Latest news with #RussellContreras
Axios
4 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
Antisemitic incidents in Colorado have spiked 40%, ADL says
Sunday's attack on demonstrators in Boulder advocating for Israeli hostages is part of an alarming trend of violence targeting Jewish individuals and pro-Israel advocates — incidents that some experts link to a rise in antisemitism. The big picture: Antisemitic incidents in the U.S. have soared almost 900% in the last 10 years, and last year reached their highest level recorded in nearly half a century, Axios' Russell Contreras writes per a recent Anti-Defamation League (ADL) report. By the numbers: Colorado recorded 279 such incidents in 2024 compared with 198 in 2023 — a 40% spike. The rise comes as at least 33 extremist groups — including white nationalists, anti-LGBTQ+ organizations and anti-government militias — are currently active in Colorado, per the Southern Poverty Law Center. The latest: A pattern of violence has emerged nationwide in recent weeks, affecting both Jewish communities and individuals and groups publicly supporting Israel. The trend is raising concerns about the intersection of antisemitism and political tensions over the Israel-Hamas war. Zoom in: Two Israeli Embassy employees were fatally shot May 21 outside a Jewish museum reception in Washington, D.C. In mid-April, an arsonist torched the Pennsylvania governor's mansion on the first night of Passover as Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is Jewish, and his family slept inside. What they're saying: While criticism of Israeli policies is not inherently antisemitic, some Jewish leaders warn that increasingly hostile rhetoric can draw on or reinforce antisemitic tropes. "What we've seen these last few months is a shocking pattern of anti-Israel sentiment manifesting itself in antisemitic violence," Halie Soifer, chief executive of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, told the New York Times. "With each incident there's a further shattering of our sense of security." What's next: Boulder will host its 30th annual Jewish Festival this Sunday — at the same Pearl Street Mall where the fiery attack occurred.
Axios
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
U.S. urges travelers to Venezuela: "Prepare a will"
The U.S. State Department on Monday reissued an "extreme danger" travel advisory for Venezuela, warning Americans to leave the country immediately or to prepare a will if heading there. The big picture: The Trump administration has meanwhile been caught in a legal battle for deporting planeloads of Venezuelans to the country, and recently ended temporary deportation protections for some 300,000 Venezuelans living in the U.S. Driving the news: The State Department in an updated advisory to U.S. travelers on Monday, saying: "If you decide to travel to Venezuela ... Prepare a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney." U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents in Venezuela were "strongly advised to depart immediately" and told that any contingency plans for travel to or from the country should not rely on U.S. government assistance. "Do not travel to or remain in Venezuela due to the high risk of wrongful detention, torture in detention, terrorism, kidnapping, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, crime, civil unrest, and poor health infrastructure," the advisory states. Context: The travel advisory comes after tens of thousands of Venezuelan migrants have fled to the United States after years of political and economic turmoil in the South American country, Axios' Russell Contreras writes. It also follows years of diplomatic tensions across multiple administrations in the U.S. and questionable elections in Venezuela, Contreras said. Zoom out: The U.S. has issued a number of travel warnings to other Latin American countries, too.
