On September 22, 2019 a Synagogue in Racine, Wisconsin was attacked and sprayed with graffiti. On the Synagogue, a Nazi swastika was sprayed in a bold red color; A symbol of the Neo Nazi hate group. Along with the hate symbol, the word “jude” and other Nazi imagery was sprayed on the other side of the Beth Israel Sinai Congregation. The imagery shocked and angered the residents of the Beth Israel Sinai as yet another example of increasing hostilities towards Jewish Americans. Following the attack, investigators had already known of the perpetrator as part of a nationwide investigation into the White Supremacist hate group known as “the base”. The attack was noted and an investigation was launched. It was the base that planned and carried out the attack on the Beth Israel Sinai Congregation. The attack was supposed to part of a plan to carryout a coordinated effort of vandalism across the country called, “Operation Kristallnacht” – a reference to Nazi Germany and the night Jewish homes, businesses, hospitals, etc. were ransacked and destroyed. The operation did not go all the way through and Yousef Barasneh, a 22 year old male was later arrested in connection to the attack at the congregation back in January. On July 17, 2020, Yousef Barasneh pleaded guilty to federal charges for his role in the attack. According to court documents, Yousef participated in online conversations with other members of the base about conducting acts of violence against Jewish Americans and non-white Americans. After the online conversation, Yousef went out and searched for nearby synagogues in the area. He then decided on the Beth Israel Sinai Congregation and carried out his malicious attack.
Barasneh was caught because an undercover agent had infiltrated the group’s online chat and surveillance was conducted on his movements in Wisconsin. He checked into a hotel in Georgia under his name, and the SUV he was driving was confirmed to be his. From there his movements were monitored until the attack was carried out. He was charged with conspiring to violate citizens’ rights to use property free from threats and intimidation. When convicted, Barasneh faced a possible maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Six other people were later arrested by federal authorities as part of the same operation into the base. These attacks come at a time when antisemitic rhetoric against Jewish Americans has increased due to hate groups spreading social media stereotypes about Jewish Americans and anti-Jewish sentiments spread among hate groups. As mentioned previously, Anti-Semitic attacks and harassments have increased over the last few years with the worst attack being a shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburg in 2018. Eleven killed and six wounded. For more articles check back regularly on JWiz Info.