Politics, Presidential Contest Loom Large at AIPAC
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
HEADLINES | 8 SPECIAL SECTION | 15 GRAPPLING WITH SENIOR LIFESTYLE INFERTILITY Developing empathy, A film hits home for staying active and local Jewish group getting screened MARCH 6, 2020 | ADAR 10, 5780 | VOLUME 72, NUMBER 12 $1.50 Neo-Nazis target editor Politics, presidential contest of Jewish publication loom large at AIPAC ELLEN O’BRIEN | STAFF WRITER JACKSON RICHMAN AND HEATHER ROBINSON | JNS.ORG TOBY TABACHNICK | CONTRIBUTING WRITER n Arizona man associated with a neo-Nazi group was among Afour arrested on Wednesday, Feb. 26, and charged with ona Kaufman had never been to an AIPAC Policy conspiracy to threaten and intimidate Mala Blomquist, the editor RConference. But for the Duquesne University of Arizona Jewish Life, and an unnamed member of the Arizona School of Law professor from Pennsylvania, this was Association of Black Journalists. an important year to travel to the nation’s capital All four charged are affiliated with Atomwaffen Division, a and be among 18,000 supporters of the pro-Israel small neo-Nazi group that became active in 2016, according to lobbying group. the Anti-Defamation League. The group’s members “are prepar- “I’m aware, especially right now, that there is a little ing for a race war to combat what they consider the cultural and bit more controversy about Israel than I recognized or racial displacement of the white race,” reported the ADL. The noticed in the past,” said Kaufman. “So to the extent group’s propaganda includes references to Charles Manson and that it is more important that we are showing that we Nazi iconography. want a continued positive relationship between the U.S. Johnny Roman Garza, 20, of Queen Creek, Arizona, is accused and Israel, I wanted to be here for that. And, being a of leaving threatening, anti-Semitic flyers at Blomquist’s home. Democrat, it’s really important to me to represent that The ADL praised law enforcement for taking swift action. perspective in Washington, D.C.” With a faction of the Democratic party now Francine Coles, left, and Carlos Galindo-Elvira are pictured “The incident, of course, is unfortunate, but it is an arrest that together at the 2018 AIPAC Policy Conference, which was held we are really applauding law enforcement for making,” said Keisha SEE AIPAC, PAGE 3 March 4-6, 2018, in Washington, D.C. PHOTO BY CARLOS GALINDO-ELVIRA McKinnor, assistant regional director of the ADL of Arizona. “The central figure in the organization’s leadership was arrested and that was quite significant for us, given the background of the organization and their violent and criminal nature. We were really glad that this person was taken down immediately.” Biking for a cause Law enforcement saw Garza and another individual drive to Kids of all ages rode their bikes to raise funds for Yeshiva Blomquist’s residence, where they “were observed fleeing from High School and enjoyed barbecue for their efforts. Read the direction of the residence to the vehicle,” according to a the details on Page 7. PHOTO BY ELLEN O’BRIEN complaint submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Western SEE THREATS, PAGE 2 KEEP YOUR EYE ON jewishaz.com NATIONAL ISRAEL INTERNATIONAL Hikers with disabilities able to Advice on Holocaust education trek Mount Kilimanjaro Purim begins March 9, 2020 HEADLINES THREATS tolerate this type of behavior.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 McKinnor noted that in spite of District of Washington by the FBI. these arrests, other anti-Semitic The next morning, Blomquist, groups continue to pose a threat. who is not Jewish, found a poster “We see that anti-Semitism glued to her bedroom window. continues to be on the rise, across It read “Your Actions Have our country and across the world,” Consequences ... Our Patience McKinnor said. “Even though this Has Its Limits” and included her particular group is really a shadow name and address. A copy of the of itself — it’s only got about 20 2020 Phoenix poster, included in the complaint, dedicated members — there are a shows a hooded skeleton stand- slew of other organizations that Jewish News ing outside a home and holding a are modeled after them, with the Molotov cocktail. same ideological cores and violent Print Dates “It has death images, basically, and criminal natures that are just and then on the bottom, in small sprouting up. That is a contributor January 10 August 7 print, it says, ‘You’ve been visited to the rise of anti-Semitism, so we January 24 August 28** are continuing to fight that fight by your local Nazis,’” Blomquist February 7 September 4 told 12 News. “It’s terrifying to and to partner with law enforcement think that someone actually walked Renaissance Square, the location of the U.S. Attorneys Office in to make sure that we are combat- February 21 September 11 Phoenix, is pictured on Friday, Feb. 28. PHOTO BY ELLEN O’BRIEN onto your property and the fact ing all of this hate that is especially March 6 September 18 that it wasn’t just taped on my the threat campaign. Parker-Dipeppe is violent in nature, in anti-Semitic March 20 September 25 forms and in other forms as well.” window, it was glued to my window.” accused of placing a threatening poster March 27 October 2 “I believe the co-conspirators intended at what he believed to be the home of a “I’m not Jewish,” Blomquist said. “It for the posters to intimidate, threaten and journalist in Florida. In the Seattle area, doesn’t matter who you are. They’re just April 3 October 16 cause substantial emotional distress to the posters were mailed to a TV journalist hating to hate.” April 17 November 6 group’s targets,” Special Agent Michael who had reported on Atomwaffen and to McKinnor also said that Blomquist’s May 1 November 20 safety is a top priority. Stults stated in the complaint. two individuals associated with the ADL. May 15 December 4 In addition to Garza, the FBI and local “These defendants from across the “It is unfortunate, and we are thinking law enforcement arrested Kaleb Cole of country allegedly conspired on the about the incident in Arizona and the June 5 December 18 Montgomery, Texas; Cameron Brandon internet to intimidate journalists and editor here,” McKinnor said. “She June 5* Shea of Redmond, Washington; and activists with whom they disagreed,” is in our prayers, as her safety is our June 19 *Best of Magazine Taylor Ashley Parker-Dipeppe of Spring stated Assistant Attorney General for number one concern, but again, we’re July 3 **Annual Directory Hill, Florida. The complaint identifies National Security John C. Demers. commending law enforcement for the safeguard of her, of our community Cole and Shea as the creators of the “This is not how America works. WWW.JEWISHAZ.COM posters and the primary organizers of The Department of Justice will not and of our nation.” JN OFFICE HOURS HEADLINES ...........................................2 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday Local 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 206, Scottsdale, AZ 85254 National DEADLINES Phone: 602.870.9470 | Fax: 602.870.0426 | editor@jewishaz.com | advertising@jewishaz.com EDITORIAL: Noon, Tuesday PURIM SPIEL .......................................10 subscriptions@jewishaz.com | www.jewishaz.com 9 days prior to publication OPINION ...............................................12 ADVERTISING: 11 a.m., Friday Editorials 3 days prior to publication PUBLISHER STAFF WRITER Commentary Jaime Roberts, Publisher | 2013-2016 Jewish Community Foundation Ellen O'Brien | 602.872.9470 Florence Newmark Eckstein, Publisher | 1981-2013 TORAH COMMENTARY .................14 of Greater Phoenix eobrien@jewishaz.com Cecil Newmark, Publisher | 1961-1981 Pearl Newmark, Editor | 1961-1981 SPECIAL SECTION: GENERAL MANAGER ADVERTISING SALES CONSULTANT M.B. Goldman, Jr., Founder | 1948-1961 SENIOR LIFESTYLE .........................15 Rich Solomon | 602.639.5861 Jodi Lipson | 602.639.5866 rsolomon@jewishaz.com jlipson@jewishaz.com LIFESTYLE & CULTURE .................18 PROUD MEMBER OF COMMUNITY .......................................19 EDITORIAL DIRECTOR CIRCULATION Liz Spikol | 215.832.0747 Bill Sims | 410.902.2300 Briefs lspikol@midatlanticmedia.com bsims@midatlanticmedia.com Calendar Society MANAGING EDITOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Shannon Levitt | 602.639.5855 Frank Wagner | 410.902.2300 Obituaries slevitt@jewishaz.com ads_phoenixjn@midatlanticmedia.com ©2020 Phoenix Jewish News, LLC, an asset of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix. Awards: Arizona Newspaper Association, Arizona Press Club, National Federation of Press Women, Arizona Press Women, American Jewish Press Association. Member: American Jewish Press Association, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, National Newspapers Association. Jewish News (ISSN 1070-5848) is published less than weekly, by Phoenix Jewish News, LLC, dba Jewish News. A subscription is $48 per year, payable in advance to Jewish News, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road., Suite 206, Scottsdale, AZ 85254, telephone 602-870-9470. Periodicals postage paid at Phoenix, Arizona. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Jewish News, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road., Suite 206, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. VOL.72, NO. 12 | MARCH 6, 2020 2 MARCH 6, 2020 JEWISH NEWS JEWISHAZ.COM HEADLINES AIPAC to boycott and slander Israel. It is wrong to CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 boycott and slander AIPAC.” Attendees by and large echoed these distancing itself from unconditional support sentiments. of Israel, “bipartisanship” became a recurring “I do not believe that this conference in refrain throughout the three-day conference. any way gave a platform for bigotry,” said Speakers such as presidential candidate Joe Kaufman. “I think the single mission of the Biden (via video) and Sen. Corey Booker organization is respectable and reasonable, (D-NJ) were emphatic that mainstream and especially in a time when our country Democratic support of Israel is secure, while feels so polarized, the idea that we can have Schreker Hindemith Mendelssohn AIPAC leaders declared in no uncertain terms an organization that is working for bipartisan that bipartisanship was being threatened and support and is doing so from a bipartisan place that they were ready for “a fight.” is beautiful.” Despite the emphasis on bipartisanship, The Nazis silenced them.