More than 10 Jewish community centers across the United States were evacuated Monday for bomb threats, leading President Donald Trump to finally condemn anti-Semitism on Tuesday, after long skirting around the issue. According to NBC News, the Jewish Community Center Association of North America reported, “phoned in threats for centers in Alabama, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Florida, New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas and New York."
Fortunately, no one was injured and no arrests were made, but these are far from the first threats the Jewish community has received this year. Reuters reports that in total, 69 anti-Semitic incidents have occurred this year. And it's only February! Schools that were in session on the grounds of these community centers were evacuated, police dogs were forced to search the area, and after all threats were thoroughly investigated it was discovered that this was all part of a "frightening nationwide hoax targeting Jewish communities," according to The New York Times.
The FBI and the Justice Department are investigating the threats, NBC reports. David Posner, a director at JCC Association of North America who advises centers on security released a statement saying,“We are concerned about the anti-Semitism behind these threats, and the repetition of threats intended to interfere with day-to-day life."
And then, of course, there was President Trump's long-awaited statement. "The anti-Semitic threats targeting our Jewish community and community centers are horrible and are painful and a very sad reminder of the work that still must be done to root out hate and prejudice and evil," Trump said while visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture, according to CNN. These words were too little too late for some—after all, Trump told a Jewish reporter who asked a question about anti-Semitism to be quiet during a press conference just last week, and released a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day that failed to mention Jews.
Trump's past statements aside, these threats are a very serious matter, and it's up to our political leaders to unite and stand against these hateful acts.