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Germany is cracking down on internet hate, including anti-Semitic hate speech. Proposed legislation would force social media platforms to report any cases of hate speech and posts that glorify or threaten violence. The social media networks are already required to remove such posts but not report them. The proposal also would provide tougher sentences for crimes of anti-Semetic motivations. The legislation requires the approval of both houses of the German parliament.

In April, 2019 John Earnest, armed with an assault rifle, opened fire at the Chabad of Poway in Poway, CA. Approximately one hundred people were in the synagogue at the time. A 60 year old worshiper was killed and the Rabbi and several others wounded. Earnest was charged with murder and attempted murder. as well as over 100 hate related crimes by the federal government. The San Diego County District Attorney's has now announced that it will seek the death penalty against Earnest.

Police in Minneapolis are investigating two incidents of anti-Muslim vandalism. Vandals sprayed painted anti-Allah graffiti on the Masjid Al-Nur mosque and a nearby Muslim owned business. There are no suspects at this time.

Members of the All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in Brownsville, TX are on edge after their church was vandalized. Vandals painted graffiti on the side of the church directed at the Mexican worshipers of the parish. All around the courtyard of the church were posted red and yellow arrows which bore the name of "Manuel". The significance of the name is unknown.

At least 19 Jewish community centers across New York state recently received bomb threats via emails. A New York State Police investigation is underway. New York Governor Mario Cuomo said "We've had about 42 incidents of anti-Semetism in this state in the past couple of months so it's not getting better". The FBI has been asked to join the investigation.

Peter Ambrose has been found incompetent to stand trial for vandalizing the Logan Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Logan, UT. Ambrose is alleged to have broken into the Temple and damaged property with an ax. He damaged paintings, artificial plants, curtains and set off fire extinguishers. Police found Ambrose hiding in a room in the Temple. He has been admitted to the Utah State Hospital for rehabilitation.

The St. James Church in Oneonta, NY was vandalized when satanic pentagrams were spray painted on the church and its walkways. Investigation led to the arrest of Thomas Miller of Oneonta. He has been charged with a third degree criminal mischief charge upgraded to a hate crime.

The FBI has announced the arrest of John Denton for his alleged role in a conspiracy involving swatting. Swatting is a practice of calling in false reports to police leading to heavily armed police officers arriving at a reported crime scene. Denton, a former leader in the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division, has been connected to three swatting incidents in Virginia between November, 2018 and January, 2019 including an unnamed historically black church. Denton faces up to five years incarceration.

Worshipers have proposed the construction of the Harford Islamic Center in Belair MD on a twelve acre tract of land. Their vision is to build a complex that fosters inclusiveness, vibrancy, education and creativity. There has been opposition to the project which now has taken a disturbing turn. Unfortunately someone threatened on social media to "burn it down". Another posting declared "Death to Allah" and encouraged people to bring weapons to protest the project.

A newly launched white supremacist website is soliciting mail and donations on behalf of those convicted or accused of murders, hate crimes and other violations including the man charged in the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh. The website asks users to send mail, literature and donations to inmate's commissary accounts. The site posts the Pittsburgh shooter "allegedly shot several congregants" and claims the racist attack on a demonstration in Charlottesville, VA was an accident.

I would like to thank the members of the Wayman Good Hope AME Church in Severna Park for inviting me to meet with their congregation to discuss security and safety issues. Failing to plan is always a plan to fail.

I would welcome the opportunity to meet with your church family and discuss congregation safety and security. Working together we can come up with suggestions and ideas to better protect you from different threats, both man-made and natural.