De Blasio Urges Trump to Speak Out Amid Rise In Anti-Semitism

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio raised concerns about a “worrisome increase” in anti-Semitic attacks since the election during a 62-minute meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower on Wednesday.

“Part of why I think it’s so important to remind the President-elect and his team that there are deep fears and concerns out there is because the wrong messages can encourage hateful acts,” de Blasio told Jewish Insider after the meeting. “So, I certainly made clear that I think sending a message of unity is crucial.”

The Anti-Defamation League on Monday expressed “deep concern” over “ongoing reports” of anti-Semitic and hate incidents since the election of Trump.

But while some NYC Democrats put the blame on Trump, the mayor acknowledged that there’s been a rise in anti-Semitic attacks in the City “well before this campaign,” saying he’s spoken out previously about the threat.

Over the past three years, the mayor has been very vocal about the threat of anti-Semitism, saying the city had a special obligation to root out the causes and effects of anti-Semitism as the city with the largest Jewish population of any city in the world.

De Blasio said that he also made his “views clear” and “deep concerns about Mr. Bannon and the fact that I thought many people were afraid because of the things they had seen in Breitbart news and the fear they had that that suggested divisive policies.”