Middlesex County Man Admits Communicating Threats to Attack Synagogue

A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man today admitted transmitting via the internet a manifesto containing threats to attack a synagogue and Jewish people, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Omar Alkattoul, 19, of Sayreville, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with…

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UN rights body passes disputed motion on religious hatred after Koran burning

The United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday approved a disputed resolution on religious hatred in the wake of the burning of a Koran in Sweden, prompting concern by Western states who say it challenges long-held practices in rights protection. The resolution, introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),…

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U.S. Attorney Ritz Launches National Security and Civil Rights Unit

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz has announced the creation of a National Security and Civil Rights Unit within the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. This move permanently positions a supervisory attorney and several prosecutors to respond to and prevent hate crimes and civil rights violations, as well…

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Police make arrests in Annapolis church vandalism cases

After someone ripped a cross from the wall and reduced bibles and hymn books to pages littering the sanctuary of the Fowler United Methodist Church in Annapolis, some congregants were too fearful to return for Sunday services. “I have never seen a church in such disarray and so much pain in a room,” said Rev.…

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Pride and Ukrainian flags burned or vandalized overnight in Silver Spring

Flags promoting Pride were set on fire overnight near downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, infuriating members of the community. Mark Heare and Chris Middleton were asleep in their home when their dogs woke them up. “By the time I came down, I didn’t see anybody,” Heare said. “I walked out the walk and didn’t see anybody.…

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Man dumps gasoline, sets fire to Leesburg [FL] Masonic Lodge, detectives say

A man was arrested Thursday after dumping gasoline and setting fire to the Leesburg Masonic Lodge last week because he was mad at what it stood for, an affidavit shows. According to detectives, Luke Pratt, 22, was arrested after the fire that destroyed the fraternal organization’s building, located at 200 Richey Road off West Main…

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Georgia leaders voice concern over antisemitic demonstrations outside 2 synagogues

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and other state leaders have spoken out against bigotry and hate after antisemitic demonstrations took place outside two synagogues in the state this weekend. Groups were observed yelling antisemitic messages outside a Macon temple Friday night and displaying swastikas and signs with neo-Nazi messages outside a Cobb County synagogue on Saturday.…

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