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☆ DeSantis refuses to condemn Elon Musk for endorsing antisemitic conspiracy theory
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Alison Main | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis on Sunday refused to directly condemn Elon Musk for publicly endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory popular among White supremacists. The X post, which Tapper showed DeSantis, said: “Jewish communties (sic) have been pushing the exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them.” The post also referenced “hordes of minorities” flooding Western countries, a popular antisemitic conspiracy theory. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has also seen an uptick in reports following the attack, but it did not have numbers to release. Pressed by Tapper again on Musk’s tweet, DeSantis maintained: “I have no idea what the context is.”“I know Elon Musk, I’ve never seen him do anything. CNN’s Jack Forrest, David Goldman, Avery Lotz, Jack Forrest, Brian Fung, Clare Duffy and Samantha Delouya contributed to this report.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Elon Musk, White, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Musk, Tapper, DeSantis, Robert Bowers, ”, I’ve, Jamie Raskin, “, CNN’s Jack Forrest, David Goldman, Avery Lotz, Jack Forrest, Brian Fung, Clare Duffy, Samantha Delouya Organizations: CNN, Republican, Sunday, Defamation League, Islamic Relations, Twitter, Disney, Paramount, Comcast, Lionsgate, Warner Bros, Democratic Locations: Florida, Pittsburgh, Israel, America

More major advertisers have paused their spending on X, the social media service formerly known as Twitter, as the backlash continued over Elon Musk’s endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory on X. The spending freeze comes as X has fought to win back advertisers who were wary of spending on the platform after Mr. Musk took it over a year ago and said he would loosen content moderation rules. The organization followed accounts that posted the content, then refreshed the X timeline until ads appeared, X said in a blog post. Only one of the nine posts highlighted by Media Matters violated its content moderation rules, X added. “Musk admitted the ads at issue ran alongside the pro-Nazi content we identified.

Persons: X, Musk, ” Mr, Robert Bowers, Andrew Bates, Hitler, ” X, Joe Benarroch, ”, Angelo Carusone, “ Musk, ” Ryan Mac Organizations: Elon, Warner Bros, Sony, IBM, Apple, Lionsgate, Paramount Global, CBS, Twitter, White, Media Matters, Nazi Party, X Corp, Media, “, ” Media Locations: Israel, Pittsburgh

The blowback over Elon Musk’s endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory on X gathered steam on Friday, as several major advertisers on his social media platform cut off their spending after his comments. Disney said it was pausing spending on X, as did Lionsgate, the entertainment and film distribution company. They followed IBM, which cut its spending with X on Thursday. Mr. Musk, who bought Twitter last year and renamed it X, has been under scrutiny for months for allowing and even stoking antisemitic abuse on the site. Jewish groups have compared the statement in the original post to a belief known as replacement theory, a conspiracy theory that posits that nonwhite immigrants, organized by Jews, intend to replace the white race.

Persons: Disney, Musk, ” Mr, Robert Bowers Organizations: Elon, Lionsgate, Apple, IBM, Twitter Locations: Israel, Pittsburgh

☆ White House Condemns Elon Musk for Spreading ‘Antisemitic and Racist Hate’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Lisa Friedman | Ryan Mac | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The White House on Friday denounced Elon Musk for boosting an anti-Jewish conspiracy theory on his social media platform X, calling the actions of Mr. Musk, the world’s richest person, an “abhorrent promotion of antisemitic and racist hate.”Mr. Musk endorsed a post on X, formerly Twitter, accusing Jewish people who are facing antisemitism amid the Israel-Hamas war of pushing the “exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them” and supporting the immigration of “hordes of minorities.”“You have said the actual truth,” Mr. Musk replied to the post. Jewish groups have compared the statement in the original post to a belief known as replacement theory, an antisemitic conspiracy theory that nonwhite immigrants, organized by Jews, intend to replace the white race. That idea fueled Robert Bowers, who raged against Jewish people online before killing 11 worshipers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018. “It is unacceptable to repeat the hideous lie behind the most fatal act of antisemitism in American history at any time, let alone one month after the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” Andrew Bates, a White House spokesman, said in a statement.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, Mr, ” Mr, Robert Bowers, ” Andrew Bates Locations: Israel, Pittsburgh

☆ With antisemitic tweet, Elon Musk reveals his ‘actual truth’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hate speech, whether uttered by Musk or merely endorsed by him, is amplified when the world’s richest person posts or comments on it. “It’s doubtful that Musk harbors personal animosity toward Jewish people,” wrote the Atlantic’s Yair Rosenberg earlier this year, regarding another incident in which Musk trumpeted antisemitic statements. Mezrich in recent weeks has told several interviewers about how “Elon Musk broke Twitter, and Twitter broke Elon Musk.”It’s a punchy line, and in some ways I’m sure it’s accurate. There’s plenty of evidence that Musk broke Twitter — gutted it, rebranded it, tanked its revenue, and made it unrecognizable to its most active users. But Musk was at this long before, spreading countless conspiracy theories, particularly around the Covid pandemic.

Persons: CNN Business ’, New York CNN — Elon Musk, Musk, Robert Bowers, “, Jonathan Greenblatt, ” Musk, ”, Yair Rosenberg, Walter Isaacson, Ben Mezrich, “ Elon Musk, Elon Musk, Thomas Edison, you’ll Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, Whites, Twitter, Defamation League Locations: New York, Pittsburgh

☆ Elon Musk agrees with X post that claims Jews ‘push hatred’ against White people
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

This is because they cannot, by their own tenets, criticize the minority groups who are their primary threat.”It’s unclear what Musk was referring to. Yet Musk suggested that the ADL promotes racism against White people. “I am deeply offended by ADL’s messaging and any other groups who push de facto anti-white racism or anti-Asian racism or racism of any kind,” he said. The ADL has been critical of X, particularly since Musk took control of the platform over a year ago. Musk in September threatened to sue the ADL for defamation, claiming that the organization’s reports have hurt advertising sales on X.

Persons: New York CNN —, Elon Musk, Musk, Robert Bowers, Defamation League “, “, ” Musk, Jonathan Greenblatt, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Whites, Defamation League, ADL, White, Center Locations: New York, Pittsburgh, Israel, United, “

It was the first commemoration since the killer was convicted and sentenced to death after a long-stalled legal process. While the commemoration focused on the Pittsburgh attack, there were reminders of the ongoing war in the Middle East. But Israeli victims of the Hamas attacks were also on his mind. Will anything be done for them?”The commemoration comes as plans advance for the reconstruction of the Tree of Life synagogue complex, which has been dormant since the shootings. ___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Persons: ”, Maggie Feinstein, Robert Bowers, Bowers, Eric Olshan, “, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, Myers, it’s, — Dor Hadash, Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, David Rosenthal, Cecil Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Dan Stein, Melvin Wax, Irving Younger, Joyce Fienberg's, Howard Fienberg, I’ve, Daniel Libeskind Organizations: PITTSBURGH, Western, Western Pennsylvania U.S, Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Pittsburgh, Israel, United States, Maine, Schenley, Western Pennsylvania, Gaza, America

Ahead of the High Holidays that begin this week, a network of Jewish security experts and religious leaders hosted several webinars to help prepare for the season. Among the topics: How to respond to an “active threat” targeting the Jewish community, and how to stop severe bleeding. Over recent years — in the face of increased antisemitic threats and violence — the season also is a time of heightened vigilance. “The High Holidays are about renewal — about trying to build a better world,” said Rabbi Noah Farkas, president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Earlier this month, the Orthodox Union, the largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, announced a partnership with the Community Security Service, a leading Jewish security organization, to encourage more Orthodox congregation members to volunteer for security training.

Persons: ”, Noah Farkas, ” Farkas, Ryan Scott Bradford “, Martin Estrada, Farkas ’, Robert Bowers, ” —, Eric Fingerhut, —, Rosh Hashana, “ It’s, Jeffrey Abrams, Larry Mead, Mead, it's “, “, ” Mead, Mead “, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, Rabbi Charlie Cytron, Walker, Tim Torell, ” Torell, ’ We’re, Torell Organizations: Jewish Federation of, Attorney’s, Los Angeles CSI, Reseda . Security, Jewish Federations of North, Secure Community Network, Jewish Federations of, Nationwide, Orthodox Union, Jewish, Community Security Service, Defamation League, Los Angeles, ADL Los Angeles, Los Angeles federation’s Community Security, Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, “, FBI, Jewish Federation of Northern, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Rosh, Yom Kippur, Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Reseda, U.S, Reseda ., Pittsburgh, Jewish Federations of North America, Canada, Southern California, Angeles, California, Texas, New Jersey, Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey

☆ The Synagogue Attack Stands Alone, but Experts Say Violent Rhetoric Is Spreading
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Campbell Robertson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mass shooters do not often end up on trial. Many are killed or take their own lives in their attacks, some leaving behind a manifesto explaining why they acted, others leaving a mystery. From the testimony of prominent psychiatrists and aging relatives emerged a portrait of the gunman, Robert Bowers, that was at once shocking and strangely familiar. It depicted an isolated, unhappy man who had grown obsessed with dark and deranged ideas, such as the notion that Jewish people were part of a conspiracy to destroy the white race. “But when you have seen this promoted for 20 years, 40 years, among thousands and thousands of people, in their books and the propaganda and online forums, it’s clear that these are subcultural beliefs.”

Persons: Robert Bowers, “, Park Dietz, ” Locations: Pittsburgh

☆ Judge to Impose Death Sentence in Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Campbell Robertson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The gunman who killed 11 worshipers in a Pittsburgh synagogue will be formally sentenced to death on Thursday morning by the judge who presided over the three-month trial in U.S. district court. Jurors in the case decided on Wednesday that the gunman, Robert Bowers, should be given the death penalty, and the judge, Robert Colville, is bound by the jury’s decision. But the hearing could be more than the imposition of the sentence. Family members of those who were killed will have a chance “to share the impact of their losses, to describe how the defendant’s crimes have impacted them and their families,” said Eric Olshan, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Unlike the penalty phase of the trial, when some relatives were called to testify and asked about the magnitude of their losses, Thursday’s hearing will allow them to speak on their own terms.

Persons: Robert Bowers, Robert Colville, ”, Eric Olshan Organizations: Western, Western District of Locations: Pittsburgh, U.S, Western District, Western District of Pennsylvania

Police tape lines a sidewalk in front of the Tree of Life synagogue where a vigil was held on Saturday morning to mark one week after the deadly shooting, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., November 3, 2018. REUTERS/Alan Freed/File PhotoAug 3 (Reuters) - A federal judge was due to formally sentence Robert Bowers to death on Thursday for killing 11 worshippers at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, the New York Times reported. The sentencing hearing comes a day after a jury unanimously voted for the death penalty after finding Bowers guilty on 63 counts, including 11 counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. Relatives of Bowers' victims are expected to address Judge Robert Colville during the hearing at the U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania. Bowers will join the 41 other men on federal death row, held in cells near the U.S. government's execution chamber in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Persons: Alan Freed, Robert Bowers, Bowers, Robert Colville, Biden, Jonathan Allen, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, New York Times, U.S, Court, U.S . Department of Justice, Thomson Locations: Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania, U.S, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Terre Haute , Indiana, New York

PinnedThe massacre of 11 worshipers at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018 is considered the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. “Finally, justice has been served,” said Leigh Stein, whose father, Dan Stein, was killed in the attack. Image Relatives of the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue mass shooting spoke on Wednesday after jurors recommended that the gunman be sentenced to death. The defense called no witnesses in that part of the trial, as there was never any dispute that Mr. Bowers had carried out the attack. The police rushed to the synagogue and, after exchanging gunfire with Mr. Bowers, eventually cornered him in a classroom.

Persons: Robert Bowers, “, ”, Leigh Stein, Dan Stein, Biden, ” Merrick, Garland, Robert Colville, Justin Merriman, Howard Fienberg, Joyce Fienberg, we’ve, ” Weeks, Bowers, Dor Hadash —, Cecil, David Rosenthal, Fienberg, Irving Younger, Sylvan Simon, Simon’s, Bernice, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Dor Hadash, Richard Gottfried, Stein, Melvin Wax, Judy Clarke, Satan, Ms, Clarke, ” Eric Olshan, “ It’s, that’s, Doris Dyen, Jon Moss Organizations: “, Justice Department, The New York Times, Jewish Community Center of Greater, ., New, Prosecutors, Western, Western District of Locations: Pittsburgh, U.S, Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, Western District, Western District of Pennsylvania

CNN —Robert Bowers, the gunman who killed 11 worshippers and wounded six others at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018, was unanimously sentenced to death by a federal jury on Wednesday. The jury further found he was eligible for the death penalty on July 13, moving the trial to a third and final sentencing stage. “This is a case that calls for the most severe punishment under the law – the death penalty,” he said. In court, those who survived the shooting testified about hiding in closets and listening to the final words of their friends and loved ones. This is the second federal death penalty case to be prosecuted under the administration of President Joe Biden, who had criticized the death penalty on the campaign trail.

Persons: Robert Bowers, It’s, Biden, Bowers, “, Eric Olshan, ”, “ You’ve, Rob Bowers, You’ve, Judy Clarke, Dave Klug, Dor Hadash, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, I’m, Dor, Joe Biden, Trump Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Immigrant Aid Society Locations: Pittsburgh, New York City

The pews were full at a Shabbat service at the Sixth & I synagogue in Washington in November 2018, held in memory of the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. Over the nearly five years since 11 people were murdered in a Pittsburgh synagogue, the deadliest antisemitic attack in the country’s history, the question of justice has loomed, unresolved. Soon, the jury in the federal trial will make a decision that is central to that question of justice: whether Robert Bowers, the man who carried out the attack, should be condemned to death. Talmudic jurisprudence is strongly averse to the death penalty, Rabbi Kalmanofsky said, but Jewish citizens should understand that this is ultimately a decision in the hands of a secular justice system. And while rabbinical tradition holds that the death penalty should be extremely rare, he said, it acknowledges “that sometimes there are incredibly exigent circumstances.”

Persons: Robert Bowers, Jonathan Perlman, ” Miri Rabinowitz, Jerry Rabinowitz, Jeremy Kalmanofsky, Rabbi Kalmanofsky, ” Organizations: The Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, New, U.S, Attorney, Conservative Locations: Washington, Pittsburgh, The Pittsburgh

Aug 2 (Reuters) - A federal jury on Wednesday voted to sentence Robert Bowers to death for killing 11 worshippers at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, the New York Times reported. Bowers was convicted of 63 counts, including 11 counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. Two weeks ago, during the first phase of the sentencing portion of the trial, the jury found Bowers to be eligible for the death penalty. A man prays at a makeshift memorial outside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 31, 2018. In the sentencing phase, prosecutors argued that Bowers had the necessary intent and premeditation to qualify for the death penalty.

Persons: Robert Bowers, Bowers, Cathal McNaughton, Robert Colville, Joe Biden, Biden, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, Brendan O'Brien, Jonathan Allen, Mark Potter Organizations: New York Times, U.S, Court, REUTERS, Cathal McNaughton U.S, District, Times, Democrat, U.S . Department of Justice, Thomson Locations: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania, Chicago, New York

July 13 (Reuters) - A federal jury on Thursday decided that Robert Bowers was eligible for the death penalty for killing 11 worshippers at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, local media reported. Last month, the jury found Bowers, 50, guilty of dozens of federal hate crimes in the trial at the U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania. Federal prosecutors had charged Bowers with 63 counts, including 11 counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. In the final phase of the sentencing portion of the trial, both prosecutors and defense attorneys will have the chance to make arguments on whether Bowers deserves the death penalty. In their arguments in support of making Bowers eligible for the death penalty, prosecutors said that he had the necessary intent and premeditation to qualify for the sentence.

Persons: Robert Bowers, Bowers, Jonathan Allen, Brendan O'Brien, Tim Ahmann, Bill Berkrot Organizations: U.S, Court, KDKA, CBS, Thomson Locations: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, New York, Chicago

☆ Opinion | The Pittsburgh Gunman Didn’t Just Kill 11 Jews. He Killed a Minyan.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Mark Oppenheimer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

After all, what does it mean to obstruct religious practice? In David Bezmozgis’s 2004 short story “Minyan,” Itzik, an elderly immigrant in a building of elderly immigrants, dies. Itzik was a regular at the building’s in-house synagogue; he consistently helped make the minyan. “You want to know what will happen to Herschel?” Zalman replies. He deprived them of the opportunity to practice their religion — what’s more, he obstructed the religious practice of those who depended on the victims’ presence.

Persons: Bowers, —, David Bezmozgis’s, ”, Itzik, Zalman, Herschel, “, ” Zalman, Robert Bowers, Richard Gottfried, Daniel Stein — Organizations: Reconstructionist, Conservative, New

CNN —Robert Bowers, the gunman who killed 11 worshippers at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, was convicted by a federal jury Friday on all 63 charges against him. Bowers was also convicted of 11 counts of hate crimes resulting in death. The shooting unfolded on a day when the synagogue was hosting three congregations, Tree of Life, Dor Hadash and New Light, for weekly Shabbat services. In addition to the 11 killed, two worshippers and four responding police officers were wounded. Before the shooting, Bowers spent years posting about attacks on immigrants and Jewish people on Gab, a small social media platform used by far-right extremists.

Persons: Robert Bowers, Bowers, David Klug Diane Rosenthal, Cecil, David Rosenthal, ‘, ’, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, ” Myers, ” “, ”, Jonathan Greenblatt, that’s, ” Greenblatt, Dan Frankel, “, Frankel, ” Bowers, Robert Bowers David Klug, Robert Colville, Elisa Long, ” Long, Eric Olshan, ” Olshan, Dor Hadash, Andrea Wedner, Rose Mallinger, ’ ”, Mary Hahn, – Organizations: CNN, U.S, Attorney, Defamation League, Pennsylvania, Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Police, Immigrant Aid Society Locations: Maryland, New York

☆ Pittsburgh synagogue attacker found guilty of hate crimes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 16 (Reuters) - A jury on Friday found Robert Bowers guilty of dozens of federal hate crimes for the killing of 11 worshippers at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. Bowers, 50, now faces the penalty phase of his trial at the U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh in which the 12 jurors must weigh whether he deserves the death sentence. Federal prosecutors charged Bowers with 63 counts, including 11 counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. The jury found him guilty on all counts, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's office in Pittsburgh confirmed. All 12 jurors must vote unanimously in order to sentence Bowers to death.

Persons: Robert Bowers, Bowers, Jonathan Allen Organizations: U.S, Court, Thomson Locations: Pittsburgh, New York

☆ Jury Convicts Man in Killing of 11 in Pittsburgh Synagogue
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Campbell Robertson | Jon Moss | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The gunman who killed 11 worshipers in a Pittsburgh synagogue in October 2018 was found guilty on Friday of dozens of federal hate crimes and civil rights offenses, closing the first stage of a trial that may ultimately end in a death sentence. After five hours of deliberations over two days, the jury found the gunman, Robert Bowers, guilty of 63 federal charges, including 11 counts of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. The jury will hear arguments about whether Mr. Bowers, 50, is eligible to be sentenced to death for these crimes. If the jurors decide that he is, they will then decide whether the death sentence should be imposed. These next two phases of the trial are expected to last around a month and a half.

Persons: Robert Bowers, Bowers Locations: Pittsburgh

☆ Jurors Begins Deliberations in First Phase of Pittsburgh Synagogue Trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Campbell Robertson | Jon Moss | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

After three weeks of wrenching testimony, the prosecution and the defense delivered closing arguments on Thursday in the first phase of the federal trial of the man charged with carrying out the deadliest antisemitic attack in the country’s history. Robert Bowers, 50, the man charged in the October 2018 killing of 11 worshipers at a Pittsburgh synagogue, faces the possibility of a death sentence if convicted. The phase of the trial that concluded on Thursday in federal court here was to determine whether Mr. Bowers was guilty, and the outcome of this stage of the proceedings has not been in significant doubt. The question at the heart of the case has long been whether Mr. Bowers, whose charges include 11 counts of killing people because of their religion, would be sentenced to death. If the jury finds him guilty, the penalty he should face will be argued before the jury over the next several weeks.

Persons: Robert Bowers, Bowers Locations: Pittsburgh

☆ Prosecutors Detail Pittsburgh Synagogue Killings in Trial Opening
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Kris Maher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A courtroom sketch of the opening of jury selection in a federal court in Pittsburgh in the trial of Robert Bowers. Photo: Dave Klug/Associated PressPITTSBURGH—Prosecutors seeking the death penalty for the man accused of killing 11 people at a synagogue here in 2018 described a scene of chaos and terror to a jury Tuesday, recounting how each of the victims was shot, many as they tried to hide or protect loved ones.

☆ Prosecutor Recounts a Day of Worship Turned Deadly in a Pittsburgh Synagogue
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Campbell Robertson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The federal trial of the gunman who killed 11 worshipers at a Pittsburgh synagogue, the deadliest antisemitic attack in the nation’s history, began on Tuesday with a minute-by-minute description of how the massacre unfolded on a chilly October morning in 2018. Ms. Song described them greeting other worshipers at the door, chatting casually in the kitchen and sitting in the pews for prayer. She then spoke of the defendant, Robert Bowers, describing his flurry of hate-filled postings on social media and how, at the same moment that the worshipers were gathering for services, he was “making his own preparations to destroy, to kill and to defile.”Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Mr. Bowers, 50. This stage of the trial will take place in two parts. The first, which began Tuesday, concerns guilt; if Mr. Bowers is found guilty, proceedings will follow to determine whether he receives a death sentence.

☆ What to Know as the Tree of Life Massacre Trial Begins
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Campbell Robertson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

On the morning of Oct. 27, 2018, a gunman walked into the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh and killed 11 people who had gathered to worship, the deadliest antisemitic attack in the nation’s history. On Monday, more than four years later, the trial of the man accused of the massacre will begin with jury selection. The trial will take place in two phases, the first concerning guilt and the second on the penalty. Here’s what to know as the Tree of Life trial begins:Who were the victims? The Tree of Life congregation, founded in Pittsburgh more than 150 years ago, and the smaller New Light congregation are both conservative; the third congregation, Dor Hadash, is Reconstructionist, a progressive movement within Judaism.

[1/2] Police officers guard the Tree of Life synagogue following Saturday's shooting at the synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 28, 2018. REUTERS/Aaron JosefczykApril 24 (Reuters) - The man accused of opening fire and killing 11 worshippers in a Pittsburgh synagogue in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history faces a potential death sentence at the end of a federal trial that begins on Monday with jury selection. Robert Bowers, 50, is accused of dozens of charges, including 11 counts of hate crimes resulting in death, in a massacre that unfolded at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018. In seeking the death penalty, federal prosecutors will try to prove aggravating factors in their case against Bowers, including that he substantially planned the attack and that he targeted vulnerable victims. Federal authorities said Bowers entered the synagogue in the city’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood where many residents are Jewish, armed with multiple firearms.

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