Earlier this week, the New York Times published a crossword puzzle resembling a swastika on the first night of Hanukkah. Among the many voices condemning the Times is Congressman-elect Jared Moskowitz (D-FL).
"Unacceptable that this would have gone to print. Even if unintentional, clearly the people who approved this are either ignorant or had intent. The NY times deserves the condemnation they are receiving," tweets Moskowitz.
Unacceptable that this would have gone to print. Even if unintentional, clearly the people who approved this are either ignorant or had intent. The ny times deserves the condemnation they are receiving. https://t.co/bHt0Mvge1a
— Jared Moskowitz (@JaredEMoskowitz) December 19, 2022
While it remains likely the NYT's crossword is unintentional, it nonetheless reflects a recent trend in public instances of antisemitism. Florida lawmakers on both sides of the aisle continue to denounce antisemitism and will continue to do so.
Earlier this December, Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL-23) demanded Amazon pull the antisemitic Hebrews to Negroes book and documentary film from their webstore. These odious works gained national attention when Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving shared a link to the film on his social media.
Shortly thereafter, rapper Kanye West made multiple antisemitic remarks during an appearance on Alex Jones's InfoWars, prompting Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio to denounce the rapper and additional guest Nick Fuentes, a known white nationalist and antisemite.
Rubio has gone so far as to be a leading voice in a letter to the Biden administration. In it, Rubio and his colleagues demand a "whole-of-government" response to increasing antisemitism at home and abroad from the Senate.
Finally, Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL-22) took similar action in the House of Representatives. He too spoke of the need for a "whole-of-government" approach in combating antisemitism in America and around the world, and expressed gratitude when the Biden administration revealed the nature of its new task force.
Such actions in December alone prove that Florida is the absolute last place antisemites are welcomed and "given a platform," as President Biden claimed in a tweet during the Kanye West debacle.
