On Thursday, December 16, an Enloe Magnet High School student hacked into the school’s intercom system, allegedly making antisemitic remarks and threatening U.S. President Joe Biden. Although the identity of the student and exact content of the message are unclear, Principal Jackie Jordan reported in a message to Enloe families that the individual responsible was identified and will face appropriate disciplinary action.

Jordan also warned that this incident may be indicative of a larger trend, stating that “antisemitism is, unfortunately, on the rise in our country, along with other forms of hate. We 

must continue to do everything we can to resist and reverse this trend.” Just days earlier, a similar incident occurred in a Maryland high school. 

According to the Anti-Defamation League (an organization dedicated to combating antisemitism), antisemitic incidents in the United States reached an all-time high in 2021. In addition to one-on-one attacks, the past year has seen a series of remarks made by celebrities and other high-profile individuals attacking the Jewish community as a whole. 

On November 22, 2022, former President Donald Trump hosted rapper Ye (who has recently come under fire after making several antisemitic remarks) and political commentator Nick Fuentes (known for his white nationalist beliefs and Holocaust denial) for dinner at his Mar-a-Lago. 

Twitter CEO Elon Musk has also garnered controversy with his decision to grant “general amnesty” to accounts suspended for harassment and misinformation. Many are troubled by the loosening of restrictions on the platform as it makes it easier for individuals who spread antisemitic and otherwise bigoted rhetoric to gain a following.

Amy Spitalnik, executive director of Integrity First for America, voiced her concern regarding this normalization of antisemitic rhetoric: “What’s even more dangerous than Nazis with torches chanting, ‘Jews will not replace us,’ is when we have political leaders and others espousing those same conspiracy theories in increasingly normalized ways.” 

When blatant hatred and violence are allowed to persist without accountability for those responsible, more subtle forms of antisemitism are allowed to fly under the radar. Over time, it can become increasingly difficult to combat these ideas as they become ingrained in society. As Apex High students enter the adult world, the responsibility falls to us to reverse this trend and create a world where all beliefs are respected.