A Brooklyn public defender, Lucas Gomez, was terminated after making antisemitic comments on social media that appeared to call for violence against Israelis. The post, which included a reference to ‘firing squads,’ was widely condemned by legal watchdog groups and the organization he worked for, Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS). A spokesperson for StopAntisemitism, a watchdog group, stated that the comment was ‘indefensible’ and called for the revocation of Gomez’s law license.
Gomez responded to a query about the war in Gaza by writing, ‘No one needs to ask this question when firing squads exist,’ according to screenshots shared on X by StopAntisemit, a group dedicated to combating antisemitism. In an apology to Fox News Digital, Gomez called the comment ‘indefensible’ and attributed it to ‘misplaced emotions’ related to the conflict in Palestine. He also stated that the post did not reflect his character or his organization’s values.
BDS confirmed his termination in a public statement, calling the comment ‘hateful’ and stating it was ‘antithetical to everything BDS stands for.’ The organization emphasized its commitment to justice and equality, with Executive Director Lisa Schreibersdorf noting that Gomez’s post was an ‘affront’ to their mission.
StopAntisemitism highlighted the broader context of rising antisemitism online since Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre, stating that such rhetoric has become more normalized over time. They emphasized the importance of calling out antisemitism and exposing hatred in society. The organization also noted that they had previously featured another New York City public defender on their platform, Victoria Ruiz, who resigned after being caught tearing down hostages posters for Israel and Hamas.