Jewish groups frustrated with pace of investigations into threats

A group of Jewish Community Centers sent a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions Wednesday, expressing frustration and urging further investigation into the wave of anti-Semitic threats against them.

“We are frustrated with the progress in resolving this situation,” the letter from the Jewish Community Center Association reads. “We insist that all relevant federal agencies, including your own, apply all the resources available to identify and bring the perpetrator or perpetrators, who are trying to instill anxiety and fear in communities across the country, to justice.”

The letter, signed by 141 Jewish Community Center Movement leaders, noted that President Trump “forcefully condemned” the threats during his first speech to Congress. But they also wrote that the Trump administration and federal agencies are not doing enough.

{mosads}The JCC leaders praised law enforcement for their support during the threats and asked that the Justice Department “do the same.”

The letters’ signatories also requested a meeting with Sessions “to discuss specific steps that will be taken to deter further threats, discuss security needs, and seek justice.”

The letter emphasized the impact these threats at all levels, stressing that it impacted both those of Jewish faith and other communities.

“[W]e draw strength from our mission to enhance not only Jewish life, but also community life as a whole, and we will not allow anti-Semitism to get in our way,” the letter reads.

The uptick in threats against JCCs has occurred across the country, with over 100 threats in more than 30 states. St. Louis resident Juan M. Thompson, a former reporter for the Intercept, was arrested last week for purportedly making threats — but Thompson is alleged to be behind only some of them.

Jewish leaders and organizations have repeatedly criticized the Trump administration for not doing enough to denounce the threats.