FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 2, 2022

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In State College, Local Leaders Call on Doug Mastriano to Denounce Gab, Andrew Torba, and the Dangerous Antisemitism He Has Empowered

“Why did he refuse to denounce Torba, the owner of the site? Could it be that he doesn’t disagree with Torba? Mastriano’s connection to such a site tells us a lot about who he is.” –Faith Leader Suzanne Weinstein

“I ask Doug Mastriano, do I, a Jew have any less right than you to be heard? To share in the governance of our Commonwealth? To be respected, protected and empowered?” –State College Mayor Ezra Nanes

PENNSYLVANIA – Today in State College, Jewish community leaders, faith leaders, and elected officials joined together to forcefully condemn Doug Mastriano and call on him to denounce the antisemitic extremism at the center of his campaign.

Gab is a “haven” for white supremacists, extremists and antisemites, and played a “key” role in the Tree of Life shooting – the deadliest attack on Jewish people in U.S. history. Doug Mastriano has paid Gab thousands of dollars for the organization’s far-right followers to join his campaign, and despite weeks of outcry from Democrats and Republicans – along with the ADL – Mastriano has refused to denounce Gab CEO Andrew Torba or answer questions about his payment to the far-right network.

Instead, Mastriano doubled down and defended his alliance with Gab and its founder Andrew Torba, even as Torba has said: “We don’t want people who are Jewish. […] This is an explicitly Christian movement because this is an explicitly Christian country.” Torba said the Talmud – a Jewish holy text – “disgusts” him and even said that Mastriano himself refuses to do interviews with reporters who are Jewish. Mastriano has refused to denounce Gab and Torba, and repeatedly ignored questions about his association with them.

Today’s press conference comes on the heels of leaders in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia calling out Mastriano’s dangerous association with Gab and his efforts to fund antisemitic extremists.

See below for some of what religious and political leaders had to say about Doug Mastriano’s dangerous extremism and ties to Gab today in State College: 

Jewish Community Leader Evan Myers: 

There is a thread line that runs from the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue, and now runs through this heinous website that the GOP candidate has associated with. The shooter in Pittsburgh used the very same website to share and get support for his radical views. This website the shooter and Mastriano have used to offer extreme anti semitic, racist, homophobic content with open praise for Nazism, encouragement of violence against minorities, and great replacement narratives. […]

We need to be prepared to protect our residents from fear and intimidation. The Talmud, one of the central texts of Judaism states, and I quote, “do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly now. Love mercy now, walk humbly now. You are not obliged to complete the work but neither are you free to abandon it.” We must continue to work, work with organizations, faith groups, other friends, family, and neighbors to combat this hate.

[Mastriano] has not disavowed any of the other hate spewing rhetoric of this website. He has indicated he was not really aware of the stance of this organization. Perhaps he was also unaware that his participation on January 6, tackling the Capitol was an insurrection. It’s not just that his judgment is flawed. His actions represent the core of his beliefs. When people show you who they are, believe them. Make no mistake, this is not just an attack on Jews, it is an attack on all of us. […] We must defeat this hateful candidate and his allies.

Faith Leader Suzanne Weinstein

I’m here today to denounce Doug Mastriano’s connection to the social media platform called Gab that advocates free speech but it’s really a venue for hate speech. Andrew Torba, who owns Gab is openly anti semitic, and his goal is to foster white nationalist society.

It has recently come to light that Doug Mastriano, Republican candidate for governor paid the site $5,000 to advertise for him, though it seems he’s recently removed his account. Mastriano’s association with this hate-filled site and Christian nationalism is appalling and frightening. And he owes the people of Pennsylvania explanations for his connection to the site. Why did he pay a site known to espouse hate filled rhetoric aimed at Jewish people? Could it be that his perspective aligns with the users of the site? […]

Why did he refuse to denounce Torba, the owner of the site? Could it be that he doesn’t disagree with Torba? Mastriano’s connection to such a site tells us a lot about who he is. His refusal to strongly denounce the hate filled rhetoric of the site’s owner or provide a reasonable explanation for why he paid them tells us he has no place governing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

State College Mayor Ezra Nanes

Doug Mastriano is courting and encouraging antisemitism in a desperate attempt to win an election to the office of Governor – a role of great honor and trust that because of his actions to undermine our elections and trust in government, to stoke hatred of Jews, and quite frankly, anyone who does not identify as a specific religion of his choice, because of these actions, he is unqualified for.

Doug Mastriano, uses and taps into the energy of hatred by paying to have people expressing these destructive views follow him on a social media platform that is specifically intended to promote religious nationalism and fascism. I ask Doug Mastriano, do I, a Jew have any less right than you to be heard? To share in the governance of our Commonwealth? To be respected, protected and empowered? […]

I am proud to know and support our Attorney General Josh Shapiro, an elected official of great experience and integrity for the office of Governor. Josh Shapiro has proven his ability at governance and leadership at all levels of government. He’s delivered balanced budgets, encouraged business. He’s protected the vulnerable and he has fought for justice. Josh Shapiro is the leader Pennsylvania needs as our next governor.

State College Borough Council President Jesse Barlow

Religious bigotry is an affront to Pennsylvania values…Religious bigotry is an affront to our American values. So here we are to call out that bigotry, in particular the relationship between Senator Doug Mastriano, the website Gab, and Gab CEO Andrew Torba. Gab is a hate site, full stop. It’s a haven for white supremacists, anti semitism, Islamophobia, and just about every other kind of bigotry you can name. It helped inspire the Tree of Life synagogue murderer. Its CEO Andrew Torba is a rabid antisemite and islamophobe. […] [Mastriano] already paid Gab consulting fees. He had an interview with Andrew Torba, where they praised one another. Thus he endorsed Mr. Torba’s ideas with what I call a ‘wink and a nod’ and probably a little more. He has not said whether Mr. Torba’s ideas about not talking to reporters who are not Christian, and you said nothing about this. But his restriction on talking to reporters seems a lot stronger than that, actually, since he is only willing to talk to the most reactionary members of the press. Senator Mastriano must repudiate Mr. Torba and all of his bigoted ideas. […] Mr. Mastriano – denounce hate, denounce this site, denounce Mr. Torba, and denounce Christian nationalism while you’re at it.

Candidate for 82nd Pennsylvania House District Paul Takac

Anti semitism has no place in Pennsylvania or anywhere. Jewish Americans are an integral part of our nation’s progress. They’ve made untold contributions to this country, this commonwealth and this community. From the civil rights movement of the 1960s and 70s, to the long historical presence of Jewish leadership in Pennsylvania, to the respected leaders standing with me today. Discrimination or hatred, targeting any religious or cultural group, goes against the very fiber of our moral being.

For a gubernatorial candidate to utilize a social media platform that aided and abetted the deadliest attack on Jewish people in our nation’s history right here in Pennsylvania, is out of line with the folks here. It’s alienating. It’s divisive, and it’s just plain wrong. But it is apparent that extremists within the Republican Party with Doug Mastriano at the helm would seek to destroy our communities and sow false conspiracies and dangerous hatred. […] Discrimination will not stand here. Hatred will not stand here. And dangerous extremism will not stand here.

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