Public officials, religious leaders denounce anti-Semitic attacks and bomb threats
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| Rep. Gerry Connolly at the podium, surrounded by public officials. [Jamie Smith] |
Government leaders and the heads of various
religious institutions appeared at a news conference at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia March 3 to denounce the recent wave of anti-Semitic
vandalism and intimidation nationwide.
religious institutions appeared at a news conference at the Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia March 3 to denounce the recent wave of anti-Semitic
vandalism and intimidation nationwide.
Hundreds of gravestones were toppled at Jewish cemeteries in
Missouri and Pennsylvania, and more than 100 Jewish community centers and
schools have received bomb threats. There were 21 bomb threats on Feb. 27, including
one targeting the Gesher Jewish Day School in Fairfax.
Missouri and Pennsylvania, and more than 100 Jewish community centers and
schools have received bomb threats. There were 21 bomb threats on Feb. 27, including
one targeting the Gesher Jewish Day School in Fairfax.
Rep. Gerry Connolly said he came to the briefing “to demonstrate
solidarity in our shared conviction and commitment to working together to
eliminate hate in our society.”
“We must demonstrate that we have zero tolerance for
such disgusting acts of prejudice,” said Connolly, who is on the bipartisan Anti-Semitism
Task Force on Capitol Hill. “This is our shared fight. It is not open season on
Jews, Latinos, African Americans, Muslims, or any other minority groups in
America. It is unacceptable, and I will fight it with every ounce of my being.”
such disgusting acts of prejudice,” said Connolly, who is on the bipartisan Anti-Semitism
Task Force on Capitol Hill. “This is our shared fight. It is not open season on
Jews, Latinos, African Americans, Muslims, or any other minority groups in
America. It is unacceptable, and I will fight it with every ounce of my being.”
“There is a reason we have witnessed a rise of white supremacist
activities in general over the last year,” Connolly said. “We know
that hate begets hate. And one need only to turn on the nightly news or scroll
through one’s Twitter feed to see the kind of incitement that leads to the acts
we have gathered to protest and condemn.”
activities in general over the last year,” Connolly said. “We know
that hate begets hate. And one need only to turn on the nightly news or scroll
through one’s Twitter feed to see the kind of incitement that leads to the acts
we have gathered to protest and condemn.”
“Hate is not an acceptable expression of political opinion,
and it must never be,” Connolly said. “America is a work in progress,
especially on this issue, but it is my fear that the 2016 election actually set
us back in fighting hate speech and hate crimes. We have seen it from the very
top – the demonization of entire swaths of our society.”
and it must never be,” Connolly said. “America is a work in progress,
especially on this issue, but it is my fear that the 2016 election actually set
us back in fighting hate speech and hate crimes. We have seen it from the very
top – the demonization of entire swaths of our society.”
Other elected officials who
appeared at the news conference included Virginia Attorney General Mark
Herring; Rep. Don Beyer; Rep. Barbara Comstock; Fairfax Board of Supervisors
Chair Sharon Bulova; supervisors Penny Gross, John Cook, and Pat Herrity; state
senators Dick Saslaw, Dave Marsden, and Chap Peterson; delegates Eileen
Filler-Corn, David Bulova, and Mark Levine; Sheriff Stacey Kincaid; and Fairfax
City Mayor Dave Meyer.
appeared at the news conference included Virginia Attorney General Mark
Herring; Rep. Don Beyer; Rep. Barbara Comstock; Fairfax Board of Supervisors
Chair Sharon Bulova; supervisors Penny Gross, John Cook, and Pat Herrity; state
senators Dick Saslaw, Dave Marsden, and Chap Peterson; delegates Eileen
Filler-Corn, David Bulova, and Mark Levine; Sheriff Stacey Kincaid; and Fairfax
City Mayor Dave Meyer.
The
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington organized the event as
an expression of support and solidarity, both for the Jewish community and in
opposition to hatred toward any faith or minority community.
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington organized the event as
an expression of support and solidarity, both for the Jewish community and in
opposition to hatred toward any faith or minority community.
Participating
religious leaders included Imam Johari Abdul-Malik of Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic
Center; Rizwan Jaka of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society; V. Shanmugasundaram
of the Durga Temple of Virginia; Rabbi David Kalender of Congregation Olam
Tikvah; Rev. Dr. Michael P. Burn of Providence Presbyterian Church; and Regan
Brough of the Annandale Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
religious leaders included Imam Johari Abdul-Malik of Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic
Center; Rizwan Jaka of the All Dulles Area Muslim Society; V. Shanmugasundaram
of the Durga Temple of Virginia; Rabbi David Kalender of Congregation Olam
Tikvah; Rev. Dr. Michael P. Burn of Providence Presbyterian Church; and Regan
Brough of the Annandale Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
2 responses to “Public officials, religious leaders denounce anti-Semitic attacks and bomb threats”
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Glad to read that there has been one arrest related to some of the bomb threats:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-jewish-bomb-threats-arrest-20170303-story.html
I thought the guy who called in the bomb threats was African American??? Is he a white supremacist as implied here? I have no use for white supremacists or people who claim that every stupid swastika and bomb threat is being caused by white supremacists. How do we know these are not liberals trying to push the country over the edge by doing these terrible things?????