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The circumstances change, but the end result’s the same.The Jewish people remain easy targets for hatemongers.The massive spike in Anti-Semitic-inspired incidents that followed the Oct.
7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks in Israel continued last year, according to data compiled by the Anti-Defamation League.The ADL recorded a total of 638 incidents of assault, harassment, and vandalism last year in the New England region — the fourth year in a row that Anti- Semitic incidents increased, breaking the previous all-time recorded high.Those 638 reported incidents last year represented a 213% surge since 2022.
Massachusetts last year accounted for the fifth most recorded hate incidents directed at Jews in the country, with a total of 438. That represented an 188% spike from the 152 incidents reported in 2022, but were actually less than the 439 that occurred in 2023.A total of 108 cities and towns in Massachusetts saw at least one Anti-Semitic incident in 2024, while Boston had the most reported incidents with 96.
Last year in Massachusetts, there were 17 reported bomb threats, 275 incidents related to Israeli Zionism, 87 incidents involving a swastika, and 37 incidents with Anti-Semitic white supremacist propaganda.The four states with more reported Anti-Semitic incidents than Massachusetts(438) were New York (1,437), California (1,345), New Jersey (719), and Pennsylvania (465).“The persistent increase in Anti-Semitic incidents over the past four years is a stark reminder that antisemitism continues to impact our communities,” said Samantha Joseph, ADL New England’s regional director.
“The alarming manifestations of antisemitism in 2024 instill fear and are reminders that much work remains to be done.”There were 9,354 reported incidents of assaults, harassment and vandalism against Jews across the country last year. This total represents a 5% increase from 2023 — already a record-setting year — and a 344% spike over the past five years.
“Jewish Americans continue to be harassed, assaulted and targeted for who they are on a daily basis and everywhere they go,” said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt.“But let’s be clear: we will remain proud of our Jewish culture, religion and identities, and we will not be intimidated by bigots,” Greenblatt added.Throughout history, Jews have always been the targets of hate, usually inspired by bigotry or jealousy.
The mere fact of their origin and religion — conflated by being blamed for all that country’s ills — sufficed for Nazi Germany’s 12-year reign of terror from 1933 to 1945, which erased six million Jews from the face of the Earth.And now, America’s Jewish community apparently must pay for policies of the Israeli government towards Gaza, of which they play no part.Apparently, as always, some twisted individuals’ assumption of guilt by association will do.
To this defendant, drug trafficking child’s playThere appears no end to the limits drug traffickers will go to push their illicit product.We’ve had examples of girlfriends throwing contraband over prison walls, loved ones trying to sneak drug-tainted pieces of paper by correctional officers, and even lawyers attempting to smuggle illegal substances to feed the habit of their inmate clients.And now we have another shameless but imaginative iteration we can add to that list.
A Worcester man was recently charged in federal court after the discovery of 2.4 kilograms (5.3 pounds) of methamphetamine pills concealed in the packaging for a children’s toy.
Tong Tran, 34, was arraigned recently in a Worcester court, charged with intent to distribute controlled substances. Tran made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on April 14 before Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy, according to Massachusetts U.
S. Attorney Leah B. Foley.
According to court documents, on or about Sept. 19, 2024, Tran was allegedly identified as shipping a package at a Worcester Post Office. A search of the package allegedly revealed approximately 2.
4 kilograms of orange pills concealed within packaging for a children’s toy.It’s alleged that a partial fingerprint on the wrapping materials inside the children’s toy box belongs to Tran. The pills field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
On April 14, a search was conducted at Tran’s residence, where a pill press, binding agent and additional equipment used to manufacture pills, including pill dyes, were found. The search also resulted in the seizure of 3.3 kilograms (7.
3 pounds) of methamphetamine and approximately $8,000 in cash.The charge of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances can call for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years, up to life of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1,000,000.Sentences, imposed by a federal district court judge, are based on the U.
S. sentencing guidelines and statutes that govern the prison term’s duration in a criminal case.The investigation involved several agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, U.
S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S.
Postal Inspection Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Auburn Police Department.Assistant U.S.
Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.Of course, Tran has the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise in a court of law, but we wonder what other off-the-wall ploys will be used to avoid interdiction by law enforcement.
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