Letter: We must stand together against antisemitic, hateful activities
The Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians and Jews decries the recent flurry of antisemitic activities that have occurred in the Town of Palm Beach and other communities in Palm Beach County.
Although we are, unfortunately, fully aware of the fact that antisemitism is on the rise nationally and globally, we are now experiencing, right here in our own backyard, an increase in antisemitic activities. A week ago yesterday, on the Jewish Sabbath and the day after Holocaust Remembrance Day, antisemitic flyers were left in bags with pellets on residents’ driveways in the town. Similar flyers were distributed in Boca Raton, Lake Worth Beach, Atlantis, and West Palm Beach.
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A week earlier, the AT&T building in West Palm Beach was the target of antisemitic messages that were projected onto the side of the building. This activity resulted in a community gathering at the AT&T building attended by people of all backgrounds standing in solidarity against these antisemitic activities as they listened to community leaders, including politicians, clergy, law enforcement, and others speak out against these recent activities.
The Fellowship lends its voice to those concerns. We cannot remain silent in the face of such hateful demonstrations. It is imperative that we raise our voices together and that we stand together against antisemitic and hateful activities of all kinds. If we do not, we fear where this may lead.
The hateful rhetoric and actions by extremists have underscored the need for the Fellowship and the entire community to continue to address issues rooted in intolerance, incivility, lies, hate, and discrimination of all kinds. We urge the residents of this community to join the Fellowship in voicing its disdain for the dramatic rise in antisemitism, and the verbal and physical attacks against ethnic minorities and other marginalized communities.
Enough is enough! The time has come for us all to stand together against hate. Before it’s too late.
John C. Randolph, chairmanPalm Beach Fellowship of Christians and Jews
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Letter: Hateful actions underscore need to address discrimination
