Our Own Kirstallnacht
Our Own Kristallnacht By Steve Zolno It is a historical pattern that nations – or factions within nations – that commit violence against others defend their actions by blaming their victims. But not since the Civil War have we seen in the United States the defense of violence by most members of a major political party. This is what has happened with the Republican stance on the January 6 insurrection. On November 9, 1938, Nazi leaders unleashed a series of attacks against Jews. Joseph Goebbels suggested in a speech that “World Jewry has engaged in a conspiracy to commit the assassination” of a Nazi official. He told a crowd that if demonstrations against Jews erupt they are “not to be hampered.” Party leaders issued coordinated orders to attack the homes and businesses of Jews, leading to mass arrests, destruction of businesses, and hundreds of deaths. Legislation followed that outlawed Jews from employment and removed Jewish children from schools. The German peo...