Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on January 31, 2020

The vandalism of a Racine synagogue in September is helping shine a light on The Base, which the FBI described as a "white, racially motivated extremist group." The FBI made seven arrests this month across four states, including Yousef Barasneh, 22, of Oak Creek, who is under house arrest. He is linked to The Base and charged with conspiracy to violate citizens' rights in connection with the synagogue vandalism. "It's sinister. It's sinister. And I would say that the Jewish community is on edge. We're not the only ones. But the community is on edge," said Elana Kahn, of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.The federation tracks incidents of anti-Semitism in the area, including groups like The Base. The trend is alarming."Since 2015, every year (there's been) a significant increase in the number of incidents," Kahn said. Anti-Semitic incidents are up 300 percent in the past four years. The FBI said The Base even leafletted Marquette University in June looking, for more members.Marquette University told WISN 12 News it was unable to substantiate that flyers were actually distributed on campus, but said they "condemn the spread of hateful rhetoric anywhere.""The Base, part of their whole goal, is to not just let things evolve and lead to this race war, but to hasten the race war, and encourage people to be active shooters and to vandalize Jewish synagogues like we saw in Racine," Kahn said. According to court records, the group was founded in July 2018 and is using historic acts of intolerance as dark inspiration. "This is a young group that has a local chapter. They've said, 'OK all of you who are already extremists, let's get to work.' So I think we should totally be alarmed. I think the biggest danger is that we stop being alarmed," Kahn said.

The vandalism of a Racine synagogue in September is helping shine a light on The Base, which the FBI described as a "white, racially motivated extremist group."

The FBI made seven arrests this month across four states, including Yousef Barasneh, 22, of Oak Creek, who is under house arrest.

He is linked to The Base and charged with conspiracy to violate citizens' rights in connection with the synagogue vandalism.

"It's sinister. It's sinister. And I would say that the Jewish community is on edge. We're not the only ones. But the community is on edge," said Elana Kahn, of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.

The federation tracks incidents of anti-Semitism in the area, including groups like The Base. The trend is alarming.

"Since 2015, every year (there's been) a significant increase in the number of incidents," Kahn said.

Anti-Semitic incidents are up 300 percent in the past four years.

The FBI said The Base even leafletted Marquette University in June looking, for more members.

Marquette University told WISN 12 News it was unable to substantiate that flyers were actually distributed on campus, but said they "condemn the spread of hateful rhetoric anywhere."

"The Base, part of their whole goal, is to not just let things evolve and lead to this race war, but to hasten the race war, and encourage people to be active shooters and to vandalize Jewish synagogues like we saw in Racine," Kahn said.

According to court records, the group was founded in July 2018 and is using historic acts of intolerance as dark inspiration.

"This is a young group that has a local chapter. They've said, 'OK all of you who are already extremists, let's get to work.' So I think we should totally be alarmed. I think the biggest danger is that we stop being alarmed," Kahn said.

Here is the original post:

White nationalist group, The Base, on Wisconsin investigators' radar - WISN Milwaukee

Category: Synagogue
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