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Georgia leaders voice concern over antisemitic demonstrations outside 2 synagogues | CNN

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Georgia leaders voice concern over antisemitic demonstrations outside 2 synagogues | CNN




CNN
 — 

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and other state leaders have spoken out against bigotry and hate after antisemitic demonstrations took place outside two synagogues in the state this weekend.

Groups were observed yelling antisemitic messages outside a Macon temple Friday night and displaying swastikas and signs with neo-Nazi messages outside a Cobb County synagogue on Saturday.

Antisemitic flyers were also discovered in at least one central Georgia community.

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“There is absolutely no place for this hate and antisemitism in our state,” Kemp said in a tweet Sunday. “I share in the outrage over this shameful act and stand with Georgians everywhere in condemning it. We remain vigilant in the face of these disgusting acts of bigotry.”

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a civil rights non-governmental organization, condemned the incidents as a “stunt” by an antisemitic network focused on spreading hate and provoking division.

US Senator Jon Ossoff also issued a statement saying, “Georgia’s Jewish community will never be intimidated by anti-Semitism. Today, as symbols of genocide are paraded in front of synagogues, we continue to stand strong, proud, and unbowed.”

“All Georgians are united in our rejection of bigotry and hate,” he added.

A group gathered outside the Temple Beth Israel in Macon on Friday night and one man was arrested after allegedly shouting obscenities through a bullhorn, according to CNN affiliate WGXA.

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Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar said in a statement, “It is great sadness that I write this letter to you on Shabbat – our most sacred day of the week. This evening as we gathered together at Temple, we experienced one antisemitic incident and then learned of a second one in our community.”

In Warner Robins, a city about 20 miles south of Macon, police also acknowledged the discovery of what they called “antisemitic packages” in a Facebook statement on Friday afternoon. Warner Robins police said they are working with county, state and federal agencies in their investigation of the incident.

“Antisemitism is not a new phenomenon; it pains me greatly that today in Middle Georgia we have been forced to confront it twice. The first were flyers left in Warner Robins and the second on our doorstep,” the rabbi’s statement added.

On Saturday, a small group with signs and Nazi flags was seen outside Chabad of Cobb County, a synagogue in the city of Marietta, just northwest of Atlanta, according to CNN affiliate WANF. At least one person also appeared to be standing on top of an Israeli flag, according to CNN affiliate WSB.

Following the incident, Chabad of Cobb also issued a statement on Facebook: “We are extremely appreciative and thankful for the outpouring of support and concern from all segments of the community.”

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“We have been in communication with Cobb County officials, who have identified these individuals as part of a small group that travel around the country in order to spread their hateful message,” the statement read. “We are working closely with Cobb County officials and the Police Department to ensure the security and safety of our campus. There is no threat whatsoever at this time.”

“What’s unfolded in Georgia this weekend is the latest stunt by an antisemitic network that trolls Jewish communities – spreading propaganda, conspiracy theories and hate – with the hope that they can turn Americans against Jewish people,” ADL Southeast Regional Director Eytan Davidson said in a statement to CNN.

“Supporters of this network get off on stoking division, provoking violence and getting attention. We take comfort knowing that law enforcement is watching their movements closely and elected officials and allies throughout Georgia are speaking up in solidarity. The fight against hate belongs to all of us,” Davidson said.

Antisemitic incidents in the US reached an all-time high last year, with a total of 3,697 – the highest since the group began recording, according to the ADL. The incidents,including assault, vandalism and harassment, increased by more than a third in just one year.

CNN has reached out to Temple Beth Israel, Chabad of Cobb, the Macon Police Department and the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office for comment.

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Georgia

Kane Brown Transports Texas Crowd to Georgia With Soulful Ray Charles Cover at the 2024 ACM Awards

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Kane Brown Transports Texas Crowd to Georgia With Soulful Ray Charles Cover at the 2024 ACM Awards


This year’s Academy of Country Music Awards took place in Frisco, TX, but for about three minutes, Kane Brown had the whole Ford Center at The Star audience transported to the Peach State with a performance of “Georgia On My Mind.”

Before taking the stage, the 30-year-old singer-songwriter was introduced by the War and Treaty’s Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, who pointed out Ray Charles’ role in popularizing the American Songbook classic, originally written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell. Prime Video cameras then panned to a dapper-looking Brown dressed in a black suit, whose silky voice melted into the microphone with support from a section of string instrumentalists.

“Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through,” he crooned. “Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.

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Immediately afterwards, Brown — who released his cover of “Georgia On My Mind” on streaming services in April — stepped backstage for a one-on-one interview with Bobby Bones. “I was so scared,” he told the radio personality. “I was nervous, man. It’s a big song, but also, I’m used to running around. I didn’t have any moves, I just stood like this. I wish I had tequila before I went on.”

Brown is nominated for entertainer of the year at the 2024 awards, as are Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson. Hosted for the 17th time by Reba McEntire, the ACMs are produced by Dick Clark Productions.

DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a Penske Media Corporation (PMC) subsidiary and joint venture between PMC and Eldridge. PMC is the parent company of Billboard.



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UN rights chief: Georgia ‘foreign agents’ law undermines freedom of expression

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UN rights chief: Georgia ‘foreign agents’ law undermines freedom of expression


UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk stated on Wednesday that Georgia’s newly passed foreign agents bill “undermines the freedoms of expression and association.”

Türk mentioned his concern regarding the possible effects of this bill being signed by the President of Georgia: “The ability of associations to seek, secure and use resources is essential to their effective operation. This overbroad law risks these organisations being labelled and stigmatised, and having to face an atmosphere of mistrust, fear and hostility.”

This bill stipulates that NGOs and media organizations receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad must be formally registered as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power.” This, according to Türk, will undermine and curtail the rights of freedom of expression and association in Georgia. UN human rights organs argue that Georgian lawmakers have disregarded the warnings of human rights defenders and civil society organizations. This is considering the same bill was withdrawn in March 2023, and government officials and parliamentarians assured UN organs that the draft would not be reintroduced.

The foreign agents bill, entitled the “Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence” still needs the signature of Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, who vowed during a CNN interview to veto it. However, the ruling party has a majority in parliament and can override the president’s veto to enact the legislation.

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Georgia's Central Bank Spends $60 Million to Support Lari Amid Political Crisis

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Georgia's Central Bank Spends $60 Million to Support Lari Amid Political Crisis


By Felix Light and Gleb Stolyarov TBILISI (Reuters) – Georgia’s central bank said on Thursday it had spent $60 million in reserves to support the lari after a surge in demand for foreign currency, its largest such intervention since May 2021. Georgia has been mired in a political crisis over a bill …



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