Patrols around local mosques and synagogues have increased while the Morgantown Police Department investigates an incident that allegedly happened at the office of an apartment complex.
According to a text sent to a local rabbi Wednesday afternoon, a white man wearing a Trump hat entered the office at The Domain, an apartment complex in Granville, and asked where mosques and synagogues were in the area.
Wednesday evening, a post on Twitter alerted the community of the incident.
Morgantown Communications Director Andrew Stacy confirmed MPD received reports of the incident and increased patrols while it investigates. Anyone with information can call 304-284-7522, Ext. 0.
The MPD asked The Dominion Post not to name local places of worship as a precaution.
“My understanding is authorities are treating it seriously,” Rabbi Zalman, a Morgantown rabbi said. “They told me to be careful, and if I ever see anything suspicious to always report it right away.”
However, he said, “No one confirmed there was an actual threat.”
Shams Khan, president of a local mosque, said they first heard of the incident because many members of their community live at The Domain and personally know some of the people who initially posted about it.
“We reached out to the local authorities. We have a very close connection to them,” he said. “Unfortunately, there have been many other cases where the police have provided protection to the (mosque) due to comments and threat or perceived threats like this so we have a direct line to them.”
Zalman said, “If it is indeed a credible threat, I think the story here is that someone kept their eyes and ears open and the person that heard it could have just walked away and gone on with their day and instead they decided to take action.”
Since the Oct. 27, 2018, mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Zalman’s congregation has had security when they gather in person. He said a silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic is that if this does turn out to be a real threat, it can only be property damages since there are no in-person gatherings.
Rabbi Joe, another Morgantown spiritual leader, said Pittsburgh was “quite the wake-up call.”
The Dominion Post asked Rabbi Joe how safe he felt as a Jewish person and rabbi in these times.
“I don’t know what to say,” he said. “These are scary times and of course minorities are always unpopular. The Jewish people have felt much safer in America than most other places but maybe America isn’t so safe anymore either. I don’t know. I’ve already lived my life, but for young people these are scary times.”
He said the United States has, traditionally, had far less violence and anti-Semitism than other places, though that has shifted in recent years.
In a February 2020 hearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism, Federal Bureau of Investigation Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division said, “… Multiple recent attacks against the Jewish community perpetrated by racially/ethnically motivated violent extremists highlight the diverse nature of this threat. In just the last 18 months, anti-Semitic terrorism has devastated Jewish communities from Pueblo to Poway to Pittsburgh to Jersey City. “These attacks were planned by individuals with a variety of ideological motivations that justify violence toward others, to include those who advocate for a perceived superiority of the white race, as well as individuals with an ideology that believes western hemisphere-based minorities are the true Jewish race and are empowered to eradicate those not in their belief system. In fact, the top threat we face from (domestic violent extremists) stems from those we identify as racially/ethnically motivated violent extremists.”
The Muslim community is familiar with violent threats and acts. Khan said the community has been especially on edge since the Christchurch, New Zealand mosque massacres in March 2019.
“I advised our community members this is a very safe town to live in but be vigilant and observant and take your own personal security seriously,” he said.
“I’m not worried, but we’re always in a state of alert,” Zalman said.
Khan said Morgantown has a great group of interfaith partners and they have received many calls and messages in support.
“One of the key tools in fighting ignorance is education,” he said. “The biggest thing we can do is reach out to others and educate them. And that’s what helps break down barriers and foster understanding and promote tolerance.”
