The Third Act of This Week’s Political Violence: Tree of Life Synagogue

A racist killing in Kentucky. Pipe bombs sent to prominent elected officials. Now Pittsburgh. Our folks in the Iron City have something to say about all of this. 

Keystone Anti-Racist Action

PITTSBURGH, PA- The latest escalation of white supremacist terror attacks happened yesterday in Pittsburgh. A gutless gunman entered the Tree of Life Synagogue screaming “All Jews Must Die!” and proceeded to murder 11 innocent worshipers.

Pittsburgh’s Jewish community has a long vibrant history in the region. The Squirrel Hill neighborhood where the domestic terror attack occurred is arguably the heart of this community. The whole spectrum of Jewish life and worship can be found in Pittsburgh. The Jewish community has touched every aspect of life in Pittsburgh, from education, health care, politics, transportation, infrastructure, and our beloved sports teams. This terror attack is an atrocity that will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the world wide Jewish community and Pittsburgh as a city.

The miscreant who perpetrated this latest white supremacist terror attack openly posted on the alt-right associated social media platform GAB, threatening members of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS). Founded in 1881 to help Jewish people fleeing violence in Russia and Eastern Europe, HIAS continues to aid immigrants coming to this country with material and legal assistance. The group’s history includes setting up an office on Ellis Island in 1904 that helped Jewish and other European immigrants navigate the paperwork and requirements of coming to this country.

The escalating anti immigrant rhetoric and fear mongering in this country is having a direct impact on hate groups and influencing racially motivated campaigns of harassment, assault and murder. There are also other contributing factors worth mentioning, such as the rise in both explicitly anti-Semitic rhetoric and dog whistle anti-Semitic fear mongering among President Trump, the GOP and the Alt-Right. There has also been an increase in racist rhetoric and activity directed at people who are not immigrants, including racist commentary about black people and blatant attempts to disenfranchise native, latinx and black populations before the upcoming elections. Not to mention inflammatory rhetoric directed at journalists and any politicians who stand up to President Trump, using language that almost directly encourages violence. The deep seeded misogynist attempts to criminalize, neglect and deny care of women and LGBTQ people is a constant underlying motivator in the white supremacist movements. The recorded admissions of sexual assaults, violations and blatant disrespect of women by President Trump has driven his policies and personal appointments. This further emboldens racists who view misogyny as part of their belief systems.

In an October 22 campaign speech, President Trump accuses political rivals of an “assault on the sovereignty of our country” by their support for immigration reform and policies. This type of militarized rhetoric surrounding immigration has been a cornerstone of his platform since the beginning of his presidential campaign.

This Pittsburgh attack comes one day after the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) issued a report on the rise of online anti-Semitic activity in the lead-up to the mid term elections in the United States. The ADL has tracked anti-Semitic activity in the United States for decades.

Pittsburgh, like the rest of the country, has seen a dramatic rise of organized hate groups, lone wolf terror and ethnic intimidation in the last two years. In many of our neighborhoods there are stickers and flyers spread around from organized hate groups. Racist boneheads can be spotted walking around town openly wearing T-shirts from hate bands.

On August 19^th Dulane Cameron Jr. was murdered by a coward who posted racist memes and videos on his Facebook page. This murder took place in a busy restaurant area near the stadiums on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. Despite the large racist social media footprint of the murderer, this crime is not being investigated as a hate crime or domestic terrorist attack.

On July 7^th a black man was attacked by a group of Keystone United (KU) members and affiliates in an Avalon bar. The group used racial slurs and wore clothing identifying them as KU members. Six of the attackers are currently awaiting charges including “ethnic intimidation”- the PA state law equivalent to a hate crime. This hate group has been heavily attempting to recruit white people from our region. A few months prior to the attack, KU hosted an event in Pittsburgh that was attended by many of their members from across the state including some founding members.

Last year a local neo-Nazi violated his parole conditions after distributing racist flyers in Squirrel Hill and a weapons violation. He is currently incarcerated. Prior to his most recent incarceration, he had a long and violent history in Pittsburgh.

A white power record label relocated to Pittsburgh in 2017. It is run by a known neo-Nazi who was dishonorably discharged from the United States military after pleading guilty to charges stemming from an attack on a homeless man in Cincinnati, Ohio. That attack left the homeless man with facial fractures and needing 18 stitches. This record label distributes hate music and promotes hate bands. Hate music has been a very successful recruiting and infiltration tool used by organized hate groups.

The rise of right wing populism in mainstream politics has been fueling organized white supremacist activity as well as domestic terrorism. The anti immigrant rhetoric dominating our society has emboldened every day white supremacists to act- from the countless online videos of white people verbally assaulting people for speaking Spanish to the horrific racially motivated domestic terror attack in Pittsburgh. The tightening of immigration policies coupled with the overt xenophobic campaign speeches are providing the perfect climate for hate groups and hate fueled terror attacks committed by individuals to bring to life their online fantasies.

Our hearts go out to all of the individuals affected by this barbaric act of violence. Today more than ever it is important to document this activity. Infiltrate their social media platforms. Expose their networks. Boycott companies that enable these organizations to thrive. Confront them at every opportunity. Deny them a platform anywhere. Together, through a concerted effort, we can root these vermin out wherever they have infested.