By Rabbi Rachel Esserman

Political discussions at work often open with me sending someone a provocative quote from an article/e-mail I’ve read or a link to an online article of interest. The reply sometimes leads me to question my first thought. The most recent example led me to ponder the purpose of the press and how that affects the Jewish community.
The article – “No Jews allowed: White supremacists are building a segregated community in Arkansas, but is it legal?” – appeared on the Forward’s website. It noted that Return to the Land, a white supremacist group, bought 160 acres in Arkansas and, according to the article, “Jews and non-whites are explicitly banned from membership.” Both my coworker and I agreed on the fact that this is awful. Yet, she wondered whether the Forward should be publicizing the group’s activities.
I answered, as I often do, with a question: Does raising awareness of the group raise their profile and bring people to its cause, or will the attention bring legal action to stop its activities? That’s why the press can be either a blessing or a curse. Some people will be pleased to see that others agree with their antisemitic and racist ideas, although the writer in the Forward clearly opposes them. On the other hand, bringing more publicity to the group might force the Arkansas government to enforce the laws against discrimination. Of course, a third possibility might occur. If legal action is taken against the group, they might sue the government for opposing what they see as a legitimate, personal choice: the desire to live a Jew-free, Black-free, people-of-color-free life. 
Before this year, I would have expected U.S. courts to enforce the rule of law, including those that forbid discriminating against racial and religious minorities. But, currently, some of our courts are ignoring the rule of law by permitting the arrest and deportation of people without due process. Due process is a fundamental part of American law and ignoring it risks destroying our legal system. In case you think that is not a Jewish issue, wait until it’s used as an excuse to target Jews. If you think that won’t happen, you’re only fooling yourself.
While people might dismiss this small group in Arkansas as inconsequential, please note that the group plans to expand and open new settlements across the country. I agree this is probably a pipedream, but any success they have will encourage those who are antisemitic to hold tight to their Jew-hatred. In fact, it will make it easier for everyone to express antisemitic and racist views, something that has become more permissible since the election of Donald Trump as president. We’ve seen antisemitism increase during the past few years, since it has become acceptable to spout statements that would once have been condemned by politicians worried about the Jewish vote. How do I know about these antisemitic voices and actions? They appear in e-mails I get from news websites, which thrive on exciting, click-bate stories. The more violent and outlandish, the more clicks. 
What is the purpose of the press? It should provide us with unbiased information about important events occurring in our country and the world so we can make educated decisions. Does doing so sometimes mean the press publicizes ideas we oppose? Unfortunately, that happens; sometimes a group or a person whose views should be ignored can become big news. That exposure encourages people who otherwise would not feel free to express similar opinions in public for fear of censure. I don’t see a completely satisfying solution because we need to be informed or our system of government will fail. That’s the price we pay for a free press.