A fourth wave of bomb threats targeted 11 Jewish community centers on Monday, and more than 200 graves were vandalized at a Jewish cemetery outside St. Louis. The surge of anti-Semitism has Jewish communities on edge, and while the White House issued a statement condemning the violent threats, the statement itself did not mention Jews or anti-Semitism. The president himself finally denounced anti-Semitism, calling the threats “horrible.” But is that enough?
PERSPECTIVES
Trump was criticized for bluntly sidestepping questions on anti-Semitic violence during two separate press conferences last week. The president has tweeted numerous condemnations of Islamic terrorism–even Nordstrom’s and “Saturday Night Live” have been subject to his ire.
Anti-defamation groups say his social media silence on anti-Semitic violence is deafening. They want to hear specific actions the president plans to take through law enforcement to address the problem.
Trump seems way angrier about Nordstrom’s, SNL, and what happened in Sweden than he is about anti-Semitism.
— Toure (@Toure) February 21, 2017
President Trump finally decried any bomb threats and vandalism, calling anti-Semitism “horrible.” Ivanka Trump also spoke out against the wave of violence on Twitter. Trump’s supporters point to his Jewish family members (including Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner) as evidence for his support of the Jewish community.
thetylt.com For many, Trump’s acknowledgment has not gone far enough. Jewish communities and anti-hate groups condemn the fact the White House did not mention Jews in their Holocaust remembrance statement, and say the lack of action and acknowledgment by this administration has created a climate where anti-Semitism can thrive. thetylt.com
Others were relieved the president finally acknowledged anti-Jewish sentiments, and say that signals a more proactive approach toward the problem.
President Trump condemns anti-Semitism: ‘It has to stop’ https://t.co/QTNtNS8A6G via @nbcnews Better late than never
— Richard Healey (@rickyrichard2) February 21, 2017
At least one group, the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, is linking the rise in anti-Semitism to “expressions of bigotry surrounding the U.S. presidential campaign.”
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