N.J. House Candidate Targeted By Swastika Attack
Image by Getty Images
— Swastikas were painted outside the New Jersey home of an Indian-American candidate for Congress with a Jewish-sounding surname.
Peter Jacob is running against a Republican incumbent, Leonard Lance, who is a supporter of presidential candidate Donald Trump. Jacob blames Lance’s backing of Trump for the display of hate.
Jacob told the local media that he lived in Union, in the state’s 7th Congressional district, for six years without incident, prior to the two swastika attacks earlier this week.
“It’s very upsetting,” said Jacob, who is a Christian. “It’s very saddening for us to see this.”
Lance condemned the swastika attacks and called for an investigation. There are no suspects.
“The display of anti-Semitic hate symbols like the swastika is abhorrent,” a statement from the Lance campaign said. “Leonard Lance stands with Peter Jacob in condemning these offensive acts of vandalism and supports a full police investigation into these crimes.”
On Thursday, the Anti-Defamation League condemned the attacks.
“The insertion of hatred into this political campaign is offensive to everyone and should be condemned by all,” said Joshua Cohen, the group’s New Jersey Regional director.
“The swastika is a universal symbol of hate, meant to instill fear and intimidation. We urge community members to speak with one voice in condemning this incident,” he said.
Did you know that only 2% of Forward readers donate to support our nonprofit newsroom? That 2% make it possible for millions to read the Forward without a paywall or subscription — removing any barriers to the full and fair Jewish story.
But while the Forward is free to read, it isn’t free to produce. Big stories — like deep dives into the antisemitism data, political scoops or reporting trips to college campuses — take months of research and fact-checking. All while we keep you informed of what you need to know each day.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Forward Publisher & CEO
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
