To the editor: I wholeheartedly help contributing author Josh Hammer’s pressing enchantment for an finish to political violence (“The Israeli Embassy killings and the ominous turn in political violence,” Might 23).
Nevertheless, he’s fallacious to label political violence within the U.S. as primarily a left-wing phenomenon. In actual fact, a large number of lethal assaults come from right-wing white nationalists. These embody violent assaults focusing on Black Individuals, Jews, immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals.
Federal legislation enforcement and watchdog teams consistently identify far-right violence, not left-wing activism, as the highest home terror risk. There’s no comparability in scale or affect. Ignoring that actuality dangers downplaying an actual and rising hazard.
Nicholas Hormann, Pasadena
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To the editor: I lastly can agree with Hammer on a really vital level. Though he mentioned he was not writing an “apples-to-apples comparability,” he spent most of his opinion piece recounting numerous “apples” (i.e., “darkness”) in “pockets of the American activist left.” Nevertheless, in his ultimate paragraph we reached complete settlement: “Regardless, the violence should finish. And we should cease treating open requires homicide or genocide as morally acceptable ‘speech.’” I’m heartened to search out solidarity with you, Mr. Hammer!
David Berry, Altadena
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To the editor: Hammer accurately notes that home terrorists as of late come from all backgrounds. Then he proceeds to checklist solely allegedly left-wing nuts. He says that each side aren’t culpable right here. How does he go from “all backgrounds” to “each ‘sides’ aren’t culpable”? Appears like a contradiction to me.
Cathy Gregory, Lompoc, Calif.
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To the editor: I unequivocally condemn the homicide of the Israeli Embassy employees members and the opposite acts of violence that Hammer references. However his declare that “each ‘sides’ aren’t culpable right here” is misinformation that serves the MAGA agenda.
What would he name Jan. 6, 2021, if not the most important instance of political violence from the suitable? What about Harry Rogers, a KKK member who drove a automotive right into a crowd of peaceable protesters? Or the racism-driven Walmart capturing in El Paso? And if Hammer is so involved about antisemitism, as I’m as properly, how can he neglect that the Pittsburgh Tree of Life capturing was perpetrated by somebody with anti-immigrant views?
Sure, Mr. Hammer, political violence is perpetrated by each side and we have to condemn all of it.
Bruce Hirsch, Culver Metropolis
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To the editor: Hammer ignores the lengthy historical past of right-wing possession of antisemitism by ascribing it now to the left wing.
As a lover of Israel, I agree that pro-Palestine protests generally demonize Israel and even get too near supporting Hamas (which, in any case, is a right-wing motion). Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of protesters are younger individuals, a lot of whom are Jewish, who see the vicious dying and destruction being wrought in Gaza by Israel and can’t abide it. Anybody paying consideration shouldn’t be in a position to abide it. I can not, and I additionally worry vastly that Israel will be unable to outlive after dropping a lot help on the earth by its personal actions.
I agree there’s an excessive amount of demonizing and dehumanizing, even genocidal, speech popping out of the present Center East battle, however one must be blind to not see that it comes from each side.
The ensuing hate crimes additionally come from each side. Hammer conveniently leaves out the assaults on Palestinian Individuals which have occurred since October 2023, most notably the stabbing dying of a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy in Chicago and the three Palestinian college students shot in Burlington, Vt.
Susan Rishik, Santa Monica
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To the editor: Hammer writes with ardour and fact relating to the antisemitism in America and on faculty campuses. I’ve been ready for indicators of condemnation from the final administration and hoping President Trump is profitable in sending all terrorists in a foreign country.
Some name Trump a bully. If he’s a bully, we want extra like him, particularly after two younger individuals have been murdered. Drastic occasions name for drastic measures. No antisemitism in the united statesA. — not now, not ever.
Elaine Vanoff, West Hollywood
