Harvard law student Jonathan Frieden has shared his perspective after a professor, previously involved in a letter accusing Israel of wanting to ethically cleanse Gaza, was selected for the university’s antisemitism task force. Meanwhile, a man from Millis, Massachusetts, named John Reardon, is now facing federal charges for allegedly threatening to kill Jewish community members and bomb synagogues. The U.S. Department of Justice has stated that Reardon, 59 years old, is charged with using a facility of interstate commerce to threaten or harm individuals or places with an explosive.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy expressed deep concern over the allegations against Reardon, emphasizing the increasing wave of antisemitism in the country, including Massachusetts. Levy stated, “The numbers do not lie – incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia are spiking. We will continue to work every day with our federal, state, and local partners to track down people who allegedly engage in such hateful conduct.”
According to the allegations, Reardon called the Congregation Agudas Achim, a synagogue in Attleboro, Massachusetts, on January 25, 2024, and left a voicemail containing several antisemitic statements. Some of the disturbing comments included Reardon’s remarks about supporting genocide and justifying the killing of innocent children. He also made threatening statements, referring to the bombing of places of worship and the killing of children.
Reardon further targeted another synagogue in the area and a local Jewish organization before being apprehended by local law enforcement. Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, condemned Reardon’s actions, stating that no one should live in fear of becoming a victim of physical violence due to the anger of a stranger. While the FBI does not monitor ideologies, they take all threats to life seriously.
If convicted, Reardon could face up to 10 years in prison, along with three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
The rise of antisemitism has become a growing concern, not only in the United States but also globally. The U.S. Department of Justice is committed to addressing this issue and ensuring the safety of all communities.
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