Letters

We are witnessing a rising tide of antisemitism in our country. However, its origins are not from the usual suspects. This current surge of bigotry did not originate with white supremacists, neo-Nazis or the KKK. No, it’s coming from the halls of our elite higher education institutes.

The demonstrations against the Israeli war effort against Hamas have morphed into the most overt and vile antisemitism. We all should be shocked and appalled by what we are witnessing taking place at these elite campuses.

No one should dispute the right these demonstrators have to express their opinion about what is happening in Gaza. Our First Amendment of this great Jeffersonian democracy guarantees that right.

These college demonstrations, however, have been transformed into overt and vile antisemitic rallies. The First Amendment does not give anyone the right to harass, intimidate and threaten their fellow citizens.

One of the more troubling aspects of this has been the slow and inadequate response by the administrations of these universities to these antisemitic rallies. The underwhelming response by our elected officials has been totally inadequate. From the president on down to local officials, there has been a very muted response to condemn these rallies.

Mayor Eric Adams of New York City seems to have been the only voice of condemnation of these “demonstrations.” He has seen this vile behavior firsthand, and he gets it.

I urge our local Town Board of Southampton to pass a resolution condemning this antisemitic rhetoric and pledging to keep the Jewish American residents of our town safe.

Ray D’Angelo

Hampton Bays