MACON, Ga. — A man was arrested and federally charged on Thursday after mailing an antisemitic postcard to a Macon Rabbi, according to a release from the US Attorney's Office Middle District of Georgia.
31-year-old Ariel Collazo-Ramos of North Carolina is charged with one count of mailing threatening communications. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury on April 9 and was unsealed on May 2.
According to the indictment, Collazo-Ramos allegedly mailed a threatening postcard to Temple Beth Israel Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar in February.
Collazo-Ramos allegedly handwrote a threatening letter that included slogans and images that are offensive to the Jewish community.
Collazo-Ramos was arrested at his home in High Point. If convicted, Collazo-Ramos faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case is being investigated by FBI.
In January, the Georgia House passed House Bill 30. The bill gives anti-semitism a legal definition that would help law enforcement determine whether a certain act is motivated by anti-semitism, according to the law's text.
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Bahar testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee at the time.
"Since my congregation this summer were victims of anti-Semitic activity, and that activity has been going, ongoing since then in several other incidents, which I stated in my testimony, I thought it imperative that we fully endorse and support the efforts of the broader Jewish community to aid law officials in carrying out their duties," Bahar said.
In June 2023, flyers were distributed in Warner Robins and the same hate group protested outside Temple Beth Israel in Macon.
Neighbors called the Bibb County Sheriff's Office, and deputies eventually closed the protest down. The group had a blow-up doll representing a gay Jewish man hanging by the neck from a street sign.
Mayor Lester Miller said the sign was county property, so the deputies asked the group to remove the doll and leave.
Later in the month, a group of Macon business owners, religious groups, and individuals showed up outside Temple Beth Israel in Macon to show their support for the synagogue. People held signs with slogans like "We are all in this together," and "Stop the hate."
In a show of further support, the Macon community and leaders from across the state gathered at Mulberry United Methodist Church to support the Jewish community and condemn hatred.
Around 900 people attended the Service of Love and Unity, according to the Rev. Ted Goshorn with Mulberry United Methodist.
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff attended the service and thanked all the leaders present for the defense of the Jewish community -- both on the weekend of the hateful demonstration and for attending the unity service.
"This right here is what makes America great. This is the community in Macon-Bibb County and Middle Georgia saying that we understand and we believe in and we will fight for and we are committed to the values that all are created equal, that we are out of many one, and that we are one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all," he said.
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After the session where House Bill 30 passed, Georgia Lt. Governor Burt Jones issued a statement of support:
"Today and every day, I stand with Georgia’s Jewish community,” said Jones. “I condemn the wave of anti-Semitic acts and speech we have seen in our country and throughout Georgia communities. These horrific acts are unacceptable and this hatred and hostile way of thinking will not be tolerated. I am proud of the Senate for prioritizing House Bill 30 and encourage the House to take the necessary steps for this bill to be sent to Governor Kemp quickly.”
Dov Wilker, the Atlanta regional director for the American Jewish Committee, also issued a statement commending the bill's passing.
"The IHRA definition offers common-sense guidance to help people understand what is antisemitism, so they are better equipped to recognize it when it happens and help fight it. At a time when anti-Jewish hate has reached record levels in this nation, today’s Senate vote is an important step toward affording new ways to learn about the world’s oldest hatred."