The Roots of Anti-Semitism in America

Hitler was really evil. I know that  is a given, but, this man helped initiate a world war and that’s not even what he’s most remembered for. His worst deed was arguably the senseless extermination of 6 million members of the Jewish faith, the effects of which are still felt today in the hearts and minds of those affected by this tragedy. He did this by manipulating the German public’s minds and beliefs, warping their ideals, and by doing so, he enabled an army greater than the one he already commanded: an army of the people, who would be willing to turn in and even help in the killing of Jews. Hitler was unaware of what the consequences of his actions would be, but in the coming years, his beliefs and actions would inspire millions around the globe, creating what we know today as Neo-Nazism, or white supremacy.

Turn to Oct. 27, 2018. A gunman, later to be identified as Robert Bowers, enters the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and opens fire during services. He kills 11 people. Later, the police identify the man as an anti-Semite, citing evidence of anti-Semitic posts on Gab.com. In addition, he said to a SWAT officer,while he was receiving medical care, that he wanted Jews to die.

As a result, the Jewish-American community has come together over the past few weeks, mourning their losses. The world mourns with them. But it has to be asked: how many times will people die for their beliefs?

We saw it in Pittsburgh. Last year, Heather Heyer was killed by James Fields, Jr., the Neo-Nazi who rammed a car into a crowd of people during the heated Charlottesville protests. Dylann Roof murdered nine African Americans in a church in Charleston, SC, in hopes of igniting a race war. What enables these people? Why do they do what they do?

The answer is complex, and thus, it becomes hard to prevent hate crimes from occurring. However, there is a place we can start. After the deadly Charlottesville protests, Donald Trump, through his platform as the President of the United States, spoke with reporters about the event, saying that there are “very fine people, on both sides.” A few days later, he bowed to aides’ desires and reversed his statements, condemning the white supremacists. Then, a day later, re-reversed his statement, returning to his original statement and adding: “Not all of those people were neo-Nazis, believe me. Not all of those people were white supremacists by any stretch.”

This would come to be seen as a pivotal moment in the Trump presidency. Not only did he not condemn white supremacists, he appeared to side with them, in a roundabout way. It’s things like this that allow white supremacists and Neo-Nazis to think that their ideas are allowed in the United States. The U.S. may admit all people, of all races and beliefs, but if your belief has to do with others, who are unlike you, being inferior to you, you do not deserve a place in this country. It’s simple.

Now, however, through Trump’s actions, neo-Nazis can claim to have the White House on their side. And don’t think that voting Democrats into the House, Senate and/or presidency will change anything. White supremacy’s U.S. green card has been renewed. Just like with the Supreme Court, the effects of the Trump administration will be felt for a long time, not only through his words but the actions of those inspired by them. This is the newest iteration of anti-Semitism.

For example, after Pittsburgh, a synagogue in New York was defaced with anti-Semitic writing, attributed to 26 year old James Polite. In Southern California, a synagogue suffered the same treatment. More broadly, a black man was purportedly lynched in St. Louis, in 2018, over 50 years since the Civil Rights Act.

Donald Trump, regardless of what he actually believes, enables this type of reckless, hate-fueled behavior. As the President of the United States, his words have become dangerous.