“Second Gentleman” calls for fight against anti-Semitism, attack foiled in New York

Doug Emhoff, the husband of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, called on Wednesday to fight the “epidemic of hate” in the U.S. during an event against anti-Semitism, at which point the new Justice Yorker declared a failure. Anti-Semitic “terror attack”.

“I am proud to be Jewish. I am proud to live openly as a Jew. I am not afraid. I refuse to be intimidated,” he said during a White House roundtable with representatives and officials from the Jewish community.

“Our country is facing an epidemic of hate. Let me make it clear that words matter. People are not content to say what they think in silence. They really shout it,” lamented Doug Emhoff, who has taken an increasingly public role in mobilizing against anti-Semitism for the White House.

The first Jew and first man in this role of vice president’s husband, the “second man” participated in receptions at the White House during the holidays of Hanukkah, Rosh Hashanah, or the Jewish Passover.

“For me, the conversation (about anti-Semitism) is not over, it’s just begun,” he said.

On Friday, President Joe Biden strongly condemned anti-Semitism, which experts say is behind the dangerous trivialization of anti-Semitic comments and incitement of hatred from influential people on social networks.

The “attack” on New York failed

In New York – home to the world’s largest Jewish community outside of Israel – Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced that a “terrorist attack on the Jewish community” had been foiled and two young men charged.

Christopher Brown and Matthew Mahrer, both in their twenties, were arrested in November at Penn Station in Manhattan for possessing or possessing a gun, ammunition, a knife, a swastika and a ski balaclava.

After accusing Mr Brown of a “terrorist crime” and a “terrorist threat” on Twitter, he posted threats such as: “Should I become a husband or shoot up a synagogue”.

“I’m going to do it this time,” he wrote back, according to New York lawyers.

“Thanks to the persistence, hard work and coordination between my services and our law enforcement partners at the local, state and federal levels, a terrible tragedy was averted,” Attorney Bragg was quoted as saying in a press release.

According to the American Anti-Semitic Defamation League, the United States recorded 2,717 anti-Semitic acts (assaults, verbal attacks, property damage, etc.) in 2021, an increase of 34%. A year.

According to a recent report by the American Jewish Committee (AJC), one of America’s oldest Jewish advocacy organizations, “39% of American Jews fear anti-Semitism and have changed their behavior, including taking steps to hide their Jewish identity.” 24% said they have been the target of anti-Semitism.

During the White House roundtable, AJC Executive Director Ted Deutch called for the creation of a task force to “develop a national action plan against anti-Semitism.”

Experts worry about the trivialization of anti-Semitic rhetoric, released by personalities such as rapper Kanye West, for example who recently launched several times: “I love Hitler. »

Former President Donald Trump, for his part, sparked outrage for hosting a dinner at his home in Florida attended by Nick Fuentes, a white supremacist.