PDX Never Again: a response to the bomb threat at the Mittleman JCC, Portland OR

PDX Never Again statement in response to bomb threat at Mittleman Jewish Community Center and similar occurences nationwide:

We are at an inflection point in our nation’s history. In the past few months, we have seen an upswing in hate crimes, violence, vandalism, and threats made against marginalized individuals and communities across the country.

As Jews, we have seen this before. Our community is still recovering from the devastating impacts of institutionalized anti-semitism, and from the systematic extermination of nearly an entire generation of our people.

In taking our place in the American narrative over the last half century, we have allowed ourselves to become complacent, to be lulled into a false sense of security. We have convinced ourselves that we have moved beyond this kind of hatred and bias, that Jews are no longer forefront in the minds of those who seek to harm others solely because of things they do not agree with or do not understand.

We will not continue to make that mistake.

In the past month alone, there have been over 100 threats made against Jewish community centers, synagogues, and schools. We’ve seen Jewish communities terrorized, sacred spaces vandalized, and a sudden and shocking normalization of Nazi ideology and symbolism.

We will not allow history to repeat itself. We stand with Jews across the country, and with all peoples in solidarity, in defiance of those who wish to exhume hatreds and stigmas long since put in their place.

To all who feel frightened or victimized by these events: We will walk beside you, and together face the darkness that seeks to engulf us. We will not abandon anyone to hatred, violence or bigotry. We will resist, together, and in doing so, forge from this crucible of fire a more perfect world.

We will not be terrorized, and we will not be silenced.

לעולם לא עוד

Never again.