Comedian and actor Michael Rapaport is concerned about the lack of vocal support from non-Jewish individuals in defense of Jewish people amidst multiple violent attacks targeting them.
In a recent podcast episode released on Tuesday, Rapaport urged Jewish individuals to stay vigilant due to the increasing antisemitic violence in the nation, noting the apparent hesitance of others to stand up for them.
“I’m telling you something, Jewish people, the cavalry ain’t coming. The cavalry is not coming for us. They don’t give a f—,” he said.
Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack in Israel, and the loud anti-Israel protests that erupted on numerous US college campuses afterward, the comedian has emerged as a notable advocate for Israel and the Jewish community.
Rapaportâs latest words come after suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman allegedly set pro-Jewish protesters on fire in Boulder, Colorado using a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails.
Soliman, an Egyptian national who overstayed his travel visa, was arrested on Sunday following the attack on demonstrators protesting Hamas continuing to hold hostages in Gaza. Twelve protesters were injured.
Before his arrest, the suspect was caught on video yelling “free Palestine” and other anti-Israel slogans during the attack. Soliman later told police he wanted to kill “all Zionist people.”
The attack comes less than two weeks after two Israeli diplomats were gunned down outside a Jewish event in Washington, DC.
Rapaport expressed frustration at having spoken up for multiple marginalized communities and feeling as though other groups have failed to speak up for Jewish communities now under threat.
“I have spoken out on behalf of Black Lives Matter, George Floyd. I have spoken out on behalf on womenâs rights. I called [Supreme Court Justice] Clarence Thomas âUncle Clarence.â Iâve spoken on abortion rights. Every single thing under the sun on social media in the last, I donât know, ten years â letâs say ten years â I have spoken out,” he said.
“I put a f—— black square up there like a f—— a—— during Black Lives Matter,” he continued, mentioning the viral social media post made in solidarity with that movement in 2020.
“Donât you feel like an a—— now for putting up a black square during Black Lives Matter when nobody is coming and saying anything on our behalf?” he asked. “Nobody is coming and saying anything on our behalf, Jewish people, Zionist people. Theyâre not calling, theyâre not texting, theyâre not tweeting. Theyâre not leaving comments. Theyâre not DMing [Direct Messaging]. Theyâre not doing s—.”
The comedian added, “It’s sad, it’s frustrating. You feel used. You feel manipulated. You feel like a sucker. I feel like it too!”
