To the editor:
I am writing to express my concern about the recent accusations of antisemitism made during the Athens City Council meeting on Oct. 14, 2024. These accusations were leveled by Rusty Rittenhouse against the United Athens County Tenants. Rittenhouse is an attorney and local school board member, and he was speaking on behalf of Joseph Krause, a local landlord. Mr. Rittenhouse and Mr. Krause’s unfounded accusations represent a dangerous trend of politicizing antisemitism in order to suppress speech on unrelated issues. In this case, the claims of antisemitism were meant to suppress criticism of a local landlord, Mr. Krause, who is hoping to retain a seat on the powerful Board of Zoning Appeals.
As an associate professor of Communication Studies at Ohio University, I research and study the effects of rhetoric in public speech. When a serious accusation like antisemitism is used lightly or without merit, it creates confusion about what antisemitism is, making it more difficult for communities to prevent violence and discrimination. Over 100 human rights organizations including Human Rights Watch, the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, and the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem have warned of the dangers to international human rights that occur when charges of antisemitism become politicized. Raz Segal, an associate professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, recently explained, “the weaponization of antisemitism risks making antisemitism a meaningless charge, and therefore much harder to combat, at a time when genuine examples of it are rising.” Violence and hostility toward Jewish people and Jewish organizations are becoming more frequent in the U.S., and politicizing antisemitism creates an environment where violence and discrimination are allowed to fester.
Mr. Rittenhouse’s comments about UACT were intended to prevent discussion of a report and testimony that raise concerns about the conditions of rental properties owned by Mr. Krause (Mr. Rittenhouse’s client). These concerns include multiple properties failing code inspections and a roof collapse, all covered by WOUB in recent years. Mr. Krause may or may not have legitimate explanations for his properties’ conditions and failed code inspections. But according to Mr. Rittenhouse’s testimony, UACT is antisemitic simply for criticizing Mr. Krause, who is Jewish, the only Jewish member of the Athens City Board of Zoning Appeals, and the only member of the Board of Zoning Appeals that UACT raised concerns about. Mr. Rittenhouse’s comments attempt to cause dangerous confusion about what antisemitism is in order to silence testimony about rental property conditions.
It is particularly disappointing to see a school board member, who is in a position of influence and should be a role model for the community, engaging in such harmful rhetoric. Mr. Rittenhouse made his comments at a public City Council meeting that is live streamed, recorded, and posted on the City’s website. I have often seen Athens City Schools students in attendance at these meetings, and I have heard them give presentations at these meetings. Mr. Rittenhouse and Mr. Krause used this forum to contribute to a climate of fear and division in our community by advancing unfounded and unsupported accusations regarding antisemitism. Statements like Mr. Rittenhouse’s make it harder for students and members of our community to understand the very real threat of antisemitism, and his statement has the genuine effect of making our community less safe.
Mr. Rittenhouse and Mr. Krause should issue a written apology for Rittenhouse’s statements that deliberately created confusion and fear about antisemitism at the Oct. 14, 2024 Athens City Council meeting. Words matter, especially for individuals interested in serving on our public boards and helping lead our public schools.
Matthew deTar
Athens, Ohio
