
"Security concerns" forced a Jewish congressman to call off a town hall.
Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH) was scheduled to appear in the Lebanon Public Library on Saturday but after getting wind of antisemitic rhetoric decided to hold off and postpone it.
"We've been advised by the House Sergeant at Arms and local law enforcement that due to problematic online discourse and very serious national threats against Jews, it’s imperative we take necessary steps to keep people safe," he posted in a tweet thread on Twitter/X.
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The decision clearly weighed heavily on the lawmaker.
"This is a scary and difficult time, and we want to be sure we stay fully engaged while keeping everyone safe," he wrote. "Thank you for your engagement and understanding."
He noted that so far he and his team have held 14 town halls (10 in-person) and that each occurred without violence and described them as a "productive exchange of ideas and healthy discussions about the issues that matter most to people."
He then added: "This is a scary and difficult time, and we want to be sure we stay fully engaged while keeping everyone safe."
The town hall was expected to be rescheduled for a future date.
His move to not appear in a public setting occurs as war rages in the Middle East and embers of it have begun to grow in stateside with passionate support and condemnation of Israel who is engaging in theater against Hamas in Gaza following widespread attacks on Oct. 7.