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Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) and Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (D-Cleveland) have led a letter to the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Invstigation, and Department of Homeland Security to ask the agencies to review recent anti-Semitic incidents and work with local law enforcement and Jewish organizations to assess and prevent threats. Recently, Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) in Ohio have been victims to a spate of bomb threats and Jewish cemeteries around the country have been subject to vandalism. The bipartisan letter was signed by all 16 members of Ohio’s delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The letter reads, “In Ohio specifically, several JCCs throughout the state have received bomb threats and additional threats have been made against other Jewish facilities as well, including synagogues. It is fortunate that these threats have thus far only been a hoax and no one was injured. These centers and facilities are home to day cares, schools, medical facilities, and large social gatherings for Jewish people and non-Jewish people alike. Furthermore, Jewish organizations across Ohio have recently experienced a dramatic increase in cyber related attacks to obtain personal contact information believed to be used to target individuals due to their religious affiliation.

“It is imperative that the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation jointly review these incidents with urgency and work with Jewish organizations, local communities, and state and local law enforcement to put in place measures to help better assess and prevent against these threats. We ask that you please provide us with what specific measures are being taken and how Congress can assist this matter.”

The full letter can be found here.

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