FBI: No Tip Is Too Small in Preventing Violence
Antisemitism Training Held in Wheeling
Shelley Hanson Trending
WHEELING -- United Against Hate, an antisemitism training session, was held Monday in Wheeling, hosted by United States Attorneys William Ihlenheld and Will Thompson and the FBI.
The event was held simultaneously at Temple Shalom in Wheeling and at the Congregation B'Nai Jacob in Charleston.
Ihlenfeld and Thompson talked about United Against Hate initiatives in West Virginia. Other speakers included Timothy Swanson, acting assistant special agent in charge with the FBI Pittsburgh Division, who talked about reporting and investigating civil rights violations; Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who talked about rebuilding after the Tree of Life attack in 2018 in Pittsburgh; Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas, who talked about the U.S. vs. Hardy Lloyd case; and Julie Rayman, senior director of policy and political affairs for the American Jewish Committee.
Both Swanson and Myers spoke to Wheeling attendees via video link.
Ihlenfeld and others pointed out the training session had been in the works for months, long before the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants.
What was stressed during the training is that it takes community members and law enforcement coming together to prevent potential hate crimes and acts of terrorism.
For example, people should not be afraid to report something they may think is insignificant information; as small puzzle pieces often combine to paint the big picture, and potentially reveal someone's plans to do harm.
"Antisemitism in the United States was a serious problem prior to Oct. 7 and it's only gotten worse since that day," Swanson said.
"We have seen a significant increase in the volume and frequency of threats against Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities throughout the United States since Oct. 7.
"The potential for attacks has risen to a much higher level since that day," he continued. "The acts of Hamas will inspire acts of violence here. ISIS has called for attacks on Jewish communities in the United States. Al-Qaida has issued a specific call for attacks in the United States."
Swanson said as the leader of the Justice Department in the Northern District of West Virginia, he wanted to ensure people that they are working to "confront and disrupt" illegal threats wherever they arise.
"The Justice Department has zero tolerance for violence and unlawful threats of violence fueled by antisemitism or Islamophobia," he said.
People can report information directly to the FBI at 1-800-225-5324, aka 1-800-CALL-FBI, or online at TIPS.FBI.GOV.
During an intermission, Rabbi Joshua Lief of Temple Shalom spoke about the training occurring in his home city.
"I think the value of an event like today is not necessarily the information itself, but rather to remind us that our federal law enforcement officials take this very seriously, and that we as community members have a role to play in keeping our community safe for ourselves but also for all of our neighbors," Lief said. "And that is truly worthwhile."
During his talk, Myers said during the healing of the aftermath of the Tree of Life attack and since the Oct. 7 attack in Israel, his synagogue's role is anticipated to change into one that will teach school children from Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia about antisemitism.
"They will come to Tree of Life one day to not only learn the story of antisemitism, but to understand the evils of what it means to behave in such a manner that you kill people because of who they are," Myers said. "And how that is so dangerous for all of America, not just the Jewish communities but for all communities.
"Because if people feel at ease and comfortable attacking Jewish people in a synagogue then what's to prevent them from doing any other horrific act similar in nature?" he continued.
Douglas said the U.S. vs. Hardy Lloyd case is nearly closed with sentencing anticipated to happen within the next couple months. Lloyd of Follansbee, he said, pleaded guilty to charges related to online crimes that aimed to obstruct the case against the Tree of Life shooter Robert Bowers, who killed 11 people and wounded seven others. Bowers was convicted and sentenced to the death penalty in August.
Douglas noted Lloyd's suspicious online activities were actually reported to the FBI by Google. Since Lloyd pleaded guilty he is expected to receive the maximum sentence of 6½ years, which was also agreed upon in his plea agreement.