"He has a city to lead, with a lot of complex, difficult problems. He is a busy man. But if he did choose to say something, I assumed he would share his grief over the senseless loss of life there were 15 victims, the youngest a 10-year-old child and the oldest an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor who died shielding his wife from the murderer's bullets and condemn those who did the killing."
"His reaction instead was to repost a claim that the attack was an Israeli false-flag operation. He also reposted an image with a Star of David and the words, The root cause of antisemitism is the behavior of Israel & Israelis. Rather than offer compassion or understanding, the mayor chose to repost a conspiratorial crackpot and a cruel, inaccurate meme."
"Although Richmond is not Sydney, when any Jewish community is attacked, when Jews anywhere are marked for death, we all feel it. As the former rabbi here, I know Richmond's Jewish community would have welcomed the mayor's solidarity. He could have attended a service at the local synagogue to demonstrate we are not alone. Knowing our city leaders care is important. Rabbi Dean Kertesz at Temple Beth Hillel in Richmond. (Joanna Jhanda/Bay Area News Group file) But Mayor Martinez did none of these things."
Fifteen people, ages 10 to 87, were killed in a Hanukkah massacre in Sydney, including an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor who died shielding his wife. The Richmond mayor, Eduardo Martinez, reposted a claim that the attack was an Israeli false-flag operation and an image stating 'The root cause of antisemitism is the behavior of Israel & Israelis.' He did not publicly express grief, attend services, or offer solidarity. When criticized, he offered explanations about haste and lack of understanding rather than a direct apology. Local Jewish community members felt hurt and would have welcomed civic solidarity.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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