Jewish Florida Mayor receives death threat

An Orthodox Jewish Mayor in Florida is in FBI protection after receiving neo-Nazi death threats against him and his family.

Shlomo Danzinger, the Republican mayor of the town of Surfside, has been placed in 24-hour police protection, along with his wife and four children, after receiving a death threat from an unnamed individual. 

On 4th August 2023, the Mayor received an e-mail which claimed to represent “The Fourth Reich”, a neo-Nazi movement which supports the reincarnation of the Nazi Party and its genocidal ideology.

Mr Danzinger told local news: “Essentially, the e-mail said that perhaps it would be appropriate for the writer to come by my house and teach my family a lesson.” 

Upon receipt of the e-mail, Mr Danzinger immediately sent it to local law enforcement which determined that it was a credible threat. The issue was then sent to the FBI, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, which collectively decided that the most suitable course of action was to place Mr Danzinger and his family under police protection in their home until the threat is diminished. 

Mr Danzinger is the first Jewish mayor of Surfside and has stated that, as the threat is antisemitic in nature, he intends to prosecute the perpetrator if given the opportunity. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.