Cincinnati’s Jewish leaders are speaking out against an antisemitic incident that occurred in Columbus last week.
In the capital city’s Short North neighborhood, neo-Nazis marched with swastikas and shouted slurs.
The Anti-Defamation League ADL reported a record number of white supremacist events in the U.S. last year, with 281 incidents.
“It makes me feel scared and sad,” said Jeremy Spiegel, assistant director of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati’s Jewish Community Relations Council. Spiegel shared that his grandparents fled Nazi Germany, but many of their friends did not survive.
“During Kristallnacht, Nazis broke into my grandparents’ home, dragging family members to prison or concentration camps, Spiegel said.
Spiegel explained that incidents like the one in Columbus have also happened in Cincinnati.
For example, in June, a Jewish cemetery was vandalized, with 176 headstones toppled. In July, KKK flyers with anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigration messages were distributed in Mount Auburn.
“This issue has been ongoing for years. We’ve tried to address it, but it feels like playing ‘whack-a-mole.’ Without stronger laws, the most we can charge people with is littering, Spiegel said.
He added that state legislators are considering penalties for wearing masks in certain situations, hoping it will deter hateful actions.
We want these individuals to stop hiding behind masks, Spiegel said.
He urged everyone to stay vigilant and reject antisemitism.
We all have a responsibility to eliminate hate in our communities. If you see something, say something, Spiegel emphasized.
