Elizabeth man charged with making antisemitic threats toward public official
An Elizabeth man is accused of making antisemitic threats toward a public official.
A criminal complaint filed against Edward Arthur Owens Jr., 29, said he sent a social media message saying: 'We're coming for you [emoji of person raising right hand] [German flag emoji] be afraid. Go back to Israel, or better yet, exterminate yourself and save us the trouble. 109 countries for a reason. We will not stop until your kind is nonexistent,' to a local public official.
The Department of Justice did not say who the public official was.
The Anti-Defamation League said '109 countries' refers to the number of countries Jews have been expelled from.
The United States is requesting that Owens be held without bail, citing that he is a danger to the community. A hearing for that motion will be held on June 5 at 10 a.m.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Times
10 minutes ago
- New York Times
A Trump Official Threatens to Sue California Schools Over Trans Athletes
The U.S. Department of Justice on Monday threatened legal action against California public schools if they continued to allow trans athletes to compete in high school sports, calling the students' participation unconstitutional and giving the schools a week to comply. In a letter sent to public school districts in the state, Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights, said the California Interscholastic Federation's 2013 bylaw that allowed trans athletes to compete violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution and discriminated against athletes on the basis of sex. 'Scientific evidence shows that upsetting the historical status quo and forcing girls to compete against males would deprive them of athletic opportunities and benefits because of their sex,' Ms. Dhillon wrote, referring to trans girls as males. Elizabeth Sanders, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Education, said on Monday that the department was preparing to send guidance to the state's school districts on how to respond, and that it would do so on Tuesday. The Justice Department's move came two days after a trans girl won championships in two girls' events at the California state track and field meet, and less than a week after President Trump decried her inclusion in the competition, saying that he would cut federal funding to the state if it let her participate. At the meet, held over two days in Clovis, Calif., the trans girl, AB Hernandez, won the girls' high jump and triple jump, and also finished second in the long jump for Jurupa Valley High School, in what is arguably the most competitive high school meet in the nation. In a statement provided by the group TransFamily Support Services, her mother, Nereyda Hernandez, said that it was her daughter's third year of competing in sports. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘If they set their mind to it, could cause harm': Heightened security, tensions in DMV after antisemitic attack in Colorado
WASHINGTON () — Security has increased at Jewish buildings around the DMV following Sunday's attack in Boulder, Colo. that targeted Jewish people. 'It's everyone's nightmare,' Gil Preuss, chief executive officer of the Greater Jewish Federation of Washington, said. Capital Jewish Museum reopens week after Israeli Embassy staffers killed He's not surprised by Sunday's incident. 'The level of antisemitism now is so virulent, across the country, and we're seeing it in one attack after another,' Preuss said. Metropolitan Police Department officers set up outside the Capital Jewish Museum. Security has already been tight there following the May 21 . People continue to drop off tributes to the victims. It's a difficult time for many people, especially those who are Jewish. 'I would say as a community right now, we're very suspicious about what's going on,' said David Bloxberg, on vacation from Los Angeles. 'I don't know. I'm not sure what to say. I think it's a dangerous time to be a minority of any type.' Fairfax County police in Virginia and Montgomery County police in Maryland have also increased their presence around Jewish buildings in their communities to reduce anti-Semitic incidents. 'There are hateful, evil people out there who, if they set their mind to it, [they] could cause harm,' Preuss said. Despite the increased security, there are concerns that more attacks against Jewish people could take place. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Wyoming Valley Jewish community issues response to attack in Boulder, Colorado
Jun. 2—KINGSTON — The Wyoming Valley Jewish community has issued a response to the recent attack in Boulder, Colorado. The statement was released by David E. Schwager, Esq., Chair, Community Relations Council, and Jane Messinger, President, Friedman JCC. The response "We in the Wyoming Valley Jewish community are horrified by the attack in Boulder, Colorado, targeting an event in support of the Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas. This 'Run for Their Lives' event suffered an attack in which a makeshift flamethrower and multiple Molotov cocktails directed at participants, causing multiple injuries. "This follows the deadly antisemitic shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, just days ago and the fire-bombing of Gov. Josh Shapiro's home in Harrisburg on Passover in April. "Make no mistake, if and when Jews are targeted to protest Israel's actions, it should clearly and unequivocally be understood and condemned as antisemitism. "These attacks come alongside a broader rise in antisemitism, from hate crimes targeting Jews walking down the street, to efforts to marginalize, isolate, and discriminate against Jews, to antisemitic and white supremacist mass violence targeting synagogues and other spaces. "The Jewish community across the country was already feeling incredibly vulnerable following years of this increasingly normalized antisemitism. These recent attacks only compound that fear. "Anyone who claims to care about fundamental civil and human rights must speak out against this hate and violence, no matter where it comes from." About the Friedman JCC The Friedman Jewish Community Center is dedicated to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for individuals and families in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Offering a wide range of programs and services to individuals and families of all faiths and backgrounds, the Friedman JCC is committed to fostering a sense of community, promoting health and wellness, and enriching lives through cultural, educational and recreational activities. — Staff Report