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CSUSB’s Brian Levin: ‘We are seeing the democratization of hate’
CNN
Dec. 12, 2019
Brian Levin, the director at the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino, speaks with Anderson Cooper about the role the Black Hebrew Israelite movement could have had in the Jersey City, N.J., shooting on Dec. 11. New Jersey’s attorney general has said that the two suspects in the shooting, both of whom died in a firefight with police, had expressed interest in the group’s ideology, though he could not confirm their membership with it.
Levin said individual members of the Black Hebrew Israelite movement have differing ideologies, ranging from those who believe they are descendants of one of the 12 tribes of Israel to others who “say that Jews are actually phonies, and the Black Hebrew Israelites are the real Jews.”
The movement itself is small, numbering in the thousands, and splintered, he said. “But I think this speaks of something, if in fact what’s been reported is true. And that is we are living at a time now when we are seeing a broadening of extremism, and a democratization of hate.” That is, he explained, sentiments such as homophobia, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and anti-immigration are being expressed across the spectrum regardless of ethnic or racial background – even from groups that have traditionally been victims of hate crimes.
In the bigger context of reported hate crimes increasing, Levin said the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism’s research showed that while the number of incidents in 2018 was relatively flat, violent hate crimes increased – the highest levels in 16 years. In the nation’s largest cities, the biggest percentage increases were against whites and Jews, he said.
“This year, in 2019, were are seeing in cities like New York City, Chicago, and possibly Los Angeles, hitting decade highs,” Levin said. “And now we’re also seeing anti-Semitic incidents not only be No. 1 in New York, but also in Los Angeles. So what I think is important to recognize is anytime that you have a movement, particularly one that is splintered … the toxic mold of anti-Semitism, whether it comes from one of the spectrum or another, can reach into those areas.
“And, again, remember another thing that I think is important is, to the extent that we have seen demographic changes taking place in cities, I think that has affecting targeting of different groups as well.”
View the segment online at “Extremism expert: “We are seeing the democratization of hate.”
CSUSB professor, a former NYPD officer, discusses white supremacists recruiting from within law enforcement agencies
The Guardian (UK)
Dec. 13, 2019
Brian Levin, a former NYPD officer who directs the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino, was interviewed for an article about anti-government and white supremacists recruiting U.S. law enforcement officers.
The article focused on a former Alabama police officer who openly advocated and recruited for a white supremacist group.
While not every police officer who is tied to a white supremacist group will necessarily act out their beliefs violently, the presence of even a single radicalized officer can terrorize a community. “Even if the number of officers is numerically small, because of the intense risks posed of having a ticking time bomb like that in a department, that’s a big deal,” said Levin.
Read the complete article at “Extremist cops: US law enforcement is failing to police itself.”
CSUSB professor discusses latest in Israel’s call for new elections
Press TV
Dec. 12, 2019
David Yaghoubian, CSUSB professor of history, was interviewed for a segment on the upcoming election in Israel in March, which would be the third within a year.
The Knesset, Israel’s legislative body, had until midnight Wednesday to agree on a politician who could command the support of 61 out of the 120 members of Israel's parliament. When no one was able to garner the minimum backing, an election in March 2020 was automatically triggered. And while Benjamin Netanyahu will remain prime minister, he will campaign while facing a criminal indictment on charges of bribery and breach of trust.
Yaghoubian said he was surprised that Netanyahu was still leading the government despite calls for him to resign and not run for election with the indictment against him. Yet he also noted that “within the Israeli population, he still has the support of those who see this entire affair of his indictments as being a witch hunt.”
Watch the segment online at “Israel's fresh elections to be held in early March with date still being discussed by Knesset.”
These news clips and others may be found at “In the Headlines” at inside.csusb.edu.