Alarming Rise of Anti-Semitism in America and How the Trump Administration is Addressing It

Anti-semitism are acts or expressions of hostility to people belonging to the Semitic race or religion, but mainly targeting Jews.

Anti-semitic actions reached epic proportions during Adolf Hitler’s reign as leader of a convoluted socialist group of people who believed in purifying the Aryan race. That which they attempted to accomplish by eradicating not only foreign races, but also Aryan individuals regarded as weak, having congenital defects and genetic disorders. The Jews and gypsies became the main targets of a genocide widely known as the “Holocaust”, which should have ended along with Hitler’s Nazi regime.

After World War II, new proponents of anti-semitism did not go far, as nations condoned any form of discrimination or exclusion directed toward individuals belonging to minority races. Many in Europe though, are of the opinion that anti-semitic actions still happen nearly every day. Of late however, hostile movements against Jews and immigrants are on the rise, which surprisingly is gaining ground in America.

Rise of Anti-Semitism in the US Baffles Many

Not a few are baffled by the sharp rise of anti-semitism in America, considering that the United States is a conglomeration of different races and culture. After all, the poem inscribed on the Statue of Liberty was taken as an invitation for the tired and landless masses to migrate in U.S. soil.

However, the overload of immigrants coming to the U.S. made it necessary for the government to implement laws limiting the number of immigrants based on country of origin. Through the years, as government administrations changed hands, so did the policies implemented on matters related to immigration.

Deadliest Anti-Semitic Action in Pittsburgh Sows Fear Among “Holocaust” Immigrants

In October 2018, a man armed with an assault rifle and 3 handguns stormed into the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, a Jewish neighborhood in the city of Pittsburgh. The man opened fire on the members of the congregation, whilst invoking anti-semitic slur; killing 11 worshippers and critically injuring 2 others. The man, who had no earlier police records, exchanged gunfire with the responding police officers; wounding four of them before deciding to surrender.

The brazenness of the gunman’s anti-semitic act had sown fear in many Jewish communities, particularly the remaining survivors of the “Holocaust.” It was the most violent incident of anti-semitism act, which according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) rose by 57% in 2017. The ADL reported that as far back as 2010, every U.S. state reported cases of anti-semitism, such as writing “Kill all Jews,” “Hitler Was Not Wrong,” or “No Jew”, on synagogues, school campuses, homes and even on Jewish graves.

Women of Cleveland Cite Trump’s Divisive Racial Rhetorics as Part of the Issue

In 2017, Heather Heyer, was killed while rallying against campaigns for white supremacy in Charlottesville, Virginia. In reacting to the incident, President Trump’s comment was regarded as a refusal to disavow anti-semitism, and therefore not really meant to address the issue about the rise of anti-semitic incidents that has escalated into violent acts. Without mentioning anti-semitism, his statement read:

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides”

The Women’s March Cleveland holds an annual protest to show their strong aversion to anti-semitism, bigotry, racism, and other forms of discrimination. Kathy Wray Coleman, organizer of the Women’s March Cleveland emphasized that they are protesting in particular, the policies and incendiary racial rhetorics of the Trump administration.

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