By Eric George Tauber
SAN DIEGO — “Jews will not replace us!”
This was one of the slogans chanted by the Alt-Right in Charlottesville, VA yesterday. A more diverse group gathered in opposition to the blend of Neo-Nazis and White Supremacists at Emancipation Park. (As far as I can tell, the only difference between them is their flags.) While local police and militia did their best to keep the peace, things got ugly.
The worst of it came when one James Fields Jr. intentionally rammed his car into a crowd of people, killing one and injuring nineteen. Clearly, this was an act of terrorism. Had it been an Arab driving in Tel Aviv, that’s what we would call it.
It may not be fair to lay this at the feet of Donald Trump. After all, his son-in-law is Jewish and Ivanka is a Jew-by-choice. Bibi Netanyahu was the first foreign leader to congratulate Trump on election night and the Senate is finally voting to cut off the Palestinian Authority from all US aid until they stop using our tax dollars to reward terrorists.
However, the white-racist movement definitely sees Trump as their man as evidenced by this tweet from David Duke following Trump’s tepid condemnation:
I would recommend you take a good look in the mirror & remember it was White Americans who put you in the presidency, not radical leftists. 11:03 AM – Aug 12, 2017
This fight is our fight. And tonight, there is a candlelight vigil for all people of good will to come together and stand up against racism and bigotry. We’re gathering at the San Diego County Administration Building at 8:00pm. If there’s a good time to express hadar yehudi (Jewish pride), this is it. If there’s a good time for us to stand together with people of good will –of all creeds and colors- this is it.
Some might think it’s better to just lay low, keep our heads down, not be “too Jewish” lest we bring trouble on ourselves. That’s what many of our people thought back in Europe in the ‘30s and look at the result.
Let us remember Hillel’s Axiom:
If I am not for myself, who will be for me
If I am only for myself alone, what am I?
If not now, when?
Hillel the Elder, Pirkei Avot 1:14
I’ll see you tonight at the vigil.
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Tauber is a freelance writer who specializes in coverage of the arts. He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com