Austin American-Statesman: Capitol rally counters antisemitism with kindness

A recent string of antisemitic acts in Central Texas inspired several hundred people to gather Sunday in downtown Austin to share a message they hope spreads faster and louder than the hate: that more than anything, there is kindness in this state. 

Austin residents of all religions and ethnicities gathered at the Capitol for a Rally for Kindness led by ATXKind, a grassroots group of Jewish women. 

The organization formed because of the recent surge of antisemitic, homophobic and racist incidents with the stated mission of fostering a space "for all to celebrate kindness with inclusive action." ATXKind formed with the support of Shalom Austin, a hub of Austin’s Jewish community, and the Anti-Defamation League in Austin.

Alison Alter, an Austin City Council member who is part of the city’s Jewish community, told those gathered that to quell hatred, it’s important to acknowledge it first. 

"For too long, many of us have believed that hate is something that happens somewhere else, not in our Austin," Alter said. "For too long, we have criticized the haters in our private conversation and said too little in public."

She later said: “The silence of many of those working in the building behind me is deafening and offensive.” 

The crowd of about 200 held signs that said, "Kindness makes us STRONGER" and "Be a good human."

On Halloween night, a fire set at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Central Austin caused about $25,000 in damage. Franklin Barrett Sechrist, 18, of San Marcos was arrested last week on suspicion of arson, a first-degree felony.

Last month, protesters hung a banner with an antisemitic message from an overpass on North MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) — in an area that is home to much of the city’s Jewish community — and Anderson High School was vandalized with racial slurs and swastikas. Antisemitic posters and stickers have been plastered across several parts of Austin, including in parks and neighborhoods.

Attacks also have targeted the area’s Black and Hispanic communities. 

The acts have not only taken place in Austin. Last week, people in San Marcos received letters targeting the Jewish community, blaming it for the coronavirus pandemic. The letters were sealed in a plastic bag filled with small rocks.

"We’re suffering really two deadly viruses in this country," said U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin. "One is COVID; the other is far-right extremism, antisemitism and hate."

Silence in the face of such attacks is unacceptable, he said.

"No form of antisemitism is ever acceptable," Doggett said. "We must reject it and all forms of hate directed in any part of our community, but like COVID we may never eliminate it entirely. But we must reduce its virulence."

Austin is home to between 15,000 and 18,000 Jewish adherents, which is roughly five times the population in in 1990, according to Austin Shalom.

Austin Mayor Steve Adler said he was especially proud and touched by the residents who showed up at the rally because the hateful acts hit close to home for him.

"As a Jew, I want you to know that your presence here today makes me feel safer," Adler said. 

The mayor encouraged those in the crowd to call out discrimination when they see it, saying the opposite allowed the Nazi Party to grow and flourish in Germany.

"That silence was taken as approval, or at least acquiescence. That silence allowed the hate to spread," Adler said. "The danger is not the hate at the fringe; the danger is that we will not call it out when we see it."

Austin resident Debbie Cohen was at the rally with her three young children. Cohen, whose family is Jewish and maintains a kosher household, was wearing a shirt that said, "Be Kind," and holding a poster that said, "My Mishpacha believes in Ahava." 

"Mishpacha" is Hebrew for family, and "ahava" means love.

"I brought my children here to teach them that we can respect anybody and everybody — no matter what our differences are," Cohen said alongside her husband, John Cohen, and their 8- and 4-year-old sons and 7-year-old daughter.

Their middle child, Ethan, held up a poster that said, "How can you not love this Punin?" "Punin" is a Yiddish word for a "cute little face," Debbie Cohen said. 

"We are here to stand with our community and show our kids that we have a large community of people that love us, and we can love everybody," she said.

The family moved to Austin from North Carolina eight years ago because of the city’s strong Jewish community. 

"Austin has a really homey Jewish community that we were looking for," Debbie Cohen said. "So the fact that people are trying to threaten it is terrifying, but we’re still here. We’re strong, and we’re proud to be here."