Former New York Times journalist Bari Weiss delivered a stark warning about rising antisemitism in America, drawing parallels between recent events in Amsterdam and growing tensions in the United States.
Speaking at the General Assembly, Weiss, who left the Times over anti-Jewish bias, outlined a troubling pattern of escalating hostility toward Jewish communities.
"When did you realize that things had changed?" Weiss asked the audience, before chronicling a series of attacks on Jewish communities worldwide, from the 2001 terrorist attacks to recent violence. She pointed to the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel as a turning point, but emphasized that subsequent events on American soil signal growing domestic concerns.
Weiss highlighted disturbing recent incidents, including pro-Hamas celebrations in Times Square, the shooting of an Orthodox Jewish man in Chicago, and the cancellation of Jewish performers' events over security concerns. She drew particular attention to university leadership's hesitation to condemn antisemitic rhetoric at prestigious institutions like Harvard, Penn, and MIT.
The journalist specifically referenced a recent "Jew hunt" in Amsterdam, where attackers forced a Jewish man to say "Free Palestine" while he treaded water in a canal. "A pogrom in twenty-first century Europe," she described it, warning that similar incidents could occur in America without proper vigilance.
"We must learn from those who never had the luxury of losing their instinct for danger," Weiss concluded, calling for increased awareness and preparation within Jewish communities.
The speech comes amid growing concerns about antisemitic incidents worldwide and debates over the response to such events by law enforcement and educational institutions.
Voz is Neias contributed to this article.