HAMDEN, Connecticut… The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Thursday, July 28, commended the outstanding work of the FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office and Stamford Police Department in the apprehension and indictment of Kendall Sullivan, who allegedly made anti-Semitic threatening communications online.
The indictment alleges that on multiple occasions, Sullivan used the internet forum, Metalthrone.net to threaten individual users and groups. Among the threats made, Sullivan allegedly stated: “Israel, God and Synagogues. I will kill them. I have a few ‘Houses of Satan’ in my Town…If these Jews truly believe in their god Satan, I will upset their world. I will slaughter them and burn their Synagogue to the ground…kids, goldfish, old folks…Shove money down their throats. These Jews of 2016. They think they are safe.”
“We are disturbed by the allegations, and commend our state and federal partners in law enforcement for taking these threats seriously and acting before an actual act of violence could be carried out,” said Steve Ginsburg, ADL Connecticut Regional Director. “As Internet communications have become as much a part of daily life as face-to-face interactions today, it is particularly important to protect victims of threats online.
“This case is proof that you cannot hide behind your online profile when you threaten violence against a person or a group,” Mr. Ginsburg said. “As we continue to see an explosion of hate online, especially on social media, we will continue to expose and fight cyberhate by working with tech companies and local law enforcement to ensure that our communities are safe.”
ADL’s annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents recorded a total of 941 anti-Semitic incidents across the U.S. in 2015, an increase of about three percent from the 912 incidents recorded in 2014. In addition to tracking assaults, vandalism, and harassment, the Audit includes incidents of online anti-Semitism reported to ADL in which an individual was explicitly targeted.
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