You probably don't need a guide to the anti-Semitic comings and goings of this Administration- whether the graphic Trump tweeted of Hillary Clinton on a background with a Star of David on which were inscribed the words, "most corrupt candidate ever," or the allegations against Trump's closest advisor, Stephen Bannon, by his ex-wife in which she outlined three separate anti-Semitic remarks that Bannon allegedly made as she toured some of the most elite private schools in the Los Angeles area for their daughters, or their bizarre Holocaust Remembrance Day Statement which omitted any mention of Jews. We won't even mention that Bannon was the Executive Chair of anti-Semitic Breitbart News , nor that Trump seems to embrace, not denounce White Supremacists.
This Trump easy peace with Anti-Semites seems to have encouraged a broad range of anti-Semitic happenings since his Inauguration - attacks on synagogues and JCCs, the desecration of a Jewish cemetery, the random appearance of Swastikas in Ameriacn communities.
Recently, during his chaotic press conference last Thursday, when asked by a reporter of a Jewish magazine about government plans to act to stop these anti-Semitic incidents, Trump declined to answer, choosing instead, as ever, to talk about himself. He responded angrily, calling the question "insulting" and saying that he was the "least anti-Semitic person in the world." His capacity for self-praising superlatives seems to have no limits.
On Monday, the anti-Semitic activities in America accelerated. 11 bombs scares were called into JCCs around the country.
That day, Trump's daughter Ivanka, a convert to Judaism, issued a statement over Twitter on Monday calling for "religious tolerance" after a new wave of threats against Jewish community centers around the country.
America is a nation built on the principle of religious tolerance. We must protect our houses of worship & religious centers. #JCC— Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) February 20, 2017
On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton spoke out, and urged everyone, including Trump, to speak out against the attacks.
JCC threats, cemetery desecration & online attacks are so troubling & they need to be stopped. Everyone must speak out, starting w/ @POTUS.— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 21, 2017.
By then, even Trump, under attack for his silence, felt compelled to make a statement. "The anti-Semitic threats targeting our Jewish community and community centers are horrible, and are painful, and a very sad reminder of the work that still must be done to root out hate and prejudice and evil," Trump said.
This didn't do the job for The Ann Frank House and many others. Their statement speaks for itself.
February 21, 2017
Trump's Press Secretary, the always appropriate Sean Spicer, weighed in. "I wish that they had praised the President for his leadership in this area," he said.
Muslim activists Linda Sarsour and Tarek El-Messidi launched crowdfunding campaign to support the repair of a St. Louis Jewish cemetery that was vandalized over the weekend — and the response has been overwhelming.
The campaign, which aimed to raise $20,000, exceeded its target in three hours — and had drawn more than $58,000, nearly triple its initial target by early Wednesday.
"We are overjoyed to reach our goal," organizers wrote. "Any additional funds raised in this campaign will assist other vandalized Jewish centers.
DONATE WHAT YOU CAN. Muslims Unite to Repair Jewish Cemetery! https://www.launchgood.com/project/muslims_unite_t.../ @LSarsour (February 21, 2017)
You may remember Sarsour's face.
The Palestinian-American activist is one of the organizers of the Women's March on February 21, 2017.
Remember her name. Remember her face. This is what Leadership looks like.
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February 22, 2017
