As tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, several American officials have recently been threatened with death, including Max Miller, a federal congressman from Ohio. While on his way to work, Miller was harassed by a man waving a Palestinian flag who then proceeded to issue death threats to Miller and his family. As a Jewish American with close ties to Israel, Miller has reported the incident to the authorities.
In another incident, Zohran Mamdani, a state assemblyman and mayoral candidate in New York City, also received similar death threats, including one that mentioned a bomb threat. Law enforcement has initiated a hate crime investigation into the matter.
These incidents are the latest examples of hate crimes targeting Muslims, Arabs, Jews, Israelis, Palestinians, and other ethnicities within the United States since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict.
Republican Congressman Miller took to social media platform X to share his experience, stating that he was harassed by a man waving a Palestinian flag while driving in Rocky River on Thursday, June 19. Miller expressed his concerns about the escalating hate in the country, emphasizing that his and his family’s lives were threatened before the perpetrator displayed a Palestinian flag and left the scene.
“I have reported this incident to the Capitol Police and local law enforcement. We know the identity of the individual, and he will face legal consequences. As a Marine, a proud Jewish American, and a staunch supporter of Israel, I will not back down in the face of such blatant anti-Jewish violence,” Miller declared.
Miller has characterized the incident as an act of anti-Semitism, which has drawn condemnation from senior Democratic leaders in Congress.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar all denounced the attack on Miller and his family in a joint statement, expressing their strongest condemnation. They noted the unacceptable rise in political violence in the United States and emphasized the need for Congress to take decisive action to ensure the safety of all representatives.
On Thursday morning, Miller contacted the police to report the road rage incident and personally submitted a written statement to the police station at 2 PM Eastern Time.
In another incident, the New York City Police Department received reports on Wednesday, June 18, at 9:45 AM, indicating that Democratic state assemblyman and mayoral candidate Mamdani had received four threatening voicemail messages on different dates, containing anti-Muslim remarks from unidentified callers.
The New York police confirmed that the case is under investigation, and no arrests have been made yet. It was reported that a man had threatened to bomb Mamdani’s vehicle. Mamdani has not yet issued a response to the threats.