Gov. Scott Walker is promising additional state security help for a Jewish community center in suburban Milwaukee. There have been three bomb threats in the last six weeks, at the Harry and Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center in Whitefish Bay.
After touring the facility Wednesday, the Republican governor said state assistance is coming, in the way of a stepped-up state Department of Justice probe.
“The Division of Criminal Investigation can be helpful in that regard. It’s one where we’ll look at the potential of whether or not there’s additional bodies physically that can help,” Walker said. He added the state may make a financial contribution to aid with security.
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Walker also said the country needs to be aggressive in dealing with potential violence against Jewish community centers nationwide.
“I think we need to as aggressive as possible, as a nation, not just for those in the JCCs, not just for those in the Jewish community, but as Americans, certainly people in Wisconsin, we want to make sure everyone’s safe,” Walker said.
Walker said he may provide specifics on state help later this week. He declined to speculate on why the threats against Jewish centers have increased. Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is co-sponsoring federal legislation that would provide $20 million to protect faith-based community centers, and double the federal penalty for making bomb threats.
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