Virus of antisemitism and racism surges in America

I am a lifelong Democrat and civil rights advocate. Both Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel years ago warned about being silent in the face of the rise of antisemitism and racism in America. King and Heschel, working in solidarity were effective and transformational to attain advances in civil rights and human rights for all. 

History has taught us that when Black and Jewish Americans unite to confront hate, both communities emerge stronger and with a deeper understanding of each other’s history and perspectives.

Today, I am alarmed by the growing tolerance of antisemitism emerging within the political party that the overwhelming majority of Black and Jewish Americans call home. The ease with which some leaders excuse away this hatred should haunt all Black Americans. What starts with one minority quickly evolves into the hatred of others.

Many in my party are creating creative excuses for Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner’s Nazi tattoo. He got it a long time ago. He got it while fighting for America. He didn’t know what it was. Would the same parade of voices coming to Platner’s defense be doing so if he had a KKK tattoo? What’s the difference?

Black America continues to respond and to challenge the resurgence of racism and hate across the nation. We also cannot afford to be silent today about the evil surge of the virus of antisemitism and the increase in hate-filled violence against Jews and Blacks throughout the country.

As a Black American, I know what it looks like when a political party decides one community’s safety is negotiable or ripe for triage. I know the rationalizations — the strategic hesitation, the........

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