~ Guest Commentary ~ Antisemitism Seems To Be Metastasizing And Getting Excused, Too

By Sal Giarratani

The fact that three university presidents including the new president of Harvard University are apparently afraid to speak truth to power after speaking before a Congressional hearing on widespread campus antisemitism of late, tells us all we have to know about the hypocrisy of the political Left when it comes to calling out student radicals spreading hateful rhetoric on campus and in anti-Jewish, pro-Hamas rallies and marches. It makes me both sad and angry how so many liberals excuse these hateful marches calling for the end of the State of Israel “from the river to the sea.”

Recently, these acts of antisemitism entered into a Winthrop Town Council meeting. A Zoom-based participant at the meeting shouted an antisemitic slur and reportedly displayed a swastika on their screen during discussion regarding the town’s protocol regarding the town’s flag policy.

Instead of entering into a civic debate of the town’s policy, this individual used the platform for hate speech and the displaying of hate symbols. More people must start speaking up loud and clear against acts of hate and condemn loud and clear. People everywhere must stand together in community with one another in unity to condemn hatred and intolerance.

As Police Chief Terry Delehanty stated, “There is no place for hate in Winthrop. Not in person, not online, not anywhere.” Too many hateful outbursts have occurred since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. I find it reprehensible that acts of antisemitism have continued over two months now. Israel is now facing condemnation by politically ignorant protesters around the world and right here in our own backyards.

This wave of vile rhetoric being disseminated since October 7 is a sad reflection of how the definition of being an American has fallen in recent times. America stands for certain principles and today these principles are under attack.