37 members of Congress send letter urging investigation into Boston BDS map

(June 22, 2022 / JNS) A bipartisan group from the U.S. Home of Representatives is looking for the federal authorities to analyze the usage of the Boston “BDS Map” by violent extremists and terrorists, and enhance safety for the organizations listed.

Despatched to Legal professional Basic Merrick Garland, Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI director Christopher Wray, the letter warns that the “Mapping Undertaking” launched earlier this month by a BDS group in jap Massachusetts—itemizing Jewish organizations with names and addresses—may very well be used as a roadmap for violent assaults by BDS supporters, together with anti-Semitic Overseas Terrorist Organizations, homegrown extremists and home extremists.

The hassle was led by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Don Bacon (R-Neb.), and joined by 35 colleagues.

“We worry that this map could also be used as a roadmap for violent assaults by supporters of the BDS motion in opposition to the individuals and entities listed,” wrote the letter’s authors. “We ask that you just examine the usage of the Mapping Undertaking by extremist organizations, present any needed enhanced safety for targets listed within the undertaking, and work with social-media firms and Web service suppliers to stop its additional distribution. We should not flip a blind eye to this harmful incitement.”

The letter cited situations of anti-Semitic violence up to now a number of years and the ADL’s 2021 “Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents” that indicated that the variety of such assaults in america rose by 34% throughout the yr and was the very best price recorded because the survey started in 1979.

“The BDS Boston-endorsed Mapping Undertaking’s name to ‘dismantle’ most of Boston’s Jewish group due to the purported ‘devastation’ they trigger to others is a type of intimidation deeply rooted in anti-Semitic tropes. This name to motion in opposition to a large swath of a group is unacceptable and harmful,” mentioned ADL CEO and nationwide director Jonathan Greenblatt in a information launch. “I applaud Congressman Gottheimer and his colleagues for his or her management in taking a stand in opposition to this anti-Semitism and take part calling on the suitable authorities to deal with this example with the seriousness it requires.”

The letter additionally praised the FBI for monitoring the event, urging them to work with all ranges of regulation enforcement all through the nation.