At Least 12 White Supremacists Arrested for Threatening Jewish Community in Year Following Pittsburgh Synagogue Attack
There have been at least a dozen white supremacists plots, attacks or threats against the Jewish community in the year following the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that left 11 people dead, according to a report.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said that 12 white supremacists have been arrested for planning or carrying out terrorist attacks since the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue on October 27, 2018, as well as dozens of other anti-Semitic incidents, including arson, vandalism and the distribution of neo-Nazi propaganda at Jewish institutions.
The report, released ahead of the one-year anniversary of the massacre, coincides with the latest data from the ADL's Center on Extremism, which reveals a continuation of record numbers of anti-Semitic incidents across the U.S.
According to the data, there were a total of 780 anti-Semitic incidents recorded in the first six months of 2019, compared to 785 incidents during the same period last year.
"It is horrifying that in the year since the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history, at least a dozen white supremacists were arrested after threatening to target Jewish houses of worship," ADL CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt said in a statement.
"We are tremendously grateful to local, state and federal law enforcement for taking these cases seriously and preventing further bloodshed against the Jewish community."
One of the far-right attacks at a synagogue in Poway, California, took place on April 27, 2019—the six month anniversary of the Tree of Life shooting.
In addition to the white supremacist plots, three other people have been arrested for targeting Jewish people since the Pittsburgh attack. One such suspect, Damon Joseph, who was arrested last October for allegedly planning to attack a synagogue in Toledo, Ohio, cited the alleged Pittsburgh gunman Robert Bowers as an influence.
"Many of the arrested individuals cite—and apparently seek to mimic—previous anti-Semitic murderers," the anti-hate organization added.
The ADL said that they provided information to police that resulted in arrests in three incidents involving white supremacist plots.
One incident included the arrest of 23-year-old Conor Climo, a man with alleged ties to the neo-Nazi Atomwaffen Division group, who is accused of plotting attacks at a synagogue and a gay bar in Las Vegas in August 2019.
"This is why we do what we do," said Greenblatt. "We cannot and will not rest easy knowing the threat posed by white supremacists and other extremists against the Jewish community is clear and present.
"We are proud of our collaborative efforts with law enforcement to prevent such tragedies from taking place and ensuring would-be perpetrators of these heinous crimes are brought to justice."
Elsewhere, the ADL launched the "11 Actions for 11 Lives" initiative to commemorate the victims of the Pittsburgh shooting ahead of the one-year anniversary.
The list of 11 actions include taking part in a "Pause for Pittsburgh" 5pm EST on Sunday, October 27, as well attending a memorial event in your community and hosting a Shabbat dinner to "reflect on the events of last year."
