Internet shows support for Emily Austin as Jewish journalist hires bodyguard after receiving rape, death threats
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Israeli activist and journalist Emily Austin garnered support from netizens as she revealed that she has been forced to hire a bodyguard in New York City after she apparently received rape and death threats from pro-Palestinians.
The 22-year-old sports reporter decided to tighten her security in the wake of growing pro-Palestine rhetoric in New York and across the world following the brutal October 7 attack, where Hamas launched nearly 2,000 missiles on Israel along with dozens of ground attacks.
Several pro-Palestinian protesters blocked the Brooklyn Bridge over the weekend as part of a larger campaign against Israel. The FBI is also looking into violent cyber threats against Jewish students at Cornell University, as per Fox News.
Earlier this week, a group of nearly 50 Jewish students were apparently forced to hide in a locked library as the protesting mob chanted "free Palestine" and banged on the doors at Cooper Union College.
Emily Austin opens up about receiving rape and death threats
On Monday, October 30, Emily Austin appeared on 'Fox and Friends', where she revealed that she has been receiving threats mostly from accounts active in New York.
"I'd be lying to you if I told you I didn't get a bodyguard for the next, who knows how long. I got a bodyguard because of my appearances on TV," said the journalist.
She added, "People are sending me my address. People are sending me rape threats, death threats. At first, I thought, 'You know what? They're all in Gaza,' but they're not. I looked into these accounts. They are here in New York."
Austin continued by claiming that those sending her death threats were "Iranian refugees that grew up hating Jews in Iran."
"I looked into the city where it was taking place. It's right next to the border of Iran. So it's very likely that these were Iranian refugees who grew up hating Jews in Iran and switched dictatorships. Now they're under a Russian dictator, and now they hate Jews, and it's being protected," asserted the 22-year-old.
Co-host Lawrence Jones questioned Austin if she feels safe as a Jew in America, given the number of antisemitic rhetoric and demonstrations, to which she responded, "No, I absolutely don't feel safe. And our ‘defund the police’ initiative definitely doesn't make me feel better here in New York," she responded, as per Fox News.
Sports reporter Emily Austin has revealed that some of the people who made the threats also knew her address.https://t.co/8LwpTUlTbB
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) October 31, 2023
Additionally, she bemoaned the "misinformation" that many Gen Z Americans were exposed to, most of which she attributed to college instructors and social media sites like TikTok.
"Having been in college one year ago, I can tell you if I gave them a map, and I told them to point out Israel versus the West Bank versus any country in the Middle East, quite frankly, they have no idea…," stated Austin.
Internet shows support for Emily Austin
Soon after Emily Austin's claims of receiving rape and death threats surfaced, netizens started to show their support.
One wrote, "Despicable and so unequivocally wrong. That this Administration is allowing this is horrific!"
"This is beyond comprehension, never would I have thought I'd see people in the United States acting like this and do you think Gods gonna bless a country like this," said another.
A person stated, "This is terrifying. I cannot understand why people are so evil," while another user remarked, "I can't believe people in America are acting this way. It breaks my heart."
"Emily Austin is a nice person and, despite the threats sent to her community, remains calm, composed and peaceful. She is an example of what tolerance should be at all times," added one more.
A user expressed, "U.S. Government should take this very seriously. The person must be sent to jail, this agitation is not acceptable in U.S."