Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By simmons on March 13, 2017

"This is a moment in time, in history, where forces of hate have been unleashed," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a Jewish Community Center on Staten Island that had received threats. "It is exceedingly unsettling."

The Anti-Defamation League said threats were also made in Oregon, Wisconsin, Illinois, Florida, Maryland and Toronto.

Federal officials have been investigating more than 120 threats against Jewish organizations in three dozen states since Jan. 9 and a rash of vandalism at Jewish cemeteries. None of the threats have resulted in physical injury.

On Friday, Missouri resident Juan Thompson was arrested on a cyberstalking charge and accused of making at least eight of the threats nationwide, including one to the ADL. Authorities said Thompson was trying to harass and frame his ex-girlfriend by pinning the threats on her.

A criminal complaint said Thompson started making threats Jan. 28 with an email to the Jewish History Museum in New York written from an account that made it appear as if it were being sent by an ex-girlfriend. In another round of emails and phone calls, he gave the woman's name, rather than his own, the court complaint said. He claimed on Twitter she was behind the calls.

Thompson is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday in St. Louis for a hearing to determine if he should remain detained pending trial.

Authorities are looking for other suspects in the threats.

Associated Press writers Chris Carola in Albany, N.Y., and Kiley Armstrong in New York contributed to this report.

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Anti-Defamation League, Jewish centers get more threats - Salt Lake Tribune

Category: Anti-Defamation League
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