We must all stand by our values |
The Holocaust did not begin with gas chambers. It began with the normalization of hate, conspiracy, and propaganda, and with ordinary people deciding it was easier to stay silent. With the current rise of antisemitism and bigotry throughout our communities, we are seeing more people step back into the shadows rather than fight for the humanity of their neighbors.
The holiday season is upon us, and sadly, this special time of year has been marred by acts of hatred and violence. One week after a neo-Nazi white supremacy group marched from the Arkansas State Capitol to my alma mater, Little Rock Central High School, a Jew-hating father and son turned a joyful Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, into a scene of terror.
Fueled by an antisemitic rage, the two men wounded 40 people and killed 15 unarmed citizens, including a 10-year-old child and an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor.
Antisemitism is not some distant problem that only flares up overseas. In the United States, recent studies have reported a 893 percent increase in antisemitic........