In the wake of a horrific terror attack on Israel that left hundreds of people dead over the weekend, prominent voices from across the political spectrum expressed unwavering support for Israel.
One such statement came from the Philadelphia 76ers, which shared a social media message of solidarity on Sunday.
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 8, 2023
Reporter Jackson Frank, who had recently joined the staff of Philly Voice to cover the 76ers, responded to the message with a post of his own, declaring: “This post sucks! Solidarity with Palestine always.”
He has since deleted the pro-Palestine post, but it cost him his job.
“Mr. Frank is no longer employed by PhillyVoice.com as of today,” confirmed Hal Donnelly, the news outlet’s CEO.
While there have been anti-Israel protests in the U.S. and around the world that included celebrations of the attack by members of Hamas, most statements by American officials have expressed horror over the brutal tactics of the terrorists involved.
“In this moment of heartbreak, the American people stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israelis,” President Joe Biden declared this week “We remember the pain of being attacked by terrorists at home, and Americans across the country stand united against these evil acts that have once more claimed innocent American lives. It is an outrage. And we will continue to show the world that the American people are unwavering in our resolve to oppose terrorism in all forms.”
Republicans seeking their party’s nomination to take on Biden in next year’s general election also weighed in on the tragedy — including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who chided Biden for waiting hours to respond to the attack.
During a campaign event in Iowa, former President Donald Trump cited his foreign policy achievements as a reason for voters to give him another term in the White House.
“Sadly, American taxpayer dollars helped fund these attacks, which many reports are saying came from the Biden administration,” he said. “We brought so much peace to the Middle East through the Abraham Accords, only to see Biden whittle it away at a far more rapid pace than anyone thought possible. Here we go again.”
