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A26 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 13 May 2020
Report: Anti-Semitic incidents in U.S. hit record high in 2019

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN with a machete at a Ha-
Associated Press nukkah celebration at a
SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — rabbi's home in Monsey, an
American Jews were tar- Orthodox Jewish commu-
gets of more anti-Semitic nity north of New York City.
incidents in 2019 than any One of the five victims died
other year over the past three months after the Dec.
four decades, a surge 28 attack. Federal prosecu-
marked by deadly attacks tors said Thomas had hand-
on a California synagogue, written journals contain-
a Jewish grocery store in ing anti-Semitic comments
New Jersey and a rabbi's and a swastika.
New York home, the Anti- The ADL's report attributed
Defamation League re- 270 anti-Semitic incidents
ported Tuesday. to extremist groups or in-
The Jewish civil rights group dividuals. A separate ADL
counted 2,107 anti-Semitic report, released in Febru-
incidents in 2019, finding ary, found that 2019 was
61 physical assault cases, the sixth deadliest year for
1,127 instances of harass- violence by all domestic
ment and 919 acts of van- extremists since 1970.
dalism. That's the highest The ADL counted 919 van-
annual tally since the New dalism incidents in 2019, a
York City-based group be- In this Dec. 11, 2019, file photo, Orthodox Jewish men carry Moshe Deutsch's casket outside a 19% increase from 774 inci-
gan tracking anti-Semitic Brooklyn synagogue following his funeral in New York. Associated Press dents in 2018.
incidents in 1979. It also Two men described by au-
marked a 12% increase the oldest hatred. It never be Jewish, accompanied were trying to "destroy all thorities as members of a
over the 1,879 incidents it seems to go away. There by evidence of antisemitic white people," according white supremacist group
counted in 2018. truly is no single antidote or animus." to prosecutors. called The Base were
Jonathan Greenblatt, the cure." Three of those 2019 assaults Attacks in Jersey City, New charged with conspiring
group's CEO, attributes last "Objects were thrown at were deadly. Jersey, killed a police de- last year to vandalize syn-
year's record high to a "nor- victims, antisemitic slurs A 20-year-old former nurs- tective in a cemetery and agogues, including Beth
malization of anti-Semitic were shouted, and at least ing student, John T. Earnest, three people at a kosher Israel Sinai Congregation
tropes," the "charged poli- three victims were hit or awaits trial on charges he market in December. Au- in Racine, Wisconsin. Even
tics of the day" and social punched in their heads or killed a woman and wound- thorities said the attack- before his synagogue was
media. This year, he said, faces," says the report first ed three other people dur- ers, David Anderson and defaced with swastikas,
the COVID-19 pandemic given exclusively to The As- ing an attack on Chabad Francine Graham, were Rabbi Martyn Adelberg
is fueling anti-Semitic con- sociated Press. of Poway synagogue near motivated by a hatred of sensed that anti-Semitic
spiracy theories. The ADL defines an anti-Se- San Diego in April 2019. Jewish people and law en- incidents in the U.S. have
"Anti-Semitism is a virus. mitic assault as "an attempt The gunman told a 911 dis- forcement. been increasing as extrem-
It is like a disease, and it to inflict physical harm on patcher that he shot up the A 37-year-old man, Graf- ist rhetoric migrates from
persists," Greenblatt said. one or more people who synagogue on the last day ton Thomas, was charged the internet's fringes to
"It's sometimes known as are Jewish or perceived to of Passover because Jews with stabbing five people mainstream platforms.q
Detroit-area residents lift spirits with costumed parades

By MIKE HOUSEHOLDER bears to a cheerful Pikachu, that their costumes are fully
Associated Press Stay Puft Marshmallow Man enclosed and that every
FERNDALE, Mich. (AP) — and Mr. Potato Head. And, member also wears a mask
Sarah Ignash spends her of course, there's a T-Rex. while inside. Plus, socially
days looking after dogs in They trek single-file along distancing is no problem for
normal times. With her busi- sidewalks to thematically them. "A lot of us are very
ness temporarily shuttered appropriate tunes such as large and we have very
because of the corona- the Bangles' "Walk Like an long tails," Ignash said. "So,
virus, though, she's taken Egyptian," and "Walk the Di- maintaining social distanc-
to walks on the wild side nosaur" by Was (Not Was). ing is very easy in these."
through her Detroit suburb "The purpose of the group is While the club members
with dancing bears, biped- to just do something a little get a kick out of their pa-
al zebras and the like. bit out of the ordinary," said rades, the idea is to bring
Ignash, whose business in Ignash, the group's leader a little bit of cheer to their
nearby Roseville specializes and founding member. fellow residents who remain
in boarding, grooming and This photo provided by the Boston Police Department shows Most members of the T-Rex under quarantine as part of
day care for dogs, is one officers and a peacock in Boston on Monday, May 11, 2020. Walking Club also belong Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's
of the roughly two dozen Associated Press to the Elks lodge in Fern- stay-at-home order.
members of the Ferndale can really see, (because) Monday's impromptu pa- dale, and they adhere to a "That's just really why we're
T-Rex Walking Club who I have my mask on. And rade. It was the club's sev- strict set of guidelines. doing it. It's just something
have been donning inflat- when I walk, I'm just smil- enth walk since it formed "We do not tell anybody that's very unexpected.
able costumes for feel- ing from ear to ear," the in March. The members' where we're going to walk, And people need some-
good jaunts during these 42-year-old Ignash said be- full-body inflatable cos- where we're meeting or the thing a little bit different to
stressful times. fore donning her pink uni- tumes run the gamut from time that we're going to break up the day, I think,"
"It's so much fun. Nobody corn get-up and leading dancing hippos, sharks and walk," said Ignash, adding Ignash said. q