Ice Cube Attacks NBA Legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for Calling Out Antisemitism

Rapper Ice Cube on Wednesday blasted NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul Jabbar, who expressed frustration over the lack of outrage in the sports and entertainment industries over recent incidents of antisemitism, including those involving the performing artist himself.

In a column published by The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday, Abdul-Jabbar called out recent antisemitic tweets and social media posts against Jews by Ice Cube and NFL star DeSean Jackson, among others, and explained how silence from sports and entertainment figures “perpetuates racism” and contributed to an overall “Apatholypse.”

Abdul-Jabbar wrote, “Given the New Woke-fulness in Hollywood and the sports world, we expected more passionate public outrage. What we got was a shrug of meh-rage” in Hollywood and in sports.

He also castigated ex-NBA player Stephen Jackson, who defended DeSean Jackson, further spread anti-Jewish conspiracy theories and voiced support for Nation of Islam founder and notorious antisemite Louis Farrakhan.

“These famous, outspoken people share the same scapegoat logic as all oppressive groups from Nazis to the KKK: all our troubles are because of bad-apple groups that worship wrong, have the wrong complexion, come from the wrong country, are the wrong gender or love the wrong gender,” Abdul-Jabbar explained. “It’s so disheartening to see people from groups that have been violently marginalized do the same thing to others without realizing that perpetuating this kind of bad logic is what perpetuates racism.”

Abdul-Jabbar’s article angered Ice Cube, who tweeted, “Shame on the Hollywood Reporter who obviously gave my brother Kareem 30 pieces of silver to cut us down without even a phone call.” The rapper’s mention of “30 pieces of silver” is a clear reference to the amount that Judas Iscariot sold out Jesus for, according to the New Testament.

The “Good Cop Bad Cop” rapper was accused last month of “inciting racism” for sharing on Twitter a series of antisemitic images and praising Farrakhan.

In one instance, Ice Cube — whose real name is O’Shea Jackson — shared on Twitter a caricature that resembled antisemitic propaganda used by Hitler and the Nazis to incite hatred against Jews.

He has refused to remove any of the offensive images, even after repeated requests from social media followers.

Ice Cube has an extensive history of exhibiting a hostile attitude toward the Jewish community. In 1991, the Simon Wiesenthal Center condemned his album “Death Certificate” for including racist lyrics, including one part in which he called for the murder of a Jewish music industry figure.

In 2015, he allegedly had his entourage physically attack a rabbi who he bumped into in Detroit. Ice Cube, the rabbi said, “unleashed a string of antisemitic epithets at him for wearing a yarmulke.”

Uncertainty of Yemenite Jews Shakes Jewish World

Uncorroborated Arabic-language media reports have circulated in recent days that Iran-backed Houthi rebels have targeted Yemen’s tiny Jewish community as part of an “ethnic cleansing” campaign amid the ongoing civil war in the country. The Israeli Foreign Ministry, though, told The Jerusalem Post that the reports seemed to be false.

However, on Wednesday, the Embassy of Yemen in the US — representing the Saudi Arabia-backed government led by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi that is based in Aden — published a Twitter thread amplifying the reports.

Alarmed by reports of #Houthis arresting & assaulting #Jewish residents, forcing them to sell their homes, expropriating their properties and transferring ownership to Houthi leaders. Shocking if #YemeniteJews are unjustly being pressured to leave #Yemen. 1/5

— Yemen Embassy D.C. (@YemenEmbassy_DC) July 15, 2020

“Alarmed by reports of #Houthis arresting & assaulting #Jewish residents, forcing them to sell their homes, expropriating their properties and transferring ownership to Houthi leaders,” the embassy said. “Shocking if #YemeniteJews are unjustly being pressured to leave #Yemen.”

“We know #Houthis espouse virulent #antiSemitism & impose systematic #discrimination, #humanrights violations, and mistreatment,” it continued. Media now reporting Houthis cutting off #water & #electricity to Jewish homes and preventing #Jews from purchasing #food.”

“It is repugnant enough that the #Houthis have exacted vicious crimes against their fellow Yemeni #Muslim citizens,” the embassy stated. “To hear that #Houthis also victimizing #YemeniteJews is similarly reprehensible.”

“#Nazism was a horrible stain on #Europe,” the embassy recalled. “It cannot have another hateful strain now in #Arabia. The #Houthis must be compelled to make #peace in #Yemen and to end their intolerance #antisemitic rhetoric & conduct.”

“As an immediate step, we demand the #Houthis immediately clarify the situation and declare they will respect the rights of minorities in all territories under their control. #Jews and all minorities have a place in #Yemen, and for a better future we hope to build,” the Twitter thread concluded.

The anti-Jewish push was said to be taking place in the Kharif District of the ‘Amran Governorate, northwest of Sana’a, in the swathe of Yemen controlled by the Houthis.

Two Florida Synagogues Vandalized with Antisemitic Graffiti

Updates: Vincent Martinez, 21, of Sarasota is facing charges for his connection with the antisemitic graffiti; more here.

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Two Sarasota area temples were vandalized with antisemitic graffiti.

Temple Emanu-El and Temple Sinai were both vandalized sometime overnight, the Jewish Federation of Sarasota confirms. Security footage confirms that it was one person behind the damage at both sites.

Howard Tevlowitz, Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Federation says, “By pooling our security footage, we have determined that the perpetrator of both acts was a single man acting alone. We have reason to believe that he was the same man who vandalized Temple Emanu-El three months ago. Every effort is being made to identify this person and take active steps to ensure our community remains the safe, secure, and inclusive home to the Jewish families that live and work in the Sarasota-Manatee area.”

Howard adds, “Our people have been victims of hate for centuries; we MUST work together as a community to combat acts of violence and antisemitism whenever and wherever they occur.”

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has released surveillance footage of the man. If you recognize him, contact the Criminal Investigations Section at 941.861.4900 or 941.861.4928.

Nazi Posters Discovered Outside of Toronto, Group Demands End to "Zionist Elite"

Community members are speaking out on social media after photos surfaced showing Neo-Nazi posters in downtown Kitchener, approx. 500 miles outside of Toronto.

The posters have different messages, including "smash white guilt," "Canada awake," "break debt slavery," and "love not hate." The last of those is particularly ironic, given that each poster has a swastika or anti-semitic imagery.

The website listed on the posters is peppered with Nazi imagery and propaganda, along with a forum for members to post in.

There's also a manifesto, listing "The Fourteen Points," which are fourteen demands of the government including combating the ‘Zionist elite’.

In a Facebook post, one community member warned to be careful when taking down Neo-Nazi posters, claiming that some may have razor blades behind them and a local politician speaking out against the posters, and the ideology, is Regional Councillor Tom Galloway. 

"It's pretty sickening that there are individuals who subscribe to that kind of almost demented philosophy in our society in 2020," said Galloway in an interview, calling the situation harmful even if it was just one person holding those ideals.