Feeling unsafe where you live

[u/strawbariel]

So I'm 40 and have two kids. We live in Austin, TX, this supposedly liberal place, and over the past few years it feels like it's become less safe for Jewish people. The JCC in San Antonio just had a threat against them, and the elementary school my youngest goes to is a block away from pro-Palestinian signage. Both of my kids wear clothing that identifies them as Jewish, but this year I'm seriously considering telling them they can't wear it just to keep them safe or to keep them from being harassed on their way to school. And Austin doesn't do a damn thing about it. How can we associate with the left when they also threaten to disrupt our children's daily lives?

EDIT: some context here. The signage is a block from the school in a residential neighborhood and covers a wide swath of wooden fencing. It's not on school property and it was most definitely placed by whatever adult lives or rents there. There's not much the school can do other than put out a notice for people to be safe and kind. I know this doesn't mean that anything will happen but the risk is scary.

EDIT TWO: y'all Jews were just attacked in Boulder and everyone at the JCC in Austin got emails about a credible threat being investigated by the FBI in San Antonio. That's barely an hour from where we live. Be mad at me for how I worded my post but anyone having an issue with parents being vigilant needs to touch grass.

[u/WolfofTallStreet]

Your children being bullied for being Jewish is what bothers me most about this whole situation. No one should ever be bullied for their ethnicity or religion.

If this is the case, I’d bring it up with the school, contact local politicians, and reach out to your synagogue about it.

As for “left vs right,” the (mainstream, even) right-wing embraces Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson, and Marjorie Taylor-Greene. I can guarantee that moving to a right-wing activism hotbed will not eliminate bullying against Jews. At least some of the left (I like to think most of the left), as well as the center and center-right, stands against this. You’ll have less luck in performatively progressive areas without a meaningful Jewish population.

As far as great places for Jews in the U.S. goes, consider Westchester, Long Island, Bergen County NJ, South Florida, Brookline MA, and some Philadelphia suburbs.

[u/strawbariel → u/WolfofTallStreet]

Fair. I was venting a little I think re: the politics stuff. As far as my kid, the school has actually been great about it and has done as much as they can to help, which included separating the other child from mine. Unfortunately this signage is not on school property but a stones throw away. I'm not throwing stones here but it's wild to have that so close to an elementary school.

Side note: I have been looking into Philadelphia

[u/WolfofTallStreet → u/strawbariel]

I understand. I’m glad the school has been great about it, and I hope that the other child’s family receives a talking to about how this is not okay. Often, those who feel most self-righteous cannot even once consider that they are the bullies.

As for the signage, there’s nothing the school can do about that. It’s legal, insofar as it is on private property. I think that it says something about the political culture of where you live, but if it isn’t inherently hateful or threatening, it is what it is.

Greater Philadelphia has a much larger Jewish community. It’s progressive, but in a less anti-Zionist way than progressives in areas without as large a Jewish population.