While GOP leaders remain quiet about high-visibility events like the widely reported Donald Trump-Ye-Nick Fuentes dinner, antisemitism echoes are heard loudly at the local level. Despite education and widening awareness, our most vulnerable citizens bear the brunt of this domestic terrorism: children.
Father Flees Jewish Persecution, Gains U.S. Asylum & Citizenship, Only to Face Antisemitism Again in America
New Jersey is the 2nd highest state for antisemitic incidents in the U.S. (2021). In response to a custody case that is rife with antisemitic abuse, the New Jersey Family Court is unable, or unwilling, to address the issues.
The mother in the case has highjacked the software system the court provided to the parents. Regularly sending hate speech and ethnic slurs to her son’s father, with whom she shares 50/50 custody of their child, the court remains quiet. The father, Mr. Konstantinovski, who is of Jewish faith, was granted asylum and U.S. citizenship after fleeing from religious persecution in Russia. Now he’s being attacked again, this time in New Jersey by his child’s mother, a Russian citizen residing in the U.S., who is not Jewish. Her hate speech attacks continue to break a restraining order placed upon her for domestic violence against Mr. Konstantinovski.
Court Orders Therapy for Jewish Son Subjected to Antisemitic Hate Speech
Mr. Konstantinovski’s son was provided court-ordered therapy after he expressed suicidal ideation to his teachers in 2021. Neither the New Jersey Family Court nor the appointed parent coordinator (PC), Atty Romanova, has intervened in more than 8 months, even after the continued hate speech and violations of the restraining order. Konstantinovski’s ex has threatened to move their son to Russia without the court’s, or his father’s, permission. Mr. Konstantinovski cannot return to his native Russia. He cannot see or retrieve his child from Russia if the mother acts on the threats.
Remedy Plain Though NJ Court Remains Silent, Unresponsive to NJ Bar Assn. Plea
Family courts usually appoint a psychiatrist or psychologist as PC to mediate custody cases involving religious or hate speech conflicts, as national APA guidelines for PC roles suggest. However, in this case, the New Jersey Family Court System has assigned an attorney instead. This is because there are no standardized procedures for PCs in New Jersey. Yet, the APA is not the only expert body to believe appointing attorneys as PCs is not the best idea. The Attorneys themselves also believe it’s such a dangerous practice, they submitted a written plea to the court in 2021. Attorney Carmagnola of Carmagnola & Ritardi, LLC, petitioned the New Jersey Family Court on behalf of the New Jersey State Bar Association more than 20 months ago in early 2021, citing an urgent need for a standardized approach to PC appointments due to the negative impacts to children and families. There has been no response.
“Silence is the oxygen that fuels antisemitism and racism,” — U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
Teens Draw Felony Charges After Antisemitic Vandalism and Burglary
In Florida, antisemitic writing and symbols were painted at a children’s playground and a gated community during incidents of vandalism and burglary. The incidents were orchestrated by 16-year-olds in the city of Weston, outside Ft. Lauderdale. These hate crimes garnered felony charges. The crimes are a repeat of antisemitic incidents in the area.
ALERT The U.S. DHS just re-issued a National Terrorism Advisory, indicating the potential threat to LGBTQIA+, Jewish, and migrant communities from violent extremists inside the U.S.
DEEP DIVE: For more, see this series on antisemitism and racism in America.
