Anti-Semitism also deserves to be condemned

The recognition of existing racial disparities now commands an unprecedented national platform, due to a recent series of Black homicides at the hands of police.

Another targeted group in this country must wonder what it will take to address the virulent hatred it’s endured for over a millennium.

For some reason, even in this racially sensitive atmosphere, Jews continue to be fair game for bigotry and intolerance.

Just last month, when the outrage over the death of George Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer had seemingly reached its crescendo, DeSean Jackson, a NFL star wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, unleashed a barrage of anti-Semitic messages on Instagram.

One statement by Jackson, who’s Black, included a quote he (wrongly) attributed to Adolf Hitler claiming Jews “will extort America” and “have a plan for world domination.”

Jackson also quoted Louis Farrakhan, the infamous race-baiter who has called Jews “satanic” and likened them to “termites.”

Given the timing, we would have thought his widely reported, vile online rants would have been instantly and overwhelmingly denounced for the racist bile they were.

But instead his remarks generated no immediate condemnation from the NFL or punishment from his team. In fact, few pro players criticized him, save for mostly Jewish athletes.

One former NFL player, Stephen Jackson, even agreed with DeSean Jackson’s words.

It took nearly a week before the Eagles announced that DeSean Jackson, who later recanted his racist rhetoric, received an undisclosed fine for his actions.

We can only imagine the firestorm that would have ensued had that racial screed been directed at African Americans.

While we can’t quantify the effects of this seemingly blasé attitude toward racism directed at Jews, it can only embolden others who express similar twisted beliefs.

We’ve seen several examples of this crude, cowardly behavior in our own backyard.

Recently, Chelmsford and Westford police have been investigating a spate of anti-Semitic graffiti sprayed on properties around town. On its Facebook page, Westford Police posted sprayed images of a swastika.

Chelmsford Police Chief James Spinney said a Star of David was painted on two vehicles in town.

Westford’s Select Board quickly condemned these despicable acts..

Members of the Jewish faith locally have been longtime targets of intolerance. In March of 2014, the town of Bedford tried to come to grips with a series of anti-Semitic incidents involving elementary schoolchildren, which included a game called “Jail the Jews.”

According to the Anti-Defamation League, 2018 was “the secondhighest year for anti-Semitic incidents in Massachusetts on record,” ranking second only to 2017.

In January, Gov. Charlie Baker signed a supplemental budget that included $1 million for the Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides state security-enhancement funding for nonprofit organizations at high risk of terrorist attacks or hate crimes.

It received strong support from the state’s Jewish community, including state Sen. Barry Finegold, an Andover Democrat who shares similar concerns for the safety of Jewish worshipers in the wake of high-profile incidents at synagogues and other community gathering places.

All signs of racism — whether based on the color of one’s skin or religious affiliation — should be immediately denounced and excised.

We must all categorically insist on zero tolerance for intolerance.