Don’t let the State Department become a haven for an anti-Semitic white supremacist.
A group of 70 State Dept. employees sent an unprecedented letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, calling on him to remove “an openly anti-Semitic department employee who continues to have a home in our midst.”
For several years, Fritz Berggren has operated a website, bloodandfaith.com, which features articles, videos and podcasts denouncing Jews and the LGBTQ community. He has been especially critical of what he describes as “Judaized churches” and calls for the creation of “Christian Nation-States.”
The State Dept. staffers cited one particular post that crossed the line from free speech to incitement and noted a separate incident in which a swastika was carved into one of the department’s elevators.
“While there is no evidence that Berggren is behind the swastika carved into the Department elevator, his continued employment with seemingly no consequences sends a message of impunity that has undoubtedly contributed to the atmosphere in which someone would dare to do such a thing,” the letter said.
Berggren admits his views are controversial but has made clear he has no intention of apologizing.
Meanwhile, the State Department confirmed that Breggren remains employed but hasn’t commented on his security clearance.
“The Department should not wait for Berggren to target Jewish employees in the workplace, potentially with violence, before removing him. The security clearance process is meant to assess an employee’s suitability for continued employment with the Department. There is no universe in which Berggren should qualify as suitable,” the letter said.
Blinken acknowledged receiving the letter, but hasn’t indicated what measures, if any, he intends to take with Berggren.
Berggren’s views reflect poorly on the American values the State Department represent to the world and also contribute to a toxic and intimidating mood. Anti-Semitism must have no place in the U.S. government.
Demand Secretary of State Antony Blinken fire Fritz Berggren
Contact Secretary of State Antony Blinken by calling 1-202-647-4000 or by tweeting him at @secblinken.
You can also tweet State Dept. spokesman Ned Price at @statedeptspox.
