Anti-Semitic Vandalism in Brooklyn Shocks Colorado College's Jewish Community

ARTICLE TO BE PUBLISHED THIS FRIDAY IN THE CATALYST
aaaaaaaaaaThe news this past weekend that vandals had terrorized one of New York City’s largest Jewish neighborhoods came as a shocking reminder that anti-Semitism is alive and kicking in the western world.

The heavily Orthodox stretch of Ocean Parkway in Midwood, Brooklyn was set ablaze by racist protesters on Friday night, as several cars were torched and blown up, dozens of swastikas were spray painted onto the street and sidewalk and the letters “KKK” were written on vehicles. A Hasidic social worker in Williamsburg, another Brooklyn neighborhood with a large Jewish population, had his nose broken by one of the attackers.

The news resonated particularly with Colorado College’s large Jewish community of students and faculty. According to the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, Colorado College has over 100 Jewish students and at least four Jewish studies courses. “As a Jewish American with familial ties to New York City, I find the situation very unsettling and upsetting,” said a junior who wishes to remain anonymous.

Investigators pursued the bigots responsible for the riot-like activity by lifting fingerprints from the dozens of empty beer bottles found near the scene. Brooklyn's elected officials and Jewish community leaders demanded an aggressive police presence in every Jewish community in Brooklyn.

New York City is the safest big city in the world, according to FBI numbers and reports year after year.  New York is also known for having the largest Jewish community in America and second largest in the world after Israel. And yet the attacks happened in New York City, proving that anti-Semitism knows no borders and knows no boundaries.

About 100 residents in Midwood, Brooklyn joined politicians for the walk past four public benches from which 16 swastikas had been removed after the pre-dawn attack Friday. Their message, according to the Washington Post, was “Don’t repeat the kind of attacks that once led to the Holocaust”. State Assemblyman Dov Hikind, a Democrat ,who has represented the area for 29 years  said he had never seen this level of violence. "This goes beyond the pale", he said to the Washington Post. .

“There have been many anti-Semitic attacks throughout the Western world in the last 30 years,” said outspoken Jewish Junior Anna Fuchs. “Especially in Europe. It is disturbing to learn about attacks occurring in America, but it’s no secret that there are anti-Semites just about everywhere.”.

“These attacks serve as a harsh reminder that no matter where in America you are, anti-Semitism is alive and well,”” said Junior Noah Gallo-Brown. “I think CC’s Jewish community is a strong one, and I think news like this brings pain to lots of people.”.

In a year defined by worldwide protesting throughout Europe, America and the Middle East, hearing about a group of people taking action that is not anti-government or anti-Wall Street, especially in a violent fashion, is disturbing to many. One would hope to remember 2011 as a year of populist uprisings peacefully succeeding to bring change around the globe. “Protests define the free world and make the world more free. Thus, a protest of a different sort is especially unsettling” said Noah Gallo Brown. “These sorts of displays of anti-Semitism are however, an all-too-common occurrence.”

The spray paining of swastikas is a problem New York has already faced this year, and many times in the past decade. But blowing up cars is a new level of violence the city does not often see.  “One can only hope we will not be hearing about these kinds of attacks anytime soon” said Anna Fuchs.