NJ Welfare Fraud Arrests Spark Anti-Semetic Sentiment: USA Today
Source: USA Today
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/07/03/new-jersey-welfare-fraud-arrests-anti-semitic-sentiment/447441001/
July3, 7am
ASBURY PARK, N.J. — The social media comments on Facebook and other sites were raw, hateful.
The outpouring of invectives was sparked by the arrest last week of 14 residents of Lakewood, N.J., including the rabbi of a congregation, on public assistance fraud charges. The early morning raids ignited a firestorm of anti-Semitism against a municipality of 100,000 that has a majority of Orthodox Jewish residents.
"The allegations and the charges levied against (the defendants) have nothing to do with their religion," said Joshua Cohen, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, New Jersey Region. "That's why we're deeply concerned when we see comments online, whether it's on newspaper websites or social media, that are anti-Semitic."
The hate speech moved off the Internet and into the streets. Hate fliers spread around the township over the weekend, said residents, who provided photos of the fliers. A white sheet hung over a Holocaust memorial at the Congregation Sons of Israel. Covering the stone memorial, the cloth banner used an anti-Semitic slur and promoted a website for a white supremacy group, authorities said.