Email from Zionist Organization of America   ZIONIST ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA NEWS RELEASE ZOA and Betar Urge Milwaukee DA: Drop Charges Against Rabbi Father/Son who Destroyed Big Antisemitic Nazi Sign on Jew-Hater’s Building Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) and Betar North America issued a statement regarding the upcoming January 14 criminal trial of Rabbi Peter and Zechariah Mehler who are facing three years in jail for the “crime” of tearing down a large conspicuous, ugly, antisemitic Nazi swastika mural disgracefully emblazoned over a Jewish star in the center of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This large, offensive, racist, antisemitic mural was on the building of a well-known local Jew-hater. It was causing anguish and pain to the Jewish people and other decent people of Milwaukee. It may also inspire hatred or physical violence against Jews, especially in this era of a frightening upsurge of antisemitic acts against Jews, synagogues, Hillels, and campuses throughout America and the world. The Milwaukee District Attorney is standing behind and supporting a major Jew-hater and Israel-hater while trying to paint Zechariah and his 74-year-old Rabbi father as vigilantes for standing up against dangerous threats made against the Milwaukee Jewish Community. What would this DA do if it were a vicious KKK or other anti-Black or anti-gay sign causing these communities great pain and inspiring racist hostility? A Nazi symbol has no place in any civilized place, anywhere. Milwaukee would never permit signs of hate against the African American, Hispanic or gay community, so why do they permit hatred against Jews? There are countries who outlaw the display of a Hitlerian swastika. When a community Rabbi and his adult son are prosecuted for removing hateful Nazi swastikas from a large wall in the center of the community, it sends a chilling message: Milwaukee is not a safe place for anyone who values liberty, justice, and security. We urge all travelers to reconsider any plans to spend money in or visit Milwaukee until all charges against Rabbi Peter and Zechariah Mehler are dropped. “This father and son are heroes who removed a dangerous symbol from the center of this city. There has been a 570% increase in antisemitic incidents since 2015 in Milwaukee and Jews who stand up to Jew-haters and remove Nazi murals must not face punishment but should be applauded and appreciated. The Jew-hater who proudly displayed this racist public sign should be accused of a hate crime and should not be welcomed in polite society. “What a despicable, terrible travesty of justice for them to face a trial. We say shame on Wisconsin’s Attorney General and Milwaukee’s District Attorney for standing with jihad and terror and against Jews. We urge that all charges be dropped now. Milwaukee has a very simple choice to make: whether they stand with the Jewish community, or those who support Nazis and Hamas,” said Morton Klein, President of the Zionist Organization of America. “A Nazi mural is incitement to further antisemitic violence, which is already prevalent in Milwaukee. As proud Jews and Americans, the Mehlers took action as every decent person should do. The Mehlers chose not to wait for the next antisemitic attack on Jews and instead took action as heroes. We have had enough. As Israel’s late great Prime Minister Menachem Begin once said, we are not Jews with trembling knees. We stand up and when we see something, we do something,” said Ronn Torossian, Chairman of Betar North America. We urge all concerned Americans to reach out to Milwaukee's Mayor, District Attorney and the Wisconsin Attorney General. Milwaukee County District Attorney John T. Chisholm Phone: (414) 278-4646 Mayor Cavalier Johnson Phone: (414) 286-2200 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @MayorMKE VIEW ON OUR WEBSITE   Share This Email Share This Email   DONATE     Copyright © Zionist Organization of America 2024, All rights reserved. Zionist Organization of America | 633 Third Ave 31 B | New York, NY 10017 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice