Federal Arson Charge Highlights Failure to Protect Historic Synagogue from Hate

In the early hours of January 10, a devastating fire ripped through the Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi — a synagogue with a troubled history as a target of racially and religiously motivated attacks since its Civil Rights Movement involvement. The suspect, 19-year-old Stephen Spencer Pittman, pleaded not guilty to federal arson charges this week but faces overwhelming evidence pointing to a hate-driven attack. This is not an isolated incident; it’s part of an alarming trend where sacred American institutions are left vulnerable to extremist violence. The courtroom testimony revealed disturbing signs ignored too long: Pittman’s own family reported...