Hundreds rally in Ohio, Arizona against vandalism, Jew-hatred and anti-Semitism

(JNS) - Groups of Jews and other community members in Arizona and Ohio gathered on Sunday to express their concern over the recent rise in anti-Semitism across the country and around the world.

In Cincinnati, hundreds attended the "Under the Tent, Standing Against Antisemitism" event to stand in solidarity against Jew-hatred in Ohio and elsewhere.

"We join together as Jews and allies to send a strong message that we will not tolerate hate and anti-Semitism in any form," said Gary Greenberg, former past president of the Jewish Federation, who said a university student was assaulted because he had Hebrew lettering on his shirt. "Sadly, we are witnessing a disturbing rise in anti-Semitism and violent attacks against Jews in broad daylight in cities across America, including, unfortunately, in Cincinnati. We must also have zero tolerance for anti-Semitism, just as we should have zero tolerance for any other form of bigotry."

The event was sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Cincinnati; the Mayerson JCC; the Nancy and David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center; ish: Driving Cincinnati Jewish & Israeli Arts & Culture; and the Greater Cincinnati Board of Rabbis.

Meanwhile, the rally in Tucson, Ariz., came after two local congregations were vandalized in recent weeks.

Some 200 people, including Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, State Rep. Alma Hernandez and others local dignitaries, assembled at the Chabad on River. Carrying blue-and-white posters that had a Jewish star on them and read "Tucson Jews for Justice," participants marched to the nearby Jewish Community Center.

"Anti-Semitism has no place in #Tucson or anywhere for that matter," Romero tweeted along with a photo of herself at the rally. "We have a moral imperative to speak out unequivocally against it in all of its forms."

The Chabad on River, one of several Chabad Houses in the region, was the recent target of anti-Semitic graffiti that included a swastika and the words "Dirty K*** being drawn on the building. Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime.

Also vandalized within the last month was Congregation Chaverim in Tucson, where Hernandez, the state legislator who helped organize the rally, is a member. Speaking during the rally, she said: "It's really sad to see that so many folks have used anti-Semitism to target the Jewish community for no other reason than us being Jews."