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Remembering Joseph I. Lieberman:  Trailblazer for Jewish Representation in National Politics

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Edited by: Fern Sidman

Joseph I. Lieberman, a towering figure in American politics and the first Jewish candidate on a major-party presidential ticket, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 82, as was reported by the New York Times.  His legacy as Connecticut’s four-term United States senator and his significant role as Vice President Al Gore’s Democratic running mate in the contentious 2000 presidential election remain indelible marks on the nation’s political landscape.

Lieberman’s family confirmed that his passing was due to complications from a fall at his home in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, New York. Despite efforts to save him, Lieberman succumbed to his injuries at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Upper Manhattan.

At the zenith of his political career, Lieberman emerged as a voice of morality and integrity within the Democratic Party. He made history as the first major Democrat to publicly rebuke President Bill Clinton for his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, according to the information provided in the NYT report. This principled stance solidified Lieberman’s reputation as a man of conscience and paved the way for his selection as Al Gore’s running mate at the Democratic National Convention in August 2000.

The Gore-Lieberman ticket campaigned on themes of integrity and faith, seeking to distance themselves from the scandals that plagued the Clinton administration, the NYT report noted. Lieberman’s advocacy for bringing religion and faith into public life resonated with many Americans, reflecting his deeply held convictions and commitment to moral leadership.

In the fiercely contested 2000 presidential election, the Gore-Lieberman team secured a narrow plurality of the popular vote, garnering half a million more votes than their Republican counterparts, George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, as was indicated in the NYT report. However, the Electoral College outcome remained uncertain, plunging the nation into an intense legal battle that would ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court.

Despite the outcome of the election, Lieberman’s impact on American politics transcends electoral victories and defeats. Throughout his four terms in the Senate, he remained a steadfast advocate for bipartisan cooperation and principled leadership, the NYT report said. His legacy as a trailblazer for Jewish representation in national politics and his unwavering commitment to upholding moral values continue to inspire generations of leaders and citizens alike.

As the nation mourns the loss of Joseph I. Lieberman, his legacy serves as a reminder of the enduring importance of integrity, faith, and public service in the pursuit of a more just and equitable society. In honoring his memory, we reaffirm our commitment to the ideals he championed and the principles he held dear, ensuring that his legacy continues to shape the future of American democracy for years to come.

New York Senate Republicans Propose Laws to Combat Anti-Semitism

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Yellow Star of David with shadow on black background. Credit: Ausra Barysiene/Shutterstock.

 

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In response to a disturbing surge in anti-Semitic incidents, New York State Senate Republicans have introduced a comprehensive package of laws aimed at protecting the Jewish community and curbing acts of hatred. The New York Post reported that the proposed legislation, unveiled on Wednesday, includes measures to criminalize the removal of pro-Israel posters and flyers, define anti-Semitism under state law, and enhance penalties for anti-Semitic acts.

At the forefront of the proposed laws is a provision that would make tearing down pro-Israel posters and flyers a misdemeanor offense. This response comes in the wake of a disturbing trend where such materials have been targeted for removal, particularly following the Hamas terror attacks in October and the subsequent conflict in Gaza, according to the information provided in the Post report.   By prohibiting the removal of pro-Jewish materials, lawmakers aim to send a clear message that acts of anti-Semitism will not be tolerated.

Speaking at a news conference, Senate Republican Minority Leader Robert Ortt emphasized the importance of taking decisive action to combat anti-Semitism. With New York boasting the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, Ortt stressed the obligation to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents, regardless of their religious affiliation, as was indicated in the Post report.  The proposed legislation seeks to protect Jewish individuals from discrimination and harassment, reaffirming the state’s commitment to religious freedom and tolerance.

The legislative package also includes provisions to define anti-Semitism under the state Human Rights Law, making it easier to prosecute acts of hate targeting Jewish individuals, as per the Post report. This measure aims to provide legal clarity and accountability in addressing anti-Semitic incidents, and empowering law enforcement agencies to effectively investigate and prosecute perpetrators.

Furthermore, the proposed laws seek to hold accountable institutions and organizations that engage in anti-Semitic behavior. This includes blocking state tuition assistance to entities found to be involved in anti-Jewish harassment and requiring SUNY and CUNY campuses to implement anti-Semitism awareness and prevention sensitivity training or risk losing state funding. Additionally, the Post report said that the expansion of the crime of harassing conduct to include Nazi symbols reflects a commitment to confronting hate symbols and ideologies that propagate anti-Semitism.

During a press conference in Albany, Senator Ortt issued a challenge to Democratic lawmakers to support the proposed measures. The bipartisan effort to combat anti-Semitism underscores the urgency of addressing hate crimes and promoting tolerance and understanding in New York State.

Drawing attention to recent remarks by Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and the need for decisive action, Republican senators are calling for measures to combat anti-Semitism and support the Jewish community.

Senator Schumer’s criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and condemnation of certain leftist Democrats who have aligned with Hamas have underscored the urgency of addressing anti-Semitism within political discourse, the report in the Post explained.  Schumer’s remarks have sparked debate and prompted Senate Republicans to take a proactive stance in confronting hate speech and discriminatory actions.

The Senate GOP initiated a working group dedicated to addressing anti-Semitism in March of last year, well before the eruption of violence between Hamas terrorists and Israel in October, as was observed in the Post report.  Despite these efforts, anti-Semitism has continued to proliferate, prompting concern and frustration among lawmakers.

Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick expressed bewilderment at the escalating levels of anti-Semitism, lamenting the lack of sympathy for Jewish communities. The report in the Post noted that she emphasized the need for collective action to combat bigotry and discrimination targeting individuals of Jewish descent.

Senator Jack Martins, who chaired the working group, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the debate over the conflict in the Middle East should not serve as a pretext for mistreating Jewish individuals in New York, as was explained in the Post report. He called for a renewed commitment to tolerance and acceptance, urging the state to reclaim its status as a bastion of inclusivity and diversity.

In contrast, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins, a Democrat, has yet to offer a response to the Republican-led initiative. The absence of immediate commentary from Democratic leadership shines an important spotlight on the political divide surrounding efforts to address the dramatic escalation of anti-Semitism and the challenges of finding bipartisan solutions to combat hate speech and discrimination, according to the report in the Post.

As the debate over anti-Semitism continues to unfold, Senate Republicans remain steadfast in their commitment to protecting the Jewish community and fostering an environment of tolerance and respect. Their proposed measures seek to address the root causes of anti-Semitism and ensure that New York upholds its legacy as a beacon of diversity and inclusion in the United States.

 

Lawsuit Alleges Suppression of Conservative Voices in Brooklyn Parent Board

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Lawsuit Alleges Suppression of Conservative Voices in Brooklyn Parent Board

Edited by: TJVNews.com

A contentious legal battle is brewing in Brooklyn as a group of parents has accused an ultra-liberal parent board and the Department of Education of stifling conservative voices and infringing upon their First Amendment rights. According to a report on Wednesday that appeared in the New York Post, the lawsuit, filed in Brooklyn Federal Court on Tuesday night, alleges that the Community Education Council 14 (CEC 14) in the Greenpoint and Williamsburg sections of the borough have implemented draconian speech codes and systematically blocked dissenting voices from public events.

The lawsuit was filed by the Institute for Free Speech, a First Amendment think tank. The plaintiffs, including Deborah Alexander, Maud Maron, and Noah Harlan, assert that the actions of CEC 14 and Chancellor David Banks have curtailed free speech and inhibited open debate, as was reported by the Post. Specifically, the lawsuit claims that individuals perceived to hold conservative viewpoints, including members of the group Moms for Liberty, have been targeted and excluded from participating in public meetings and discussions.

“The First Amendment does not allow New York City’s Department of Education to function as a Department of Conformity,” the lawsuit declares, emphasizing the fundamental importance of protecting free speech and ensuring a diversity of viewpoints within public discourse, the Post report explained. The plaintiffs argue that the alleged censorship and suppression of dissenting voices represents a violation of their constitutional rights and undermine the principles of democracy.

Central to the lawsuit is the demand for a court injunction to dismantle the stranglehold that CEC 14 has imposed on public discourse. The Post reported that the lawsuit said that the plaintiffs seek not only the removal of restrictive speech codes but also nominal damages of $17.91 per plaintiff, in addition to attorney fees.

The lawsuit takes aim at CEC 14 president Tahj Sutton and first vice-president Marissa Manzanares, accusing them of fostering an environment hostile to dissenting opinions. The Post report indicated that the court filings reveal allegations of intolerance towards individuals who hold differing viewpoints, with the plaintiffs contending that Sutton and Manzanares have allowed their personal biases to influence their roles within the parent board.

While the lawsuit acknowledges that holding personal beliefs is not inherently unlawful, it contends that the defendants’ actions have crossed the line by carrying their personal attitudes into positions of authority, according to the information provided in the Post report. By alleging that dissenting voices have been systematically silenced and marginalized, the plaintiffs aim to hold CEC 14 and its leadership accountable for a clear cut infringement on their constitutional rights.

 

The lawsuit alleges that Sutton and Manzanares have systematically blocked individuals with opposing views from speaking at public council meetings and have even expelled Deborah Alexander in the past. Additionally, the plaintiffs question the competency of Sutton and Manzanares as leaders, citing their treatment of speakers with differing opinions and their refusal to conduct meetings in person, as was detailed in the Post report. By holding virtual sessions, the lawsuit claims, Sutton and Manzanares exert editorial control over attendees, blocking individuals such as Harlan and Alexander from registering for these public meetings.

Furthermore, the lawsuit accuses CEC 14 of espousing a “strongly anti-Israel worldview” and alleges that criticism of the council’s support for an anti-Israel student walkout resulted in members of the public being cut off and expelled from meetings based on their views, the report in the Post revealed. The council’s “Community Guidelines” are also under scrutiny for containing vague and overbroad rules governing public comment, including prohibitions on “any… forms of oppressive beliefs.”

The plaintiffs further assert that they have been blocked from accessing the parent board’s X account due to their political views, further exacerbating concerns about censorship and discrimination within CEC 14.

In response to the allegations, CEC 14 has remained silent, failing to provide comment or address the accusations leveled against its leadership, as was noted in the Post. The lack of response from the council only serves to deepen concerns about transparency and accountability within the organization.

The lawsuit also sheds light on a series of complaints, known as Chancellor regulation D-210 complaints, which allegedly target individuals who hold conservative viewpoints and seek to remove them from their positions within Community Education Councils (CECs), according to the information contained in the Post report.

Chancellor regulation D-210 grants the DOE authority to investigate CEC members and potentially strip them of their roles, a power that plaintiffs argue has been wielded to suppress dissenting voices and impose ideological conformity, the report in the Post pointed out. The lawsuit alleges that individuals with conservative values have faced harsh consequences for their beliefs, with accusations of orchestrating and promoting a citywide anti-Israel student walkout among the litany of complaints.

One such individual, Maud Maron, a member of CEC 2, has found herself at the center of the controversy. According to the lawsuit, Maron has been targeted with two D-210 complaints, the first stemming from private text messages where she voiced criticism of medical gender transition procedures in children, the report revealed. These messages, revealed in an article, drew condemnation from a DOE spokesperson who deemed them “despicable” and not aligned with the department’s values. Subsequently, Chancellor David Banks allegedly threatened to remove Maron from her position due to her expressed viewpoints.

The second complaint against Maron relates to her denunciation of a Stuyvesant High School student’s anonymous editorial on the Middle East conflict as “revolting Hamas propaganda,” the Post said. Maron’s vocal opposition to biased content in the school newspaper led to further scrutiny and allegations of wrongdoing.

Maron’s involvement in political activism, including a run for the U.S. House to represent New York’s 10th Congressional District and her roles in organizations such as PLACE (Parent Leaders for Accelerated Curriculum and Education) and Moms for Liberty, has further heightened tensions surrounding the allegations, according to the information in the Post report.  While Maron ultimately lost in the Democratic primary for the congressional seat, her continued advocacy for conservative values has made her a lightning rod for controversy within the education community.

At the forefront of their agenda is the fight against COVID safety measures in schools, as well as efforts to ban books and limit discussions on topics related to race and LGBTQ identities, as revealed in the Post report. These initiatives have thrust Moms for Liberty into the national spotlight, with the group attracting media attention for its vocal opposition to a formidable overreach in educational policies.

The controversy surrounding Moms for Liberty and similar groups has intensified with allegations that they have been labeled as “hate groups” by CEC 14, further exacerbating tensions within the education community. Maron, speaking to the Post, expressed alarm at the perceived targeting of parents who challenge the prevailing orthodoxy, lamenting the chilling effect that such investigations can have on public discourse and democratic engagement.

“We should show our children how to engage with those with different ideas, not how to silence them,” Maron asserted, according to the Post, thus highlighting the importance of fostering an environment of open dialogue and respectful debate within educational settings.

Deborah Alexander, a member of the advocacy group PLACE, finds herself under investigation by the DOE for allegedly revealing the school district of her political opponent’s child, Gavin Healy, according to the Post report. While the suit claims that the school district in question was already publicized by the DOE, Alexander’s actions have nevertheless drawn scrutiny from education authorities. Similarly, Noah Harlan, another figure implicated in the lawsuit, has not faced direct investigation but reportedly feels constrained in his speech, wary of potential repercussions.

“The threat of D-210 complaints being filed against them in retaliation for expressing their political views has chilled Plaintiffs’ expression, causing them to alter their public and even private speech,” the lawsuit asserts, as was indicated in the Post report, highlighting the chilling effect that the investigations have had on individuals associated with conservative advocacy.

In response to inquiries from the Post about the allegations, a DOE spokesperson emphasized the department’s commitment to creating safe and welcoming school communities. “Our Community Education Councils are forums for parent voice, and we expect Council members to respect the rights of the parents and students they serve, as well as adhere to applicable laws,” the spokesperson stated, as was mentioned in the Post report.

Netanyahu seeks to reschedule US meeting after blasting Biden’s ‘very, very bad move’

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Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a press conference at the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv on February 29, 2024. (Nimrod Klikman/POOL)

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

The Israeli government has asked the Biden administration to reschedule a planned meeting in Washington, just days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the meeting cancelled in protest of the recent United Nations Security Council vote demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

On Monday, after the U.S. mission to the UN declined to utilize the American veto, allowing a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Netanyahu nixed plans to dispatch a delegation to Washington to discuss the much-anticipated IDF operation in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah.

On Wednesday, however, a U.S. official cited in reports published by NBC News and Reuters said that the Israeli government is now seeking to reschedule the trip, and has reached out to the White House.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby had told reporters at a White House press briefing Monday evening that the Biden administration was “perplexed” by Israel’s response to the UN vote.

“We’re kind of perplexed by this” decision, since “our vote does not – I repeat – does not represent a shift in our policy.”

“It seems like the prime minister’s office is choosing to create a perception of daylight here when they don’t need to do that,” he added.

The U.S. official quoted Wednesday claimed that the Prime Minister’s Office “has said they’d like to reschedule the meeting dedicated to Rafah. We are now working with them to set a convenient date.”

The Israeli government has yet to respond to the report, though an Israeli official in Washington told Reuters that Netanyahu is considering sending out the delegation, possibly as early as next week.

Wednesday’s report comes just hours after the prime minister told Florida Senator Rick Scott that cancelling the delegation had sent an important message to Hamas.

“I thought the US decision in the Security Council was a very, very bad move,” Netanyahu said.

“The worst part about it was that it encouraged Hamas to take a hard line and to believe that international pressure will prevent Israel from freeing the hostages and destroying Hamas.”

“My decision not to send the delegation to Washington in the wake of that resolution was a message to Hamas: Don’t bet on this pressure, it’s not going to work. I hope they got the message.”

 

US senator calls EU accusations of Gaza starvation ‘bulls**t blood libel’

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US Senator Lindsey Graham. (AP/Andrew Harnik)

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham pushed back on claims Israel has sought to starve Gazans as part of the ongoing war against Hamas, calling the accusation “bullsh**.

Speaking with reporters during a visit to Jerusalem’s King David Hotel Wednesday, the Republican lawmaker said the claim that Israel has used starvation as a weapon of war is a modern-day “blood libel.”

“You’re talking about an accusation that is just a blood libel,” South Carolina’s senior senator said.

“Never in the history of warfare have I seen such an effort by one of the protagonists in a war to lessen the effect on the population of the other side,” Graham continued.

“The Israeli military and government, in my view, are doing incredible efforts in a time of war to make sure that innocent Palestinians can have the basics of life.”

Last week, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war” against Gaza. “Israel is provoking famine.”

In his rebuttal of such accusations, Graham noted the flow of supplies into Gaza.

“I know it is miserable in Gaza. I’m sure it is. But the food is flowing. Health care is flowing the best it can.”

“The Israeli people through their military and elected officials have chosen to help the Palestinian people,” comparing the war between Israel and Hamas to World War II.

“Was there a moral imperative in World War II by the United States to lessen casualties in Germany and Japan?”

“If you had told the American people after Pearl Harbor, you need to come up with a plan to feed civilian populations and lessen casualties at the expense of military victory, you would have been run out of town.”

Graham placed the responsibility for the suffering caused by the war on both sides on the Hamas terror organization, calling its members “cowards,” and on Iran.

“They hide in tunnels,” Graham said of Hamas. “They hide behind children, women, the elderly, and the Palestinian people pay a heavy price.”

“At the end of the day, the Iranian problem has to be addressed for this region to ever know peace.”

The senator met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, as well as with Minister-Without-Portfolio Benny Gantz.

During his visit, Graham also spoke with IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi by phone.

Turning to the future of the Gaza Strip after the current war with Hamas, Graham said that plans for Israel to “occupy Gaza and to resettle [Gazans]” was not “a practical solution that would have much support anywhere.”

“The best way forward, I believe, is for Saudi Arabia and Israel to reconcile, and for Saudi Arabia and other Arab Gulf states to take ownership of the Palestinian file in a fashion to demilitarize the West Bank and Gaza and to come up with a plan to deradicalize the populations.”

 

Columbia ‘Palestinian Resistance’ Event Violates YouTube Policy Against Promotion of Terrorism, Video Platform Says

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(Screenshot))

Jessica Costescu- Free Beacon

YouTube removed a Washington Free Beacon video of a “Palestinian Resistance 101” event held at Columbia University, with the platform saying the video violates its policy that bars users from praising, promoting, or aiding terrorists.

The Sunday event, which was hosted by the student group Columbia University Apartheid Divest, featured terror-tied speakers who lauded violence against Jews. Charlotte Kates, a member of the Israeli-designated terror group Samidoun, praised Hamas’s Oct. 7 terror attack for showing “the potential of a future for Palestine liberated from Zionism,” while Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine activist Khaled Barakat lauded airplane hijackings.

The Free Beacon attended the event virtually and posted a highlight video on Monday. Two days later, on Wednesday, YouTube contacted the Free Beacon to say it removed the video for violating “our violent criminal organizations policy.”

“Content that intends to praise, promote, or aid violent extremist or criminal organizations isn’t allowed on YouTube,” the email said.

“We know this might be disappointing, but it’s important to us that YouTube is a safe place for all.”

The decision could put pressure on Columbia to take action in the wake of the event, which was initially scheduled to take place at Barnard College, the university’s all-female undergraduate school. At the start of the event, however, student organizers said they were forced to “change rooms” at the last moment after a Ph.D. student lodged a complaint to the university.

The event was moved to Columbia’s “Q House,” an “LGBTQ+ special interest community at Columbia University,” according to an internal email obtained by the Free Beacon. A Columbia spokeswoman said the school “canceled the event, denying requests to use community space.”

“Despite this, the event organizers held the event in a residence with an online option,” the spokeswoman told the Free Beacon on Monday. “We are investigating this matter and will not tolerate violations of university policy.”

A Columbia faculty group, Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine, promoted the event in an Instagram post, which featured an image of a Palestinian boy throwing stones at an Israeli tank during the second intifada.

In addition to Kates and Barakat, the event featured Within Our Lifetime founder Nerdeen Kiswani, who addressed Columbia students in person. Kiswani, who has called for Israel to be “wiped off the map,” urged attendees to openly promote terrorist organizations and “talk about resistance.”

“We have the right to return home, and we will get that right by any means necessary,” Kiswani said.

The Free Beacon published two recordings of the event to YouTube—one to an editor’s account, which YouTube removed, and one to the Free Beacon’s official account, which remains live.

Columbia declined to comment.

Netanyahu to US lawmakers: ‘No substitute for victory’

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Netanyahu meets with the bipartisan delegation, March 27th, 2024. (Haim Zach/GPO)

By World Israel News Staff

There is no substitute to an Israeli victory over the Hamas terrorist organization, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a bipartisan delegation Wednesday, comparing Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas to the Allied war effort against Nazi Germany in World War II.

Prime Minister Netanyahu hosted a joint delegation of members of Congress and senior officials from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Wednesday at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, following a meeting with Republican Senator Rick Scott.

The bipartisan delegation was organized by AIPAC, and was comprised of eight House Democrats and one Republican, including Brad Schneider (D-IL), Jim Costa (D-CA), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Norma Torres (D-CA) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).

Along with Netanyahu, Israel was represented at the meeting by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi and the Prime Minister’s Foreign Policy Adviser Dr. Ophir Falk.

 

During the meeting, Netanyahu emphasized the importance of Israel achieving victory in Gaza, which he defined through three goals: Destroying the military capabilities of Hamas, freeing the Israelis held captive in Gaza, and ensuring that Gaza never threatens Israel again.

“We have to win,” Netanyahu said. “There is no substitute for victory.”

“How do you do that? What we’ve set out at the outset, with the support of President Biden and the administration – important support, which we appreciate deeply – was to say, the first thing: Our goal is to destroy the military and governing capabilities of Hamas in Gaza,” drawing a parallel between the current war and the Second World War.

“Hamas has to be eliminated. Not as in idea. Nazism wasn’t destroyed as an idea in World War Two, but Nazis do not govern Germany. There are still neo-Nazis around, but you destroyed that organization.”

“The second thing was to get our hostages out. They are simultaneous goals, because the military action is what produces the pressure to release the hostages. We’ve released half. We intend to release all of them.”

“The third thing is to ensure that, indeed that Gaza doesn’t pose a threat to Israel again.”

PROBE FINDS NETANYAHU ‘PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE’ FOR DEADLY MERON DISASTER
A day earlier, Netanyahu met with South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who issued a joint video statement with Netanyahu from the Prime Minister’s Office.

On Wednesday, Graham held a press conference in the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, condemning claims by foreign leaders that Israel is using starvation as a weapon against Gaza, calling the claim “bullsh**.”

DCAS, NYPA, & WCS Celebrate Completion of Major Energy Upgrade at the Bronx Zoo

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An ebony langur monkey perched on a tree

DCAS, NYPA, & WCS Celebrate Completion of Major Energy Upgrade at the Bronx Zoo

Upgrades reduce energy and maintenance costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Edited by: TJVNews.com

On Friday, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), the New York Power Authority (NYPA), and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced the completion of mechanical work to the heating system at the Bronx Zoo, marking a significant upgrade to the beloved zoo’s infrastructure. The upgrade to the zoo’s cogeneration power plant – which provides heat to several facilities across the campus – will reduce energy and maintenance costs by nearly $500,000 annually in city operations, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3,100 metric tons, and help future-proof the zoo for decades to come. Additional improvements, which will upgrade the lining of the zoo’s heating pipelines to extend the useful life of the existing infrastructure, are expected to be complete in winter 2025.]

– Newly installed control panels to monitor operations of the cogeneration plant

Some of the buildings at the Bronx Zoo supported by this heating system include JungleWorld, Congo Gorilla Forest, Carter Giraffe Building, World of Birds, Reptile House, Zoo Center, and various additional buildings across the zoo.

“Friday’s collaboration between DCAS, NYPA, and WCS marks a significant milestone in our commitment to sustainability and conservation citywide,” said DCAS Commissioner Dawn M. Pinnock. “The upgraded heating system at the Bronx Zoo not only enhances the comfort of staff, visitors, and wildlife, but is also a powerful example of how strategic partnerships can drive tangible environmental impact. This initiative not only reduces energy costs but also underscores our dedication to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, advancing New York’s environmental goals for a cleaner, greener future for all, including our furry, scaly, and feathery friends.”

“The Bronx Zoo, one of New York’s most-cherished institutions, continues to further its legacy of conservation and sustainability with a suite of energy efficient improvements,” said New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. “The Power Authority and New York City have partnered on important energy efficiency projects for decades and these upgrades to the zoo’s cogeneration power system are the latest of those impactful efforts, significantly reducing the zoo’s carbon footprint and energy costs, while simultaneously improving overall system reliability.”

“I can’t stand the thought of giraffes, monkeys, and lizards enduring a New York winter without heat, so I applaud this partnership between The Bronx Zoo, DCAS, and the New York Power Authority to invest in the zoo’s heating systems,” said NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “The city is proud to partner with cultural institutions in all five boroughs to address their critical infrastructure needs that can often be more difficult to fundraise for than other high-profile projects. This is a great example of how the public and private sectors can collaborate to make sure New Yorkers have access to world-class cultural facilities, and that our non-human neighbors can keep their flippers warm all year long.”

The enhanced heating system, overseen by DCAS, is part of the agency’s citywide efforts to improve the city’s quality of energy, reduce costs, and increase electrical efficiency as well as reliability. At the Bronx Zoo, this new system’s impact includes slashing greenhouse gas emissions, approximately equal to the annual electricity use of 4,082 homes or the consumption of 6,834,330 pounds of coal (or 3,100 metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions). Greenhouse gas emissions play a role in climate change and contribute indirectly to severe weather events such as flooding and air pollution.

– A Bronx Zoo Gibbon

Through partnerships with the Power Authority and the engineering- architecture firm Ramboll, DCAS is implementing a new $17 million heating system at the Bronx Zoo. This project helps create energy efficiency by replacing the cogeneration plant’s pumps, waste-heat recovery units, fluid coolers, and controls. NYPA has also installed an energy management system to oversee the plant as part of the project, and rehabilitated some of the zoo’s water infrastructure, ensuring reliable delivery of hot water from the cogeneration system to 13 of the zoo’s buildings.

The project advances environmental goals of New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York City’s Climate Mobilization Act, and New York City’s Local Law 97, which calls for a 50 percent reduction in government operations carbon emissions by 2030.

The Bronx Zoo is a member of the Cultural Institutions Group, a group of 34 cultural organizations located on City-owned property administered by the Department of Cultural Affairs, which receive significant capital and operating support from the City to help meet basic security, maintenance, administration and energy costs. In return for this support, these institutions operate as publicly-owned facilities whose mandate is to provide cultural services accessible to all New Yorkers.

Two new fluid coolers to provide chilled water to the cogeneration plant installed as part of the upgrade

About the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services

The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) makes city government work for all New Yorkers. Our commitment to equity, effectiveness, and sustainability guides our work providing City agencies with the resources and support needed to succeed, including:

Recruiting, hiring, and training City employees.

Managing 55 public buildings.

Acquiring, selling, and leasing City property.

Purchasing over $1 billion in goods and services for City agencies.

Overseeing the greenest municipal vehicle fleet in the country.

Leading the City’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from government operations.

Learn more about DCAS by visiting nyc.gov/dcas and by following us on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and listening to the Inside Citywide podcast.

About NYPA 

NYPA is the largest state public power organization in the nation, operating 16 generating facilities and more than 1,400 circuit-miles of transmission lines. More than 80 percent of the electricity NYPA produces is clean renewable hydropower. NYPA finances its operations through the sale of bonds and revenues earned in large part through sales of electricity. For more information visit www.nypa.gov and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and LinkedIn.

 

Ron DeSantis Signs Bill That Takes Sledgehammer To Squatters’ Rights

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Ron De Santris (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

(Daily Caller) Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Wednesday to crack down on squatters taking over homes in the state.

TikToker recently went viral for telling illegal migrants how to use squatters’ rights to steal Americans’ homes, and there have been reports of squatters in states like New York. DeSantis said this new legislation will speed up and simplify the process to remove squatters from homes during a press conference on the bill in Orlando.

“We are putting an end to the squatters scam in Florida,” DeSantis said. “While other states are siding with the squatters, we are protecting property owners and punishing criminals looking to game the system.”

The previous judicial process could be lengthy, but HB 621 streamlines it, DeSantis said. It allows homeowners to ask a sheriff’s officer to remove squatters from their property and will go into effect on July 1, according to its summary.

“If you are the victim of squatting you can simply fill out a form, give it to your local sheriff and the sheriff is instructed to go and remove the people who are inhabiting your dwelling illegally,” the governor said.

The bill also establishes three new crimes related to squatting, according to the summary.

Leonel Moreno, known by his social media username Leitooficial, posted a video instructing illegal migrants to take advantage of squatters’ rights laws and “invade” vacant properties in the United States earlier in March.

“I have thought about invading a house in the United States. I found out that there is a law that says that if a house is not inhabited, we can seize it,” Mereno said.

Authorities recently apprehended two fugitive squatters in Pennsylvania wanted for the death of a woman discovered in a duffel bag in a New York City apartment, the New York Post reported. New York City police believe they beat and killed a 52-year-old woman when she found them squatting in her late mother’s luxury apartment on March 15.

DeSantis’ press office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

New York Judge Denies Trump Request to File Motions

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Former President Donald Trump faces a daunting $355 million civil fraud ruling that was handed down on Friday by a New York City judge. Credit: AP

By Catherine Yang- Epoch Times

New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan denied two motions from former President Donald Trump’s defense attorneys on March 26. They had requested permission to file new motions and for case documents and correspondence to be made public.

In one order, Justice Merchan pointed out that the filing of new motions is permitted, but only after a one-page pre-motion is submitted to the court and approved first. In the other, he pointed to a previous protective order he entered which requires some personal information in the case files to be redacted.

“The Court advises counsel that it expects and welcomes zealous advocacy and creative lawyering,” Justice Merchan wrote. “However, the Court also expects those advocates to demonstrate the proper respect and decorum that is owed to the courts and its judicial officers and to never forget that they are officers of the court. As such, counsel is expected to follow this Court’s orders.”

New Motions
Justice Merchan, who this week set an April 15 trial date, started the order by criticizing the defense’s attempts to “repeatedly” delay the trial. He noted that on March 7, the defense tried once again when they filed a motion to adjourn the trial based on presidential immunity.

“The motion was filed a mere two and a half weeks before the scheduled trial date,” Justice Merchan wrote. The next day, he issued an order prohibiting the filing of new motions without first obtaining permission from the court by filing a one-page “pre-motion letter.”

Defense attorneys had argued that the order was a violation of the Sixth Amendment right to a fair trial because it could block the party from filing new motions. Justice Merchan explained the order was meant to “efficiently manage the case at bar” by giving the parties the necessary time to file “valid” arguments.

He pointed out he had “the inherent authority to exercise discretion in the management of its docket,” rejecting the Sixth Amendment argument as “without merit.”

“As of the date of this Order, no party has been denied the ability to file a motion,” Justice Merchan added.

He recapped exchanges between parties and the court after his March 8 order, criticizing the defense for prematurely attaching motions as “exhibits” to their pre-motion letter and warning the parties not to cross “the line between zealous advocacy and willful disregard of [the Court’s] orders.”

Public Case
Justice Merchan also denied the defense’s request to “unseal and docket all pleadings, orders, and substantive written communications that have involved the Court and the parties, including communications sent by letter and email” and require simultaneous public access of all such future documents.

He pointed out the need to have some information redacted in this case, which has prevented or delayed the public posting of some court documents. He also pushed back on the defense’s claims that the public is being “shielded” from any information that would normally be made available on a public docket.

“In fact, the Unified Court System has taken up the task of posting substantive pleadings, decisions and orders on the nycourts.gov website, a step, as far as this court is aware, which appears to be unique for a criminal matter in New York State Supreme Court — Criminal Term,” the judge wrote.

As of Feb. 15, the judge’s orders have been made public on the court website, a public information officer confirmed, though older correspondence is not available. A number of high profile cases have been given prominence on the public information page.
Justice Merchan added that the defense was free to attach communications they believe should be made public to court filings and noted the defense has done so.

On March 25, Justice Merchan held a contentious hearing where the defense accused the Manhattan district attorney of prosecutorial misconduct. The judge said the defense had brought no basis for this.

Justice Merchan said there was a “pattern” of the defense interpreting information differently than he reads it, and this has been going on for “several months” now.

The district attorney has charged President Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records, and the defense argued the prosecutors sought to prevent them from obtaining potentially exculpatory evidence.

Justice Merchan said he reviewed the hundreds of pages of evidence produced by both parties regarding these new allegations and found that what the defense claimed was not what he saw at all.

He found the prosecutors had gone “so far and beyond” their discovery obligations that it was “odd” and “disturbing” they had to take the time to hold such a hearing.

Justice Merchan had indicated before the hearing that the trial would begin on April 25, coinciding with a Supreme Court hearing in another one of President Trump’s criminal cases.

Defense attorneys argued for a further delay because the April 25 jury selection date would overlap with Passover and exclude observing Jews, and on the basis that they wanted to wait for the Supreme Court’s ruling on presidential immunity, which they have also raised as a defense in this case.

Justice Merchan responded by moving the trial date earlier, to April 15, adjourning the hearing.

President Trump told reporters hours later at a press conference that he did not believe the trial would take place next month, but that he was willing to testify because he “did nothing wrong.”

“I don’t know how you can have a trial like this in the middle of an election, a presidential election,“ he said. ”I think we’re going to get some court rulings.”

Gallup: Most Americans oppose Israeli actions against Hamas

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Israel Defense Forces activity in the Gaza Strip, Feb. 28, 2024. Credit: IDF. Facebook Twitter Wh

The proportion of respondents who disapprove of IDF actions increased from 45% in November to 55% this month, while the share of Americans who explicitly back the military operation dropped from 50% to 36%.

About 9% of respondents in the most recent Gallup poll have no opinion on the IDF’s actions, up from 4% in November.

All three major U.S. political groupings have become less supportive of the war against Hamas, Gallup said on Wednesday, pointing to drops of 18 percentage points in approval among both Democrats and independents and a seven-point decline among Republican voters.

Gallup polled a representative sample of 1,016 American adults between March 1 and March 20. (The margin of error is ± 4 percentage points at a confidence level of 95%, according to the organization.)

Meanwhile, another survey of 2,111 Americans published by Harvard’s Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) and Harris Insights and Analytics this week found that a strong majority of U.S. voters support Israel in the conflict with Palestinian terrorist groups.

Asked whether they favor Israel or Hamas, 79% expressed support for the Jewish state, according to Harvard/Harris. In addition, two-thirds said they believe the IDF is trying to avoid harming civilians.

The poll also discovered that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu enjoys greater// popularity among American voters than Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Israeli ground forces entered Gaza on Oct. 27 following weeks of airstrikes in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, in which terrorists murdered 1,200 people, wounded thousands more, and abducted more than 250 men, women and children, holding them captive in Gaza.

A book on faith, Judaism and defying Soviet rule

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Rabbi Hillel Zaltzman. Credit: Chabad.org/Jewish TV.
By Phyllis Chesler

Reading this is a bit like reading Chaim Grade’s My Mother’s Sabbath Days. It is filled with chaimishe details, a veritable cholent of characters, an inspiring tale of religious Jewish heroes and heroines. Zaltzman is modest; he credits and names nearly everyone who made a difference—the rabbis, their wives and daughters—and especially, their hidden yeshivah students, most of whom became major Chabad rabbis both in Israel and the United States.

After escaping from Hitler’s clutches, these Jews survived, and miraculously, even flourished all throughout Stalin’s long reign of terror and beyond that, until 1971.

Of course: Stalin starved millions of non-Jews, purged millions more and terrorized an entire country. This is the story of how the Jewish people managed to survive this murderous and anti-Semitic totalitarian regime.

Chabad Jews risked torture, exile and death daily, hourly, in order to hide other religious Jews on the run and, even more importantly, to secretly teach Torah and Yiddishkeit to Jewish youth. To do so was forbidden by Joseph Stalin himself.

The Soviet regime considered religious Jews to be “enemies of the state,” “counter-revolutionaries,” traitors, rebels and heretics; they arrested, interrogated and punished them accordingly. Informers were everywhere.

In Samarkand, little Jewish children who were chosen as Torah pupils had to be able to keep secrets. They could not tell their parents where they were spending their time. Neighbors, even Jewish neighbors, especially Jewish neighbors, had to be kept in the dark. Who knew who would crack under torture? Who was already a paid KGB informant? Then there was this horror:

“A special bureau was created for the sole purpose of stamping out Judaism, the Yevreskaya Sektzia, or Yevsektzia for short. This bureau was staffed by young Jewish men and women who had dedicated their lives to fighting religion and harassing religious Jewish and closing down their institutions.”

I hesitate to draw an analogy to our times, but you are free to do so.

The Yevsektzia was known as the Jewish section of the Communist Party. Their members took the lead in the “propaganda war against Jewish religion from 1918 until the section was disbanded in 1930.” They were directly responsible for the torture, murder, imprisonment and exile to the Gulag of major Jewish rabbis and their followers.

According to R. Zaltzman, the cantor of Leningrad’s Grand Choral Synagogue was a known KGB informant. In 1968, he was Rabbi Yehuda Leib Levin’s (the official chief rabbi of the Soviet Union), “minder, sent to keep a close eye on Rabbi Levin’s movements. Even when Rabbi Levin went to New York for a private audience with the Rebbe (at 770 Eastern Parkway), he couldn’t leave his minder outside.”

I fear that I cannot properly convey the level of chesed, self-sacrifice and kindness that one Chabadnik showed another. Food from one’s own undernourished mouth was literally given away to starving others. Tzedakah was not only a mitzvah, it was also a joy and kept a growing community alive. They starved rather than eat non-kosher food. They went to extraordinary lengths to keep Shabbat, and they found extraordinary ways to hide their religious observances.

Rabbi Hillel Zaltzman
Book jacket of “The Jewish Underground of Samarkand: How Faith Defied Soviet Rule” by Rabbi Hillel Zaltzman. Source: Screenshot/Amazon.com.

These Jews of faith lived—and flourished—under the most primitive conditions. In one instance, a 10-foot room housed an adult couple, a newborn, and during learning hours, as many pupils as came to learn. There was no electricity, no heating; communal prayer had to be managed in secret; mikvah’s (Jewish ritual baths) had to be hidden under kitchen floors.

When no mikvah safely existed, frail and ancient Jews walked across fields of snow and ice for miles in order to immerse themselves in freezing rivers, usually before dawn.

One couple lived in a small home with a single bedroom, a kitchen and a dining room. “Still, my aunt and uncle provided for her every need as if she were a member of the family.” And who was she? A widow, abandoned by her son and daughter-in-law, and who stood at the entrance to the shul, shivering and begging.

Some Jews recited tehillim (“psalms”), by heart three times a day. Many took hours to recite the Shemah, focusing emotionally on each word, weeping as they recited prayers fervently, reverently.

Oh, I am a mighty sinner and can barely breathe the air at the altitude of their piety, charity and chesed, “deeds of human kindness.”

Persecution and danger were omnipresent. Beatings and arrests took place on the street and on trains. “It was not unusual to awake in the morning and discover the skeletal bodies of Jews strewn on the road or in the local hospital.”

 But miracles abounded. Here’s just one.

The author’s father was verbally and physically attacked as a “filthy Jew” on a train. He feared the end was in sight when all of a sudden a huge man (“a giant”) came to his rescue and threw the hoodlum out of the high-speed train. And then, the “giant” calmed my father down and whispered into his ear: “You should know that I am a ger tzedek—a convert.”

Chabad rabbis rarely committed anything to paper. When they absolutely had to do so, it was always in Russian and in code. Torah scholars and their wives knew how to “unpack” Torah-related allusions as only the most Mandarin academics can do today.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe—Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson—was referred to as Zaide, “grandfather,” and Chamah—Chabad’s organization in Samarkand—was called ‘Nechama.” Zaide wanted to know whether Aunt Nechama needed helpers.

We learn only a little about Chabad’s women. (The King’s Daughter remains within). What we do learn attests to their piety and commitment to do everything that they, as women, as wives, as mothers, could do to preserve the sanctity of Torah learning and the dignity of the revered rebbes.

Many Chabad wives waited for a decade to hear from or even about husbands who had been forced to flee or who had been sent to the gulag. They refused to consider a divorce.

These women viewed their separate roles as sacred and their duties as prayers. No, I could not have done so. I would have wanted to be in one of the secret yeshivot learning, learning, but would that have necessarily kept a community intact and Judaism flourishing?

Many continue to wrestle with this question to this very day.

British lawmakers call to halt arms sales to Israel

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Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in London. Credit: Freepik.

Coming on the heels of Monday’s passage of a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding a freeze in fighting during Ramadan, which ends on April 9, the letter was addressed to Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

British defense exports to Israel totaled £42 million ($53 million) in 2022, according to Defense Secretary Grant Shapps.

MP Zarah Sultana, a far-left member of the Labour Party of Pakistani Muslim ancestry, coordinated the letter, which was signed by 107 MPs and 27 peers.

“With the Israeli government now seemingly disregarding the U.N. Security Council’s ceasefire resolution, it is again violating international law and making the case for an end to arms sales impossible to ignore,” Sultana said, as quoted by the Guardian.

“The U.K. government must finally uphold the rights of the Palestinian people, heed this call from 130 cross-party parliamentarians, and immediately end arms sales to Israel,” she continued.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on March 19 expressed his displeasure with Canada’s government over its announcement the previous day that it would halt arms sales to Israel.

“It’s regrettable that the Canadian government is taking a step that undermines Israel’s right to self-defense against Hamas terrorists, who have committed terrible crimes against humanity and against innocent Israeli civilians, including the elderly, women, and children,” tweeted Katz.

“History will judge Canada’s current action harshly. Israel will continue to fight until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are returned home,” he added.

Canadian arms exports to Israel amounted to more than $15.4 million in 2022, according to Canadian government data. (The largest non-U.S. export destination that year was Saudi Arabia, which received about $1.15 billion in military exports, or about 54% of the total value of all non-U.S. Canadian military exports.)

Karine Jean-Pierre Melts Down, Hangs Up Shortly After Radio Host Asks If Biden Has ‘Dementia’

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White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre holds a press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on July 30, 2021. Credit: Official White House Photo by Erin Scott.

Bradley Jaye(Breitbart)

Karine Jean-Pierre had a meltdown Tuesday after a North Carolina radio show host asked her if President Joe Biden has dementia.

“When I told a number of people that I was talking to you today — it was interesting, though — they all said, ‘Would you please just ask her, does the president have dementia?’” host Mark Garrison of WBT Charlotte told Jean-Pierre. “So before I move on from it, does he?”

“That, Mark, I can’t even believe you’re asking me this question,” an incredulous Jean-Pierre stammered. “That is [sic] incredibly offensive question to ask.”

“But you know people ask it,” Garrison insisted.

“Wait, oh, let me, no, no, no, no, no, you, Mark, you, you took, you’re taking us down this rabbit hole. Let me, uh, let me, let me be very clear about this.”

She continued:

For the past several years, the President’s physician has laid out very, in a comprehensive way, the President’s health. Uh, this is a president, if you watch him every day, if you really pay attention to his record and what he has done, you will see exactly how focused he’s been on the American people, how historic his actions has [sic] been. And so I’m not even going to truly, truly, uh, uh, really, you know, take, take the premise of your question. I think it is incredibly insulting, and, and so we can, you know, we can move on to the next question.

The host proceeded to mention high gas and grocery prices in North Carolina, asking, “How does Mr. Biden win votes when people don’t have as much disposable income?”

After a minute of campaign-speak blaming President Trump and Russia, Jean-Pierre claimed the problems were getting better before abruptly hanging up the phone, surprising the hosts.

“Those costs have gone down because of what this President has been able to do. And with that, thank you so much Mark, have an amazing, amazing day,” she said, and hung up.

“Wow, wow!” the two hosts exclaimed, noting that they had asked no out-of-bounds questions.

“I don’t understand the fragility of this person,” Garrison’s cohost said.

Bradley Jaye is a Capitol Hill Correspondent for Breitbart News. Follow him on X/Twitter at @BradleyAJaye.

 

From Neo-Nazi to Observant Jew: The Astonishing Transformation of Frank Meeink

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From Neo-Nazi to Observant Jew: The Astonishing Transformation of Frank Meeink

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In a remarkable tale of redemption and self-discovery, Frank Meeink, once a notorious neo-Nazi leader whose life served as partial inspiration for Edward Norton’s character in “American History X,” has unveiled an extraordinary twist in his journey: he is now an observant Jew, as was recently reported in the New York Post. This revelation comes after decades of intense anti-Semitic beliefs and violent actions aimed at fomenting racial hatred.

Meeink credits Keith Brookstein’s compassion with guiding him away from his virulent anti-semitism. Brookstein, who is Jewish, gave him a job despite his swastika tattoo and Meeink came to realize where his life had gone wrong.
Frank Meeink

Meeink’s story begins in the tumultuous landscape of the early 1990s when he emerged as a leader of a violent ultra-right group. His ideology was steeped in hatred, with a fervent belief that Jews were the root of all evil, culminating in the flaunting of a flaming swastika tattooed prominently on his neck, according to the information provided in the Post report. His mission was clear: to incite a race war, and he was not hesitant to resort to torture against perceived enemies.

Reflecting on his past, Meeink acknowledges the profound depths of his anti-Semitic convictions, once vehemently railing against what he termed the “Zionist occupation government,” as was revealed in the Post report. His transformation seemed implausible, considering the depths of his hatred and the violence he perpetrated in the name of his cause.

The portrayal of Derek Vinyard in “American History X,” a character partially inspired by Meeink’s journey, showcased the struggles of redemption, hinting at the possibility of change even in the most hardened hearts. Detailed in the Post report was that Derek’s transformation from a fervent neo-Nazi to a man grappling with the consequences of his past actions resonated with audiences, mirroring Meeink’s own trajectory toward redemption.

n “American History X,” Ed Norton’s Derek Vinyard commits crimes against black people, while Meeink was convicted of kidnapping and torturing an anti-fascist. But both men began roads to redemption in prison.
©New Line Cinema/Courtesy Everett Collection

However, the most astonishing chapter in Meeink’s narrative unfolds in recent years. Despite his efforts to leave behind his neo-Nazi past and make amends, a chance remark from a friend sparked an unexpected journey of self-discovery, as per the information contained in the report in the Post. Prompted by the comment that he “looked Jewish,” Meeink embarked on a journey to uncover the truth of his heritage.

In a twist of fate, Meeink’s quest for self-discovery led him to undergo a DNA test through 23andMe, a decision driven by a desire to validate the friend’s offhand remark. The results of the test produced a revelation that defied expectations: he had Jewish ancestry, the report in the Post indicated. For Meeink, this revelation was nothing short of a divine intervention, a “beautiful gift from God” that shattered the foundations of his previous identity, he told the Post.

In an interview with The Post, Meeink shared the profound impact of this discovery on his life. “I just wanted to see if it was true, I wanted to see if it was real,” he expressed, encapsulating the mix of curiosity and apprehension that accompanied his decision to take the test. The confirmation of his Jewish ancestry marked a pivotal moment in his journey, prompting a radical shift in his perception of self and identity, the Post report added.

Through interviews with those acquainted with Meeink’s journey, his story unfolds with depth and complexity, shedding light on the forces that shaped his past and the profound changes that define his present.

The revelation of Meeink’s Jewish ancestry, however small the proportion may be, carries significant weight in light of the Jewish tradition of matrilineal descent in determining if one is considered a halachic Jew. As the test revealed, Meeink’s lineage traces back to Elizabeth Zellman Rementer, his mother’s maternal great-great-grandmother, a discovery that holds profound implications for his identity, as detailed in the Post report. While not all Jewish scholars may adhere to the strict definition of matrilineal descent, many recognize its significance, a sentiment echoed by Meeink himself as he enthusiastically embraces his Judaism.

In interviews, Meeink’s commitment to his newfound faith is palpable. He describes a daily routine steeped in tradition, praying three times a day while donning the tallit and tefillin of observant Jews. His devotion extends beyond personal rituals to communal engagement, as he attends synagogue regularly and participates in Torah study classes three times a week, the Post report explained. Additionally, Meeink has adopted a kosher lifestyle, exemplifying a deep dedication to his religious practice.

Understanding the origins of Meeink’s tumultuous journey sheds light on the complexities of his transformation. Raised in an Irish-Catholic enclave in southwest Philadelphia, Meeink’s formative years were marked by adversity and turmoil, exacerbated by an abusive stepfather, according to the information in the Post report. Surrounded by black families, Meeink’s perceptions of race were shaped by fear and prejudice, sentiments reinforced by encounters with his neo-Nazi cousin and his skinhead associates.

Recalling his early encounters with the neo-Nazi movement, Meeink reflects on the allure of belonging and purpose that it offered. Meeting prominent figures such as David Duke and immersing himself in the ideology of white supremacy, Meeink found validation for his fears and grievances. “I grabbed onto this information that was being fed to me,” he recalls, according to the Post report, as he highlights the seductive power of extremist ideologies in providing a sense of identity and belonging.

By the age of 15, Meeink had already embarked on a path of radicalization, joining and subsequently being expelled from the Ku Klux Klan before forming his own group with his cousin, aptly named Strikeforce, as was revealed in the Post.  His involvement in the white supremacist movement was driven by a desire to amplify its reach and influence, fueled by a potent mix of fear, anger, and disillusionment.

 

Using the Bible as a tool to spread his message of hate, he drew parallels with Hamas terrorists who weaponize the Quran, highlighting the universality of extremist rhetoric across religious boundaries. The Post report explained that his public-access cable TV show, ominously titled “The Reich,” served as a platform for propagating racist ideologies through skits and jokes, a chilling testament to the depths of his commitment to white supremacy.

Central to Meeink’s narrative is his animosity towards groups such as Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP), whom he despised for their anti-fascist stance. Meeink’s antagonism towards SHARP manifested in extreme violence, exemplified by the harrowing account of his abduction and torture of a member of the group on Christmas Eve in 1992, the Post report detailed. Recalling the incident, Meeink’s words resonate with chilling indifference as he describes the use of firearms and hours of torture devoid of remorse or empathy, painting a portrait of a young man consumed by hatred and cruelty.

At the age of 17, Meeink’s actions caught up with him, resulting in a three-year sentence for aggravated kidnapping. Incarcerated within the confines of the Illinois Department of Corrections, he found himself amidst a milieu of Aryan “farm boys and bikers,” surrounded by individuals who shared his extremist views, as per the information in the Post report. However, an unexpected turn of events would set Meeink on a path towards redemption.

Bonding with two black inmates, nicknamed Jello and G, over games of football and cards in the prison yard, Meeink experienced a gradual awakening from the grip of neo-Nazism. Their camaraderie transcended racial divides, offering Meeink a glimpse of humanity beyond the narrow limitations of his hatred. The Post reported that this unlikely friendship served as a catalyst for his transformation, inspiring a journey of introspection and self-discovery that would ultimately shape his future.

Emerging from prison after just over a year, Meeink’s newfound perspective led him to confront the contradictions within his own beliefs. Attending neo-Nazi rallies, he found himself at odds with the pervasive racism directed towards black people, challenging the narratives that once defined his worldview. Yet, his deep-seated anti-Semitism remained steadfast, a testament to the complexity of ideological indoctrination and personal biases, as was explained in the Post report.

Reflecting on his journey, Meeink’s words encapsulate the tumultuous path towards reconciliation and redemption. “I would hear them say all black people are this way,” he recalls, the Post reported, acknowledging the fallacy of racial stereotypes.

In 1994, amidst the throes of unemployment and addiction, Meeink found himself at a crossroads when offered a job at an antiques store in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, by its Jewish owner, Keith Brookstein. Despite harboring deep-seated prejudices, Meeink hesitantly accepted the offer, grappling with the weight of his past and the specter of his own bigotry, as was indicated in the Post report. His tentative inquiry to a friend about whether he had disclosed his swastika tattoo to Brookstein elicited a response that would alter the course of his life: “Keith doesn’t give a rat’s a-s what you believe, just don’t break his furniture.”

Brookstein’s unwavering kindness and willingness to extend forgiveness in the face of Meeink’s past transgressions resonated deeply with the young man. It was a transformative moment, as Meeink reflects, “Who are you to judge the world, you’re a f—ing criminal, a drunk. That was the day I was like, ‘I’m done. I’m out,'” he told the Post. In a symbolic gesture of his newfound resolve, Meeink refrained from shaving his head the next morning, marking the beginning of his journey towards reconciliation and redemption.

Subsequent actions further underscored Meeink’s commitment to transformation. Removing the swastika tattoo and the word “skinhead” from his knuckles symbolized a definitive break from his past ideology, signifying a repudiation of hate in favor of embracing a future defined by compassion and understanding, the Post report observed.

Frank Meeink ON CNN

However, it is Meeink’s embrace of Judaism that has emerged as the cornerstone of his redemption. In the wake of the darkest period of his life, marked by the loss of his son, his mother’s tragic overdose, and the dissolution of his marriage, Meeink found solace and guidance in his faith. Recounting his journey to recovery in Los Angeles, Meeink speaks fondly of his sponsor, a Jewish man he affectionately dubs his “recovery rabbi,” whose support and guidance played a pivotal role in his path towards sobriety and spiritual renewal, the Post report noted.

Reflecting on his arduous journey, Meeink acknowledges the challenges he has faced in confronting his past and embracing his newfound identity. “It was a lot of work,” he recalls, underscoring the profound personal transformation that has taken place within him, as was pointed out in the report in the Post.

“In recovery, it says, ‘Find the God of your understanding,'” Meeink reflects, highlighting a pivotal moment in his quest for spiritual enlightenment. This introspective journey led him to explore the tenets of Judaism, drawn to its emphasis on love and the freedom to worship according to one’s own understanding. “The thing I loved about Judaism is that it says, ‘Love the Lord your God.’ And that you don’t need to force your God on nobody else,” he explained during his conversation with the Post, as he underscored the inclusive nature of his newfound faith.

For Meeink, faith has become a source of humility and compassion, guiding his interactions with others and shaping his worldview. “My faith granted me humbleness and humility that enabled me to stand up for others,” he asserted during his interview with the Post as he highlighted the transformative power of spiritual awakening in fostering empathy and understanding.

Throughout his journey, Meeink remains committed to incorporating the principles of his faith into his daily life. On his morning prayer walks, he meditates on the word “stay,” a poignant reminder to shift his focus away from self-absorption towards a broader perspective. “S-T-A-Y: stop thinking about yourself,” he emphasizes, encapsulating the essence of his spiritual practice.

Central to Meeink’s journey of faith is his relationship with his “recovery rabbi,” whom he calls every morning at 8 a.m. This ritual serves as a reminder of his commitment to keeping God at the forefront of his life, grounding him in a deeper sense of purpose and connection. “I only do these things, not to just seem like a part of the Jews,” he explained to the Post, emphasizing the sincerity of his devotion.

In 2020, Meeink took his advocacy against hate to the highest levels, testifying before Congress about neo-Nazis’ attempts to infiltrate police forces. As was reported by the Post, his courageous testimony shed light on the insidious nature of extremism and placed an emphasis on the urgent need for action to combat hate and intolerance.

Looking to the future, Meeink envisions his remarkable journey translated onto the silver screen, with talks underway for a movie that would serve as a sequel of sorts to “American History X,” as was revealed in the Post report. Collaborating with director Sam French, Meeink seeks to share his story with a broader audience, imparting a simple yet profound message: “Love is more powerful than hate.”

In a world often marred by division and discord, Frank Meeink’s journey stands as a beacon of hope and inspiration. Through his unwavering commitment to faith and redemption, he reminds us of the transformative power of love and the resilience of the human spirit in overcoming even the darkest of adversities. As he continues to navigate his path forward, Meeink’s story serves as a testament to the enduring strength of the human soul and the limitless potential for growth and renewal.

 

 

New York City Council Begs Court to Authorize Voting Rights for 800,000 Foreign Nationals

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People vote early at Brooklyn Borough Hall in the 10th Congressional District primary, Aug. 17, 2022.Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY

John Binder(Breitbart)

The New York City Council is begging an appellate court to authorize more than 800,000 foreign nationals to vote in the city’s municipal elections.

In January 2022, Democrats on the 51-member New York City Council approved an ordinance to give more than 800,000 foreign nationals with green cards, visas, and work permits the opportunity to vote in citywide elections so long as they have resided in the city for at least 30 consecutive days.

Following lawsuits over the ordinance, the New York Supreme Court in June 2022 ruled that giving local voting rights to foreign nationals violated the state’s constitution, which explicitly reserves voting for American “citizens.”

In February, that ruling was upheld by the New York Appellate Division.

On Tuesday, New York City Council spokesperson Rendy Desamour announced that councilmembers are pleading with the Appellate Division for the Second Judicial Department of the Supreme Court of the State of New York to override both rulings and allow the council to start implementing the ordinance.

Today’s filing to appeal the Second Department’s recent decision seeks a determination from the state’s highest court that the law is consistent with the state constitution, election law, and the municipal home rule law,” Desamour said:

Empowering New Yorkers to participate in our local democratic process can only strengthen New York City by increasing civic engagement. We look forward to the Court of Appeals’ consideration of the Council’s appeal.
[Emphasis added]

As Breitbart News noted, the ordinance was set to massively influence local elections while diluting the votes of American citizens living in the city. In 2021, for instance, Mayor Eric Adams (D) won the Democrat mayoral primary by less than 7,200 votes.

Former councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz (D-Bronx) said that the ordinance would dilute the votes of citizens while shifting electoral power to foreign nationals with ties to the United Nations, Wall Street, and the global financial system which has long been based in New York City.