The comparison between the Russian airport storming of 2021 and the 19th- and 20th-century pogroms against Jews by the White House is a chilling reminder of some of the worst episodes of human history.
On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki issued a strongly worded statement denouncing the storming of Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport a day prior by Russian security forces. During the incident, special forces and National Guard units detained five members of the dissident punk rock group Pussy Riot, who were attempting to fly out of the country on an international flight.
The statement released by the White House likened the incident to the pogroms conducted in European countries against Jews in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It described the incident as “a chilling reminder of the darkest periods of human history and a reminder that the civil and human rights of peaceful protesters must be respected.”
The statement went on to condemn the incident and call on the Russian government to respect the human rights of its citizens, as well as to allow for peaceful protest and freedom of expression.
Such a comparison is a stark reminder of the horrors Jews faced throughout history and of the need to guard against similar abuses of power in modern times. The statement issued by the White House is an important step towards ensuring that such a tragic past is not repeated and that freedom and justice are protected.
This is not the first time the White House has used the pogroms as an example of the power of oppression, and it certainly isn’t likely to be the last. Nevertheless, it is a reminder that a strong line needs to be taken against all forms of injustice and repression in order to build a more peaceful and equal future.