel and not Jewish people as a whole they could have burned the flag. You know, like they do with the American flag.

Saw a swastika tattoo on a girl in the hardware store the other day. I thought the same thing of her as I do of the people who did this... racist - hate filled - small-minded - bigot.

[William769]

21. you are 100% right.

[Ian David]

28. You know what would be an interesting demonstration?

Burning the Israeli flag while chanting, "The government of Israel sucks, but all you nice Jewish people can come live in my neighborhood after the Arabs destroy your country!"

But no.

It's just a convenient stick to beat Jews with, and a way to cloak centuries-old bigotry behing a cloak of respectability.

Often, a very thin cloak.

[IA_Seth]

36. What do you think would happen if I did that?

Say I burned an Israeli flag and chanted that Israel sucked...and then said I still loved all the Jewish people..

Think that would go over well? Just wondering.

And for the record, no that doesn't mean I agree with the defacing of property owned by Jewish people, especially with symbols of hate...its pathetically cowardly, hateful, and crazy disrespectful....but your post made me wonder what would happen if someone actually did that.

[Ian David]

40. Sorry, I didn't mean that as an aspersion against you...

I was trying to make the point that while Jews, Zionism, and Israel are really separate things, it is damnably hard to try to attack one without attacking the other.

It's a delicate little dance.

And there are anti-Jewish bigots out there who capitalize on that.

They use the "I just oppose some of Israel's policies" as the camel's nose in the tent. They take centuries-old anti-semitic blood libels and re-package it into more respectable soundbites that are then picked-up and repeated by well-intentioned Liberals who do not know the deeper origin of what they are saying.

It reminds me of the episode of South Park, where Mr. Garrison gets the town to burn a "Giant Letter T" for "Time to leave" on the lawn of a wealthy, black family because they didn't want lots of rich people moving into South Park. And at the end, when all the rich, black people move away, Mr. Garrison finally reveals his true motivation and uses "The N-Word."

I've seen some well-intentioned, smart people burning Giant Letter T's for "Time To Leave Gaza." They've been duped by Mr. Garrison.

Here Comes the Neighborhood - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

<snip>
The rich flee town discovering that it was "hainted" (haunted), and Mr. Garrison plots to sell all their houses to become rich. When others point out that would make him become what he himself hated, he replies, "Well, yeah, but at least I got rid of all those damn ni---", and is cut off by the credits before he can finish his final word.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_Comes_the_Neighborhood

[sabbat hunter]

51. which swastika

there is one swastika that is actually a good luck symbol in hinduism and jainism

[Lone_Star_Dem]

52. It was intended as a racist symbol

She also had a deaths head tattoo.

She was a young and a attractive girl. It's a shame she was so ignorant and influenced by such hate.

[54anickel]

57. Did you ask the girl about her tatoo? There's no doubt as to what

the meaning of the swastika used in the OP article was.

But you've sort of jumped to a conclusion on the girl in the hardware store. The swatstika has been around for thousands of years and it's meaning (until Hitler swiped it) has usually been associated with life and/or good luck. Some people have been trying to reclaim it from Hitler's abuse.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

69. This is odd

As I said in the post above, it was intended as a racist symbol she also had a deaths head tattoo. These are rather common on people who associate themselves with "skinheads" or other forms of white supremacist groups.

Really, I'm not the one who was jumping to conclusions.

[54anickel]

70. Yeah, sorry bout that, I caught your post about the other tattoo after

I posted. Didn't get the chance to clarify or edit last night - storms came through again. My bad, should have updated myself on previous thread updates before I posted.

On edit to finish my thought (I'm loosing it these days).

Not to defend her, or offend you - but some kids today really don't comprehend the old symbolism of the images they wear. It has an entirely different meaning to them. The skull and bones (death head) is associated with an on-line game. It has yet another meaning to the Goth kids. So yeah, she could be some neo-nazi skinhead hate monger or she might not.

[genieroze]

81. nevermind

[BillZBubb]

43. Israel's brutal policies make it easy for the anti-Semites

They can thrive in the moral revulsion created by Israel's thuggish assault on Lebanon. Israel turned off the lights so no one should be surprised to see the roaches come scurrying out.

[Dutch]

72. No. Bigots and morons who in some way think Israel's actions

make anti-semitism in any way acceptable or understandable make it easy for the anti-semites (or rather, the more violent and extreme anti-semites than themselves).

[Behind the Aegis]

76. So, Israel is responsible for the anti-Semitism?

Is that what you are saying? Basically, because of Israel's actions, the Jews worldwide should be prepared for anti-Semitic attacks?

[BillZBubb]

77. Read what I wrote and quit being disingenuous

Israel's actions make it easier for anti-Semites to thrive. Israel is a great propaganda tool for anti-Semites.

Just as the Israeli apologists conflate critcisms of Israel with anti-Semitism, anti-Semites conflate the brutality of Israel with the supposed immorality of the Jews. If you cannot understand this basic point, you don't know how effective propaganda works.

And of course Jews worldwide should be prepared for anti-Semitic attacks whenever Israel is involved in the death of civilians elsewhere. Anti-Semites aren't rational, so any excuse could set them off. It's better to be safe than sorry.

[Behind the Aegis]

78. I read what you wrote...you have confirmed what I thought.

[w4rma]

49. Everyone has been trying to tell you that Israel's aggression in Lebanon

was stirring this type of BS up. It's creating hatred worldwide.

This invasion was extremely bad in every way for both nations (and peoples).

Btw, I think what Israel is doing is racist against Arabs, also.

[Josh]

53. You mean the Arabs who vote in Israel and sit in the parliament?

Or the Arabs who have fewer rights in Arab countries?

Get some perspective. I get nervous whenever anyone fervently claims racism by a minority against a HUGE majority. That's like when white people say that black people are racist against them and call affirmative action 'affirmative blacktion'.

Perspective. Peace.

[w4rma]

60. Lebanon is (was?) the only other democracy in the middle east

with the sole exception of Israel.

[IndianaGreen]

64. Except that in Israel, Israeli Arabas are treated as second class citizens

You should hear them complain!

[LeftistGorilla]

73. You should see them....

try and have their garbage picked up...



even though they pay the same taxes....

[Josh]

74. That's not true - got to Haifa

nt.

[cali]

75. It may create an excuse for hate

but it doesn't create the hate. It's merely a convenient excuse to hide behind. That's a not so subtle distinction. Hope you don't see last summer's London bombing as a few creating hatred towards Muslims worldwide.

[Lindacooks]

2. Well, I see that, again, 'shock and awe' isn't winning 'hearts and minds'

Gee, who would've thunk it?

:mad:

[Renew Deal]

11. So they deserved it?

Is that what you're saying?

[Cassandra]

18. What shock and awe were the Jewish...

shopkeepers near Rome responsible for?

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Renew Deal]

23. So they deserved it?

C'mon, just say what you are implying.

[Cassandra]

29. So if someone objects to Bushco's policies...

and who wouldn't, and decides that they will make you, an American, responsible, will you agree that you are a fair target?

[Charlie Brown]

3. People need to get it thru their heads that Jews and the state of Israel

are not the same thing.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[katty]

47. Precisely-it's fanatical Zionists running the show-not the Jews

[JudyM]

66. They certainly are to the Arabs. They were killing Jews before Israel was

founded; their current refusal to recognize the Jewish state is simply a continuation.

[Charlie Brown]

67. are you talking about all Arabs?

if so, how are you any better than the people who vandalized these stores?

[JudyM]

71. No need to attack, friend. In response to your question, I am of course

not referring to *all* Arabs - I am referring to the majority of people in the Middle East, who have at some level supported leadership calling for the destruction of Israel and who have countenanced the killing of Jews throughout this area of the world for many, many years, just because of their religion.

[manic expression]

80. Get a clue

the FACT is that Arabs tolerated Jews while they were hunted down in Europe. The FACT is that Europeans have been FAR more guilty in persecuting Jews and inflicting pain and suffering upon them than Arabs. Far more guilty. If you think for one second that Arabs are more anti-semitic than Neo-Nazis in Italy, you need to think about it a little longer.

Oh, and Jews were living in Palestine since time immemorial with no significant problems. It was when the Zionists came to town and started grabbing land, evicting people (ethnic cleansing) and killing people that animosity started.

Blame the Zionists, not the Arabs.

[OrechDin]

84. The Zionists kicked the Jews out of their lands?

Ahaa okie dokie then.

(perhaps a rescue is being confused with a forced eviction)

[OrechDin]

82. As much as people here keep on telling us this,it seems they do not really

believe it themselves.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Ian David]

7. I am amazed by your lack of compassion for innocent human beings

So to you, is it okay because they asked for it by daring to be Jewish?

[rockymountaindem]

8. Seconded

[paulk]

37. why?

Are you saying that Jews in Rome are responsible for what Israel does?

That is what you're saying, you know...

[Crunchy Frog]

50. What a hateful statement.

Jewish people are NOT the same as the state of Israel. If they want to protest Israel's policies I'm all for that, but leave ordinary people who happen to be Jewish out of it.

It's no different than attacking people of an Arab background because you don't like what Hizbollah is doing. Would you have made such a callous remark if that had happened?

[acmavm]

5. There are a lot of innocent Israeli civilians who are going to

have to suffer because of the criminal policies and actions of the Ohlmert government.

But isn't that the usual case?

[Seabiscuit]

17. Indeed. Just how is Israel making its citizens safer by giving the anti-

semites a pretext and rallying cry to carry out their bigotry against Jews everywhere?

[Ian David]

30. Israel is not making their people safer. They're falling into the trap...

of the new Post-Modern terrorists:

America's Roadmap to The Apocalypse

<snip>

As much as I abhor Israel's recent actions, I am even more repulsed by an organization that has the stated intent of driving the Jewish people into the sea. Hezbollah and Hammas use civilians as human shields, and the Israeli government stupidly plays right into their hands, causing untold needless bloodshed, and turning world opinion against them even more.

It's a perverted twist on Ghandi's non-violence program. The "New Terrorism" tactic is to inflict enough damage on your enemy to provoke a massive, disproportionate response against your own citizens-- and thus gain sympathy. They turn their own civilians into unwilling martyrs.

And there are stubborn, short-sighted people in the Israeli government who continue to fall into this trap of being "forced" to cause civilian casualties.

The Israelis know about this trap, and they drop leaflets in Lebanon, and even make phone-calls to Palestinians in Gaza to warn civilians to evacuate before bombing, yet there is still untold bloodshed and death. There is no such thing as a war without civilian causalities.

More:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2747646

[Seabiscuit]

41. The Israelis know about this tactic, yet continue to fall into it

by merely leafleting and phone-calling, producing nothing but the same bad results, yet they continue to repeat, repeat, repeat, this losing strategy.

Isn't that the definition of insanity? Repeatedly doing something that you know doesn't work?

[Ian David]

44. Absolutely. It is a self-destructive and insane strategy

Lokai and Bella don't know when to quit.


See, Bella was born according to to flesh, but Lokai was born according to promise.

ORIGINALLY AIRED: 6/24/2006

Be Your Last Battlefield

Episode #70

Star TrekThe U.S.S. Enterprise intercepts a stolen Federation shuttlecraft which contains a humanoid named Lokai. Taken aboard the ship, Lokai tells the crew he is from the planet Cheron, and asks for asylum on the U.S.S. Enterprise. His most distinctive feature is that he is half black and half white, starkly separated down the middle of his body.

The U.S.S. Enterprise tracks another vessel, pursuing at great speed. The ship's only passenger beams on board and is discovers to be another humanoid from Cheron. The difference in this man, Bele, is that his black and white skin is reversed from Lokai's. Bele claims to be Cheron's chief officer sent out to bring in political traitors, and has been pursuing Lokai. The more the two men are aboard the starship, the more Kirk realizes that the basic problem between them — and their entire race, apparently — is their opposite color. Tiring of their bigotry, Kirk decides to ignore the two guests and concentrate on his original mission; to decontaminate the planet Ariannus, plagued with a bacteria that endangers billions of lives.

When Bele takes control of the U.S.S. Enterprise in a desperate attempt, Kirk sets the ships auto-destruct sequence instead of allowing the hijacking to continue, and the alien returns command to the captain. However, once planet Ariannus is decontaminated, Bele takes back his control over the starship and leads it back to Cheron. What they find is a long-dead planet, annihilated by their interracial bigotry. Lokai beams down to the surface to escape Bele, who follows. The U.S.S. Enterprise leaves them on the surface, to decide their own fates.

More:
http://www.g4tv.com/startrektos/episodes/5398/Be_Your_Last_Battlefield.html

[ChairmanAgnostic]

42. by ah..er..ah....ah....ah..er... a, by ..ahhhh...

It is making enemies of people who were on the fence; it is making fighters of pacifists who lost family, it is making the entire world irate.

[Solly Mack]

6. Racism rears it's ugly head and any opportunity to unleash

hate is snatched up by those who don't give a damn about anyone in the Middle East(or anywhere else for that matter). They just want to act on their hate and will use any excuse to do so.

It's a sad thing to witness. Beyond sad.

[sevenleagueboots]

9. ....what's that ticking sound.?

.....zzzzzz......zzzzzz....wake me up when it jumps the pond and gets here...ok?

[Ian David]

10. It already has. Which side will you be on? I only ask because...

you've only got seven posts, and I know nothing about you at all.

Welcome to DU, by the way.

[sevenleagueboots]

13. .....hopefully there will be many sides to select from but....

I'll settle for a return to a republic.

[Ian David]

19. As for me, I will be on the side of all humanity, tolerance and justice

There are really only two sides:

The side of Humanity, and the side that seeks to scapegoat minorities.

A real Republic with a representative democracy where every vote counts would be good.

Although I'd settle for surrendering to Canada.

I would greet them as liberators, and meet their dogsleds with hot chocolate and maple syrup.

Long Live President Wayne Gretsky, President of AmeriDa!

[manic expression]

15. In general,

neo-nazis aren't as strong here as they are in Italy (or other countries like Russia). In fact, the neo-nazi movement in the US is very splintered and disorganized at the moment, with different groups squabbling. The NSM has been trying to take advantage and put their organization in the forefront, so that's definitely a problem, however. We need to make sure we crush them before they have a chance to gain any ground, we need to stomp out their activities. If there is one given about boneheads, it's that if they get the chance to organize and are allowed to do as they will, they WILL attack people (as in everyone who's not them).

What do you know about the situation?

[sevenleagueboots]

24. .....what's effective about a banner over your head...

if that banner singularly defines you.....will you fight to the death to defend your city...I doube it.
Will I fight to the death to defend my farm? Oh Yea!

[UncleSepp]

54. We who?

We need to make sure we crush them before they have a chance to gain any ground, we need to stomp out their activities.

I agree with you wholeheartedly, but we who? The antifa in the US is fairly splintered and disorganized, too. I'd love to see something better at owning a street than the NSM. Fortunately, that wouldn't be hard. Brownshirts they ain't, not yet anyway.

I've got a strong interest in this, and used to research the neo-nazi, neofascist, and rightwing extremist resurgence in Europe and particularly Russia. By research I don't mean just reading, either - some of it got up close and personal. Hey, everyone's got to have a hobby, right? It's been a few years since I've kept up on it, though. PM me sometime, I'd like to chat about this.

[OrechDin]

85. Somehow ,I do not think NeoNazis were responsible here. nt

[Lurking Dem]

16. So the women in Seattle were what?

The Temple in Tampa Bay? Two in Miami?

And before any of this crap started in Lebanon there was an attempt to burn down a new Temple in Tarzana, CA. The building was marked with antisemitic slurs.

[Ian David]

26. Jewish world reports spike in anti-Semitism

My recent copy of The Southern Poverty Law Center's newsletter cites an increase in anti-semitic incidents world-wide, including America, in 2006. This despite a small drop in American anti-semitic hate crimes in 2005. This was after reaching a 9-year high in 2004.

Krystalnacht 2006 approaches, I fear.


Jewish world reports spike in anti-Semitism
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1153292045430&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

War is linked to synagogue raid
http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/bm/national/351405.html


Anti-Semitic Acts Raise Concerns
Chabad-Lubavitch, NY - 7 hours ago
... "Authorities were hesitant to label the strike anti-Semitic. “At ... property.”. In the face of the attack, Rabbi Wernick was defiant. ...
http%3A//www.lubavitch.com/Article.asp%3FArticle%3D832%26Section%3D90%26Region%3DInternational&cid=0&sig2=LRdLgTLWShZxtxA_HrKxcQ


Vandals hit Bondi Jewish youth centre
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - 17 hours ago
... war between Israel and Hezbollah. It is the second anti-Semitic attack in Sydney in four days. NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief ...
http%3A//www.smh.com.au/news/national/vandals-hit-bondi-jewish-youth-centre/2006/08/02/1154198178437.html&cid=1108379468&sig2=kbTN2sCfHd7sAhFD8RGugQ



ATTACK ON BLACK MAN FOLLOWS SIKH STABBING
Shouting ``White Power'' and firing off Nazi salutes, two men attacked an African-American man in downtown Mountain View over the weekend, authorities reported Tuesday. It was the second alleged hate crime to come to light in Santa Clara County in two days.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/crime_courts/15178768.htm


Per DU rules, Press Releases can be posted in their entirety:

Press Release

Annual ADL Audit: Anti-Semitic Incidents Decline in 2005 but Levels Still Of Concern In U.S.

New York, NY, April 5, 2006 … Despite a slight decline, the number of anti-Semitic incidents in the United States remained at disturbing levels in 2005, according to newly issued statistics from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). The League's annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, issued today, reported a total of 1,757 anti-Semitic incidents in 2005, a 3 percent decline from 2004.

"While any decline is encouraging, we remain concerned because too many people continue to act out their anti-Jewish hatred," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "We have always said that America is different, that the Jewish communities here are fortunate to be largely immune from the kind of anti-Semitic violence experienced by some European Jewish communities. The numbers remain sobering because we know from painful experience that it only takes one incident of anti-Semitism to affect an entire community."

The number of anti-Jewish incidents spiked in 2004 at 1,821 – a nine-year high, according to ADL



The 2005 ADL Audit comprises data from 42 states and the District of Columbia, including official crime statistics as well as information provided to ADL's 30 regional offices by victims, law enforcement officers and community leaders. The Audit identifies both criminal and non-criminal incidents of harassment and intimidation, including distribution of hate literature, threats and slurs.

Among the most serious incidents reported in 2005:

* An ambulance operated by Hatzolah, a Jewish volunteer emergency service squad in Queens, NY, was defaced with swastikas, a Hitler reference and "death to Jews" (March)
* A total of 64 headstones were toppled in two rural New Jersey Jewish cemeteries (June).
* Local teenagers vandalized and defecated in the synagogue of a rural New York resort bungalow colony, spray-painted religious books and pictures, drew swastikas on a table and elsewhere on the grounds, and set fire to a curtain over the Torah ark (August).
* In Swampscott, MA, three days before the start of the High Holidays, vandals defaced the inside of a synagogue with anti-Semitic graffiti (October).
* A school bus parked on a Phoenix, AZ synagogue's property was spray-painted with swastikas and anti-Semitic obscenities, including "F--- the Jews" (December).
* During the December holiday season, ADL confirmed nine separate incidents of vandalism involving public Hanukkah displays, including large menorahs in Philadelphia, PA; Holbrook, NY; New Windsor, NY; Santa Fe, NM; Orange County, CA; and Haverhill, MA that were damaged or defaced.

The Findings for 2005

Anti-Semitic incidents included in the Audit comprise physical and verbal assaults, harassment, property defacement, vandalism or other expressions of anti-Jewish sentiment. For reporting purposes, the ADL Audit divides anti-Semitic incidents into two categories: Vandalism, such as property damage, cemetery desecration or anti-Semitic graffiti; and Harassment, including threats and assaults directed at individuals and institutions.

Continuing a longstanding trend, states with the most total incidents included New York (381, up from 350 in 2004); New Jersey (266, down from 297); California (247, up from 237); Florida (199, up from 173); Massachusetts (93, down from 128) and Connecticut (57, down from 81).

* Vandalism: Acts of vandalism decreased by four percent to 617 incidents, compared to the 644 reported in 2004 (and also below the 628 reported in 2003). Examples of these incidents range from synagogue vandalism to swastikas and other anti-Jewish graffiti painted at schools, on private homes and public buildings.
* Harassment: Incidents of harassment decreased by 3 percent in 2005, with 1,140 incidents reported, compared with the 1,177 reported in 2004. As in 2004, harassment accounted for 65 percent of the total incidents reported in 2005.

Examples of harassment incidents included:

* The neo-Nazi National Alliance distributed anti-Semitic and racist fliers in six communities in the Sacramento, CA area on the same night (February).
* Message left on an Edison, NJ synagogue answering machine stated, "Dirty f---ing kikes, you will all go down in flames" (March).
* The lettering on a sign board outside a Jewish community center in Dunwoody, GA was rearranged on two different occasions to read, in part, "Hitler is god," and "Adolf is a Jew god" (May and June).
* Proprietors of a Fair Lawn, NJ Jewish funeral home received a violently anti-Semitic phone call, including the statement, "I want to cremate all Jews" (October).
* The principal of a local Illinois school told the parent of a student that the Star of David worn by the parent was a sign of devil worship. When told that it was a Jewish symbol, the principal replied, "If you are a Jew, you should have been gassed with the rest of them" (October).

Anti-Jewish Expressions in the Schools


Another factor that again played a role in both harassment and vandalism incidents was a high number of anti-Semitic acts reported at middle and high schools. In the eight states with the highest overall totals of anti-Semitic acts in 2005, 13 percent of all incidents were school based – the same level reported in 2004. These incidents took the form of swastikas painted or written on desks, walls and other school property, as well as anti-Jewish name-calling, slurs, mockery and bullying.

Some examples include:

* Swastikas and "kill the Jews" found painted on a Redding, CT high school wall (January).
* Students at a Northridge, CA grade school were heard making loud comments including, "Hitler was right," and "Burn the Jews" (March).
* Swastikas carved into classroom doors and other materials at a high school in Ardmore, PA (March).
* Obscenities including, "F--- the Jews" and swastikas scratched into playground equipment used by children on grounds of grade school in Hazlet Township, NJ (April).
* Note left for Staten Island, NY 8th grade teacher read, "Burn in hell, Jew bastard! Hitler Rocks." Swastikas also drawn on desks in classroom (April).
* At a Phoenix, AZ elementary school, a Jewish teacher's property was defaced with swastikas and a death threat (August).
* A teacher at a Los-Angeles area high school returned from the Yom Kippur holiday to find the windows of his classroom painted with swastikas (October).

Harassment by Hate Groups


In the eight states with the highest number of harassment reports, 112 of 871 incidents of harassment – 13 percent – were related to extremist group activity. Due to concerted activity by the neo-Nazi National Alliance early in the year in Montana, that rural state reported an unusually high number of incidents in 2005 (17 harassment, 11 vandalism). (The ADL Audit classifies leafleting reported by numerous recipients within the same neighborhood on the same day as a single incident.)

The continued high level of distribution of extremist fliers and other racist literature reflects ongoing "in-your-face" activity by various hate groups. At the same time, dissention and disarray in the ranks of the National Alliance led to a small decline in such leafleting as a percentage of all harassment incidents in 2005.

The Internet continued to play a substantial role in the dissemination of anti-Semitism, with hate literature being transmitted through hundreds of sites on the Web and through bulletin boards, chat rooms, and e-mail messages. While innumerable Internet messages are not generally counted as incidents of hate in the ADL Audit, specific threats aimed at Jewish synagogues and institutions via e-mail were counted.

Anti-Semitism on Campus


On campuses across the country, 98 anti-Semitic incidents were reported in 2005, an increase of nearly one-third from the 74 incidents reported in 2004. Campus incidents peaked at 106 in 2002.

Some examples include:

* The Hunter College (NY) Palestinian Club posted a sign showing the Star of David morphing into a swastika, and reading: "History Repeats: Look What Hitler Taught Some of His Victims" (February).
* At the University of Colorado at Boulder, swastikas were carved into a residence hall bulletin board (March).
* Swastikas, "Jews" and other racist and extremist symbols carved into the freshly poured concrete at new construction on campus of Atlantic Cape Community College in New Jersey (April).
* Posters advertising a Chicago Friends of Israel event placed in the campus library of the University of Chicago were defaced with swastikas (May).
* Swastikas were found in a dormitory at the University of Oregon and an acidic substance was used to form swastikas on a table top in a campus café (October).

About the ADL Audit


The Audit identifies both criminal and non-criminal acts of harassment and intimidation, including distribution of hate propaganda, threats and slurs. Compiled using official crime statistics, as well as information provided to ADL's 30 regional offices by victims, law enforcement officers and community leaders, the Audit provides an annual snapshot of a nationwide problem while identifying possible trends or changes in the types of activity reported.


The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

States with Anti-Semitic Incidents

KEY: HA: Harassment
VA: Vandalism
ST HA VA TOT
AK 13 7 20
AL 2 0 2
AR 1 0 1
AZ 11 14 25
CA 173 74 247
CO 28 8 36
CT 37 20 57
DC 5 1 6
FL 174 25 199
GA 14 12 26
HI 2 0 2
IA 1 0 1
ID 9 5 14
IL 23 7 30
IN 3 2 5
KY 3 0 3
LA 13 2 15
MA 66 27 93
MD 11 3 14
ME 1 0 1
MI 4 5 9
MN 1 0 1
MO 6 0 6
MT 17 11 28
NC 6 1 7
ND 0 1 1
NH 7 1 8
NJ 77 189 266
NM 11 1 12
NV 12 3 15
NY 227 154 381
OH 12 1 13
OR 13 6 19
PA 78 17 95
RI 1 1 2
SC 4 1 5
TN 4 1 5
TX 9 6 15
UT 1 1 2
VA 12 0 12
VT 1 0 1
WA 40 9 49
WI 7 1 8
TOT 1140 617 1757

More:
http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASUS_12/audit_2005.htm

[Lurking Dem]

34. I wish I could say this surprised me.

But after some of the crap I've read here the last few it really doesn't at all.

[Behind the Aegis]

62. I agree LD!

It has been frightening indeed.

[Ian David]

27. Here's a whole town in Delaware organized around anti-semitism

Jewish family flees Delaware school district's aggressive Christianity

A large Delaware school district promoted Christianity so aggressively that a Jewish family felt it necessary to move to Wilmington, two hours away, because they feared retaliation for filing a lawsuit. The religion (if any) of a second family in the lawsuit is not known, because they're suing as Jane and John Doe; they also fear retaliation. Both families are asking relief from "state-sponsored religion."

The behavior of the Indian River School District board's behavior suggests the families' fears are hardly groundless.

The district spreads over a considerable portion of southeast Delaware. The families' complaint, filed in federal court in February 2005, alleges that the district had created an "environment of religious exclusion" and unconstitutional state-sponsored religion.

Among numerous specific examples in the complaint was what happened at plaintiff Samantha Dobrich's graduation in 2004 from the district's high school. She was the only Jewish student in her graduating class. The complaint relates that local pastor, Jerry Fike, in his invocation, followed requests for "our heavenly Father's" guidance for the graduates with:

I also pray for one specific student, that You be with her and guide her in the path that You have for her. And we ask all these things in Jesus' name.

More:
http://www.jewsonfirst.org/06b/indianriver.html

[5thGenDemocrat]

45. Welcome to DU, sevenleagueboots

Guessing from your screen name, I suspect you are a Richard Halliburton fan. My mom loved his books when she was a little girl and turned me on to them as a youngster as well. I suspect a lot of his "adventures" were complete hokum, but the books are still a thumping good read.
Again, welcome to DU.
John
And, yes -- IIRC, Richard Halliburton's family founded THAT Halliburton. But Mr H died trying to sail a junk across the Pacific circa 1939. So the behavior by the current company can't be pinned on him.
Eliot Ness went on after "The Untouchables" to head THAT Diebold for awhile, too.

[Scurrilous]

14. Australia: Jewish community center attacked

For second time in a week, Jewish institution attacked in Sydney when would-be arsonists target community center in city. Australian Jewish organizations: Incident related to conflict in Lebanon

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3285504,00.html

<snip>

"A Jewish community center in the Bondi neighborhood of the capital was damaged by unknown vandals. CEO of the New South Wales board of deputies, Vic Alhadeff, said that gasoline-soaked logs were thrown at the building, in an attempt to set it on fire.

The center is currently under construction and, thus, was fortunately empty. Only minor damages resulted from the attack.

Sunday, a house attached to the city's Parramatta synagogue was the focus of a similar attack . A cement block was thrown through the window and cars near the synagogue also had their windows smashed in. The perpetrators managed to escape and area police reported that they are searching for ten suspects of Middle Eastern appearance seen fleeing the scene.

Alhadeff claimed that these two incidents are related to the current conflict between Israel and Hizbullah. "Every time there's a rise in tensions in the Middle East, there is a clear rise in the number of attacks on Jews and Jewish targets in Australia," he told Australian media sources. "There is no place for racism in our society," he added."

[951-Riverside]

25. Don't they have pizzas to make?

I mean where do they find time from running the Mafia and making pizzas to write hate symbols on Jewish Shops? :sarcasm:

[Gully Foyle]

31. Jesus

Make pizza?
What next?
Spaghetti bending?
The flat tire jokes?
Talk about racism.

[Bretttido]

33. It was Sarcasm

But seriously, between eating pizza, drinking wine, and making meat-a-balls, how are they not more obese than Americans?? :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bling bling]

38. Nice.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Welcome to the 21st century, where innocent Jews are still attacked world-wide and it's still their own fault for provoking it. Unbelievable. What's even sadder is all the people here that I just know would jump to defend your comment calling everyone *else* who disagrees the fascist shitheads.

[Lurking Dem]

39. Tom Lehrer keeps going through my head

Oh, the white folks hate the black folks,
And the black folks hate the white folks.
To hate all but the right folks
Is an old established rule.

But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
Lena Horne and Sheriff Clarke are dancing cheek to cheek.
It's fun to eulogize
The people you despise,
As long as you don't let 'em in your school.

Oh, the poor folks hate the rich folks,
And the rich folks hate the poor folks.
All of my folks hate all of your folks,
It's American as apple pie.

But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
New Yorkers love the Puerto Ricans 'cause it's very chic.
Step up and shake the hand
Of someone you can't stand.
You can tolerate him if you try.

Oh, the Protestants hate the Catholics,
And the Catholics hate the Protestants,
And the Hindus hate the Moslems,
And everybody hates the Jews.

But during National Brotherhood Week, National Brotherhood Week,
It's National Everyone-smile-at-one-another-hood Week.
Be nice to people who
Are inferior to you.
It's only for a week, so have no fear.
Be grateful that it doesn't last all year!

[ikri]

46. Anti-Semitics in Rome?

They're probably Ultras, groups of supporters who follow the local football (soccer) teams Lazio and AS Roma.

Here are a few pictures of the fans (and players) in all their glory :puke:



(yes, that's a Nazi salute, the player - Paolo Di Canio - later admitted it and was fined €10000. He calls himself a fascist but doesn't admit to being racist)

The authorities in Italy have refused to deal with this fascist scum for years. I seriously doubt that these incidents were a reaction to the hostilities in the Lebanon as Pacifici suggests, the perpetrators are undoubtedly fascists using the hostilities as cover for their racism (they don't like Muslims too much either - they're equal opportunity racists).

[MrPrax]

48. Well yeah...

that's the part that's strange is why would 'neo-nazi' groups, like in Spain, France, etc...who really hate Arabs and Muslims, (their obsession as these two groups are much larger)...write pro-Hezbullah graffiti?

The swaztika shit is understandable...they invented Fascism in the first place...but why they would extend this 'hate ideology' to take the side of one hated group over another is a little bizarre?

Sounds like naturalized arabs who are well aware of the potency of such hate symbols.

[Telly Savalas]

55. Roma fans are fascists?

I thought they tended to lean left.

[IndianaGreen]

56. It is going to get a lot uglier than this, even in the USA

The moment we accept the concept that doing harm to innocent people in order to achieve an objective is just "collateral damage," we remove all restraints on human behaviour.

Life was cheap during every genocide and crime against humanity that was ever committed by any nation.

By refusing to have a ceasefire in Lebanon, we are cheapening human life, and making it easier for someone else to justify the taking of human life.

[54anickel]

59. Hey IndianaGreen - I hate being this cynical, but do you suppose

some of the "ugliness" about to unfold will be faked?

I could see groups like the Christians United for Israel (CUFI) wanting to flame anti-semitism and going so far as to create it where none exists. :shrug:

I found the CUFI group interesting, it certainly popped up quickly. Less than 6 months old and yet has the ear of DimSon and the Congress.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0727-11.htm

snip>

Last week, while the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict continued to escalate, Christians United for Israel (CUFI) -- an organisation founded less than six months ago by Texas evangelist Rev. John C. Hagee, pastor of the 18,000-member Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas and the author of "Jerusalem Countdown," a 2006 book about a nuclear-armed Iran -- rolled into Washington for its first major get-together.

More than 3,400 delegates from across the United States attended the inaugural meeting.

CUFI kicked off the gathering on Jul. 19 with its "A Night to Honour Israel" banquet at the grand ballroom in the Washington Hilton. The festivities attracted a number of high-profile Israeli and U.S. political leaders, including Israeli Ambassador Daniel Ayalon, retired Israeli defence chief Lt. Gen. Moshe Yaalon and Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman.

According to a report posted at Israpundit, Hagee read greetings from President George W. Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. Bush commented: "God bless and stand by the people of Israel and God bless the United States."

Olmert's letter referred to CUFI's "bold stand at this crisis time," and the group's acknowledgement of Israel's biblical 'birthright'."

more...

[w4rma]

61. I don't think you should count on that or assume that. (nt)

[54anickel]

63. I wouldn't assume it from the get-go, but I think it will give me pause

to dig a bit deeper into some of it as it comes about. There's not a whole lot of anything I'm willing to take at face value anymore these days. Too much lying, manipulating and deceit going on these days by very large and powerful groups.

[IndianaGreen]

68. Hagee is a scum

but it would be counterproductive for them to stage anti-Semitic acts. The backlash to a fake attack would hurt the credibility of real victims of anti-Semitism, and they do exist.

[NaturalHigh]

58. More proof that shitheads are everywhere.

I have never understood some people's irrational hatred of Jews.

[MarkDevin]

65. "Armed Revolutionary Fascists?"

Armed Ignorant Scumbags is more like it. :grr:

[No Exit]

79. About that term, "anti-Semitism"...

I thought Lebanese were Semites, too? So wouldn't that mean that Lebanese, both Hezbollah and non-Hezbollah, are Semites?

[OrechDin]

83. That would be misuse of the term.

`Anti-Semitism (alternatively spelled antisemitism) is hostility toward or prejudice against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group`


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Semite

[cali]

86. About that term antisemitism

As any philologist or etymologist can tell you, not all words are directly related to their root. In this case antisemitism is a word coined by Wilhelm Marr to codify his Jew hating philosophy, in 1879. Can the meaning of words shift over time? Sure, but antisemitism hasn't, as of yet. And for good reason. Using it to cover antipathy toward all groups who speak semitic languages, virtually nullifies the word itself. What if someone is bigoted against Arabs and not Jews, or visa versa?