Intersectional Antisemitism in America

Key Findings:

Antisemitism has become a unifying factor among various extremist ideologies in today's highly interconnected society, facilitated by social media platforms. The belief that Jews are manipulators of global events, embodying evil, serves as a common thread across different forms of extremism in America. While not a new phenomenon, the internet has ushered in the era of intersectional antisemitism.

Recent terrorist attacks against American Jews have predominantly originated from the extreme right. Many right-wing extremists operate independently, rather than as part of structured organizations. Even when their targets aren’t Jews, these extremists often exhibit an obsession with Jews, as seen in manifestos that promote the "great replacement theory" portraying Jews as orchestrating the replacement of white people in Western societies.

Young's case exemplifies a phenomenon known as "intersectional antisemitism," which characterizes the complex nature of contemporary extremism. The prevalence of antisemitic tropes, texts, and memes shared across ideological groups is amplified during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic or conflicts like the war in Ukraine. This interconnected environment leads to instances where neo-Nazis support Hamas during tensions in the Gaza Strip, and Islamists praise white supremacists when they target synagogues.

The phenomenon of "salad bar extremism" is seen in case studies like that of Ethan Melzer, who pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges, incorporate elements from various extremist ideologies, such as neo-Nazism and Islamic jihadism, to justify their actions. Young himself effortlessly synthesized neo-Nazism and jihadism, as evidenced by the items found in his possession, including a handwritten prayer invoking Hitler, Skorzeny, al-Husseini, and others, a poster titled "The Alliance: Worldwide Association of Nazis and Islamists 1939-2004," and his choice of Adolf Hitler's birthday as the password for his ISIS-related Gmail account.

In this vein, American Islamists often take interest in right-wing extremism. Damon Joseph, a Muslim convert, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for planning attacks on synagogues, inspired by the Tree of Life synagogue shooting, despite the shooter being a right-wing militant. Networks associated with the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, alongside ISIS and al-Qaida, propagate antisemitic rhetoric within their mosques, schools, and organizations. Antisemitism serves as a unifying belief among members of these groups.

Antisemitic tenets have also gained traction within far-left and anarchist circles. Despite not openly embracing the antisemitic nature of their politics, left-wing extremists promote narratives that associate Jews with capitalism, colonialism, and white privilege. While left-wing extremists have not targeted Jews in terrorist attacks to the same extent as their right-wing and Islamist counterparts, anti-Israel events and activities have become increasingly violent and threatening, raising concerns for the future.

Antisemitism also appears within extremist ideologies in the Black American community. The Black Hebrew Israelite movement, which claims Black Americans as the true descendants of biblical Israelites, accuses Jews of controlling the slave trade and propagates conspiracy theories about the Holocaust. The internet enables this fringe group to widely disseminate their views, and some of their supporters have carried out deadly attacks against Jews.

Given the rise of intersectional antisemitism, it is crucial to address the issue through large-scale educational initiatives, enhanced security measures for Jewish targets, and increased scrutiny of antisemitic content on social media platforms. These efforts are necessary to combat the growing problem of antisemitism in America, which is reflected in the high number of hate crimes targeting Jews.