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Sacha Roytman, CEO of the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), issued the following statement in response to the arrest of a suspect in the Beth Israel Congregation arson incident in Jackson, Mississippi.
“The swift arrest in the arson attack on Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, demonstrates what decisive action looks like. We thank the FBI, Jackson Fire Department, and all law enforcement agencies involved for their rapid response and professionalism in bringing a suspect into custody.”
“This is not the first time Beth Israel has been targeted. In 1967, the KKK bombed this synagogue because its congregation stood for justice during the civil rights movement. That this sacred space, a beacon of resilience for more than a century and a half, was attacked again is a stark reminder that antisemitism is not a relic of the past. It is the same hatred, revived.”
“We stand with Beth Israel Congregation and the entire local Jewish community, and with Jackson Mayor John Horhn, who has made clear that hate has no place in his city. Law enforcement’s quick work sends a clear message: attacks on Jewish communities will be met with the full force of justice. The congregation’s determination to rebuild, supported by churches and neighbors across Jackson, reflects the strength that has sustained Jewish life through every generation. This fight demands more than sympathy. It demands action, accountability, and moral courage from every level of government and every community.”
The suspect was identified on Monday as 19-year-old Stephen Spencer Pittman. An FBI affidavit said Pittman — a resident of Madison County, north of Jackson — targeted the synagogue due to its “Jewish ties.”
In 1967 this synagogue in Mississippi was burned to ashes by the KKK.
Today, in 2026 it was attacked again on Shabbat, burning sacred Torah scrolls and holocaust survivor scrolls.
Different decades, same antisemitic hate. pic.twitter.com/gMmRRdqQsI
— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) January 11, 2026
