It seems the uptick in anti-Semitic attacks around the country is the latest opportunity for our worthless politicians to issue press releases about their ‘solidarity’ and ‘sympathy’ for the Jewish community. Truth be told, many people view these statements with a great deal of skepticism. Jewish voters are like any other and are sophisticated enough to smell opportunism when it hits them. Here’s a good rule: If a politician rarely ever weighed in on antisemitism before Trump arrived, spare us the crocodile tears and just keep quiet now. One such politician particularly sticks out like a sore thumb, and that is Brooklyn Councilman Jumaane Williams.

For those who don’t know, Williams is an “agitator” who was arrested too many times to even count at black-lives-matters protests, Occupy Wall Street and the Trayvon Martin protests and the he’s not my president protests on inauguration day.

In his statement today, Williams writes:

“I am proud to represent a diverse NYC district that includes a substantial Orthodox Jewish community. I along with many are very concerned about the wave of anti-Semitic threats in recent weeks, including today, at the JCC of Staten Island. The threats against the Jewish community, irrespective of real or hoax status, is troubling to a community understandably already concerned.

“Although anti-semitism has existed for generations, we must never allow ourselves to become desensitized to it. While we unfortunately have witnessed these types of attacks before, it is irrefutable that anti-Semitic and bigoted rhetoric, threats and attacks have increased since the election of this president. We must be honest about the results of the atmosphere this administration is creating. We must also not wait until it is ‘us’ or ‘our group’ before we speak.

“We must continue to stand up vehemently against every bigoted threat to any group. We are NYC, we are America.”

Mr. Councilman, have you asked any of your substantial Orthodox constituents you know the ones you claim to proudly represent, if they think the results of the atmosphere around the Trump administration is causing anti-semitism? The answer is a resounding no, because unlike many others, the Jewish community is no stranger to these sort of threats and sadly knows all too well that swastikas and bomb threats weren’t invented on November 8.‎ To our community, blaming Trump for anti- semitism is a convenient foil for partisan politics and this doesn’t sit well with us.

Well before the election Williams speaks of, we all saw the rise in incendiary rhetoric and hate speech right here in NYC. Who could forget the anti police protests that swept our city over the past few years? Trump was nowhere to be seen in those frightening days. Question is where was Councilman Williams? Protecting our community here in Brooklyn or getting arrested for participating in the vile anti police protests in Manhattan?

Where was his statement when those same protesters in Manhattan were calling police “Nazi’s”? Or was that “bigoted rhetoric” acceptable because it was a cause he identified with? Hypocrisy.

Closer to home, where were the Councilman’s statements after all the hate crime attacks against Jews in NY over the past 8 years? There have been hundreds of swastikas and bias attacks in NYC and we’ve never heard his voice before.

Why has he suddenly woken up now when a Republican is in office? It seems to me at least, that democratic politicians smell an opportunity to use and abuse the misery of the Jewish community and have co-opted recent threats to pile onto Donald Trump. Shameful and shameless.

Readers should beware.

Williams confirmed to the Observer recently that he intends to run for City Speaker, a role that carries enormous power over legislation, zoning and the crafting of the city budget. Pray that he never gets this opportunity. This would be despicable, because the Jumaane Williams we know, refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance in solidarity with football player Kaepernick.

Lastly, Williams showed his true colors several months ago, when the NYC Council passed a resolution condemning the notorious anti-semetic BDS movement. Despite the fact that most of his African American constituents didn’t really care about that resolution, Williams ignored the requests of his Jewish constituents and abstained from voicing his support for Israel and those in his district who stand with her. When his voice really mattered, the ultimate noise maker was silent. He might have forgotten but we haven’t.

Here’s a productive idea Mr. Williams and share it with your democrat friends. What would really help vulnerable jewish communities is increased security resources. What we really need is money not press releases. Funding for security cameras, funding for hardening of doors and barriers, and yes more police resources (that you despise) for our neighborhoods. And if you actually accomplish that, feel free to issue that statement and I’m sure YWN will consider posting it. Until then, please pretend that this is a pledge of allegiance and sit down.

Charley Briedel – A resident of the 45 council district.

NOTE: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of YWN.

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