Extremists among the radical right wing have gone on a killing spree, and Jews — indeed all Americans — must unite in forceful opposition.
The most blatantly anti-Semitic incident came June 10 when James von Brunn walked into the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and shot to death security guard Stephen Johns.
This killing came two weeks after a radical anti-abortion activist gunned down a Wichita, Kan., doctor who performed abortions.
Add to this list the recent killings of police officers, immigrants and innocent churchgoers at the hands of extremists, and we have a serious domestic terrorism problem in this country.
Fortunately, the Justice Department is poised to act. This week Attorney General Eric Holder called on Congress to enact tougher hate-crimes laws to dismantle lethal extremist groups — a move we heartily endorse.
In the meantime, Holder said his department will “use every tool at its disposal to protect the rights ensured under our Constitution.”
Why is this happening now? Clearly the radical right sees the world changing in ways it cannot stand: the election of a black president, the political marginalization of evangelical conservatives and more. The violence roiling beneath the surface of that fringe movement is exploding.
Jews should pay attention. Anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism have always been animating forces in the radical right. And it is likely the haters will strike again, possibly targeting Jews and other Jewish sites.
Earlier this month the Anti-Defamation League audit showed a decline in anti-Semitic incidents in the United States. While that is hopeful news, we still saw more than 1,350 incidents of vandalism, harassment and physical assaults in 2008. Worse, the stats are up in California.
Two months ago the Homeland Security Department issued a report warning of right-wing violence precisely of the kind we have seen. Many voices in the conservative movement scoffed.
We trust they aren’t scoffing anymore.
In addition to beefing up security at Jewish institutions, we should continue speaking out against these attacks. We must pressure the government to do more to stop the plotters.
Finally, we condemn those voices in the media that have given unintended cover to the killers. They have fear-mongered about immigrants. They have called abortion doctors “baby killers.” They have lied about the Obama administration scheming to confiscate guns.
And yet when a few individuals, amped up by such exhortations, take the law into their own hands and commit savage crimes, those same cable news cowards disavow any personal responsibility.
All are responsible, especially if good people do nothing to fight hate or prevent terrorism.