Harvard law student Jonathan Frieden has provided his perspective following the controversial appointment of a professor accused of making inflammatory statements about Israel to the university’s antisemitism task force. This development comes as a California man, Andre Morrow Lackner, pleads guilty to federal charges of stalking, including making threats to shoot synagogues and “exterminate” Jewish people and Asian Americans.
According to court documents, Lackner engaged in a 14-month campaign from June 2021 to October 2022, during which he sent a series of abusive text messages to the victim. These messages included disturbing anti-Semitic remarks such as “Hitler was right about you people” and “I want to see every single Jew exterminated from this earth.” He also expressed intentions to carry out violent acts, asking, “Would you like to celebrate the next synagogue shooting?” and stating, “I will make sure I kill a Jew before I leave this Earth.”
Not only did Lackner target Jewish individuals, but he also directed racist statements against Asian Americans, stating, “We need to start more Asian hate.” The victim was placed in reasonable fear for her life and the lives of her immediate family members due to these threatening messages.
The Department of Justice has commended law enforcement for quickly intervening and protecting the victim. United States Attorney Martin Estrada emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for making such vile and racist threats that instill fear in their victims. Lackner has been in federal custody since December 2022 and will face a sentencing hearing on June 3, potentially receiving a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
Donald Alway, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, urged victims of stalking to report such incidents to law enforcement. The Department of Justice did not disclose whether Lackner had taken any steps to carry out his threats.
The rising incidents of antisemitism and hate crimes have become a growing concern across the United States and the world. Incidences of anti-Jewish prejudice have seen a significant increase, with Google searches for “Why are Jews bad” rising by 450% since October 7, 2022, according to an SEO expert.
In light of this disturbing case, Harvard law student Jonathan Frieden’s insights into the appointment of a professor accused of making inflammatory statements about Israel to the university’s antisemitism task force hold significant relevance. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing and combating hate speech and acts of violence based on religion and ethnicity.
