Christie insists antisemitism in US not a ‘rise’ but ‘unmasking’: ‘It’s been there’
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie recently commented on the growing worries over anti-Semitism in the United States. Christie stated that it is not a “rise” in anti-Semitism, but merely an “unmasking” of the hate and bigotry that has always been present in the country. He also stated that people should focus on uniting with those of all backgrounds, not giving attention to anti-Semites and their views. Christie’s comments come at a time when targeted hateful rhetoric against Jews and other minority groups has been on the rise. In the past year, there have been several suspicious bomb threats at Jewish community centers and bomb threats against Jewish cemeteries, as well as an increase in the number of anti-Semitic and racist messages on social media. While Christie emphasizes that everyone should focus on promoting togetherness and tolerance, people need to remain vigilant against any and all forms of hate and extremism.