Pittsburgh Suspect’s Anti-Immigrant Attacks

The nation is reeling from the senseless killings yesterday in the synagogue in Pittsburgh.  Our condolences to all of the victims and the entire Tree of Life synagogue.  

Ben Collins for NBC News reports that Robert Bowers, the man accused in the shooting rampage at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, frequently posted online about conspiracy theories and made repeatedly threatened Jews. Bowers in fact made a specific threat against Jews hours before allegedly conducting the attack. In the post, Bowers said that the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a humanitarian aid nonprofit group that provides assistance to refugees, brought immigrants to the United States to do violence against others.

Bowers frequently posted about the “migrant caravan,” asylum-seekers from Central America. Bowers’ anti-Semitic posts and his apparent disdain for the caravan are tied to a viral image that appears to show refugees hopping onto the bed of a truck that had a Star of David visible on the side. The image has been widely shared on far-right forums and the Russian propaganda operation USA Really. 

HIAS has issued the following statement in response to the Pittsburgh tragedy:

“There are no words to express how devastated we are by the events in Pittsburgh this morning. This loss is our loss, and our thoughts are with Tree of Life Congregation, our local partner Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) of Pittsburgh, the city of Pittsburgh and all those affected by this senseless act of violence. As we try to process this horrifying tragedy, we pray that the American Jewish community and the country can find healing.

As one of the nine national refugee resettlement agencies, HIAS partners with the United States government to resettle refugees as part of the U.S. refugee admissions program. Founded in 1881 as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, HIAS stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety, and freedom. Guided by Jewish values and history, HIAS rescues people whose lives are in danger for being who they are.”

KJ