Commission on combating antisemitism addresses hate crimes
BOSTON (WWLP) – The Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism held a hearing on Monday about the concerning rise of antisemitism and extremism in the Bay State.
This group was established following the October 7 attacks in 2023 and the following rise in violence against Jewish Massachusetts residents.
Western Massachusetts Senator John Velis heads up the commission and opened the meeting, acknowledging extremism on both sides of the aisle. 'This special commission will not hesitate to follow and confront antisemitism wherever it rears its vile and repugnant head, whether it's from the left or the right,' said Velis.
A researcher from the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism presented an analysis of hate group trends and led a discussion on the tactics extremists are using to gain momentum.He explained how right-wing extremist groups are co-opting language in the news to normalize antisemitism.
'They saw criticism of Israel as a way of maybe bringing in people who might not necessarily be as antisemitic as they are by swapping out the term 'Jew' for 'Zionist,'' said researcher Ben Popp.
Notably, valid criticism of Zionism can exist separately from antisemitism, and the ADL's research is meant to make people aware of hate groups' tactics.
This commission regularly accepts public comment, and 22News will keep you posted on the steps this commission takes to reduce hate incidents.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Emaciated after 5 years in prison, Belarusian dissident Tsikhanouski vows to fight on
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Tsikhanouski, known for his anti-Lukashenko slogan 'stop the cockroach,' was arrested after announcing plans to challenge the strongman in the 2020 election and shortly before the campaign began. He was sentenced to 19 years and six months on charges widely seen as politically motivated. His wife ran in his stead, rallying crowds across the country. Official results handed Lukashenko his sixth term in office but were denounced by the opposition and the West as a sham. Lukashenko has since tightened his grip, securing a seventh term in disputed January 2025 elections. Since mid-2024, his government has pardoned nearly 300 prisoners — including U.S. citizens — in what analysts see as an attempt to mend ties with the West. Tsikhanouski credited U.S. President Donald Trump with aiding his release. 'I thank Donald Trump endlessly,' Tsikhanouski said. 'They (the Belarusian authorities) want Trump to at least, a little bit, somewhere, to meet them halfway. They are ready to release them all. 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'There were skin diseases, and everyone had kidney problems from the cold — and no one really understood what was happening,' Tsikhanouski said. 'Blood came out of my mouth, from my nose. Sometimes I had convulsions — but it was all because of the cold, that terrible cold when you sit in those punishment cells.' 'There is no medical care in prison — none at all, just so you know …' he said. Tsikhanouski said conditions slightly improved after the February 2024 death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a prison colony. 'When Alexei Navalny died, I thought, that'll probably be me soon … And then something changed. It was clear that someone at the top said, 'Make sure he doesn't die here. We don't need that problem.' It got just a bit softer ... At some point, word came down: Tsikhanouski must be kept alive, not killed.' Tsikhanouski blames Russian President Vladimir Putin for propping up Lukashenko, both during the 2020 protests and to this day. Russia supports Belarus's economy with loans and subsidized oil and gas. In return, Belarus has allowed Moscow to use its territory to launch troops and weapons into Ukraine, and hosts Russian forces and nuclear weapons. Tsikhanouski expressed strong support for Ukraine, calling the Kremlin a common evil for both countries. 'If it weren't for Putin, we would already be living in a different country. Putin recognized Lukashenko's victory in the election, he called black white. That is, he refused to see the falsifications,' Tsikhanouski said. 'They help each other. Because of Putin, this illegal government is still in Belarus.' Some analysts have speculated that by releasing the charismatic and energetic Tsikhanouski, Belarusian authorities may be trying to sow division within the opposition. But Tsikhanouski insists he has no intention of challenging his wife's role as the internationally recognized head of the Belarusian opposition, and he calls for unity. 'Under no circumstances do I plan to criticize any Belarusians, condemn or complain about anyone," he said. Tsikhanouski says he will not stop fighting and wants to return to active work as both a political figure and a blogger. But he is skeptical that Lukashenko, now 70, will step down voluntarily, despite his age. 'I don't know anymore — will he go or won't he?' Tsikhanouski said. 'Many people say nothing will change until he dies. But I'm still counting on democratic forces winning.'
