A Neo-Nazis man assaulted a Jewish man on the anniversary of the October 7th massacre.
By Rachel Avraham
The Jerusalem Post reported that a Jewish man in Missoula, Montana was assaulted by a Neo-Nazi on the anniversary of the October 7th massacre. According to the report, the suspect, Michael Cain, 29, got into an argument with the victim, who had a visible tattoo of the Star of David on his forearm. The Jerusalem Post added that Cain asked the victim about his tattoo and allegedly identified himself as a believer in the teachings of Nazism.
When the victim, who told Cain he was Jewish, then asked Cain to show him any Nazi-related tattoos on his body, Cain allegedly kicked and punched the victim, who was seated on the ground, the Jerusalem Post added.
Missoula police then responded to the Poverello Center, a local homeless shelter where the assault took place, and later apprehended Cain, who had fled the scene, the Jerusalem Post reported.
While en route to the local detention center, Cain disclosed to the arresting officer that he was a member of the “4th Reich” and said that while he did not attack the victim because of his Jewish identity, he would have if he had been more adamant about his beliefs, according to court documents obtained by local news outlet KGVO.
Cain was charged with a felony. According to the Times of Israel, he was charged with malicious intimidation or harassment relating to civil or human rights and his bond was set at $50,000. The Times of Israel reported that Montana is home to just under 1,500 Jews out of a general population of over 1.1 million. In 2023, the Anti-Defamation League recorded just 21 antisemitic incidents in the state.
Recently, the Anti-Defamation League called upon the governor of Montana to act against antisemitism: “Behind these alarming statistics are our neighbors, colleagues, and friends experiencing trauma simply for being Jewish. We need Governor Gianforte to act now. The Governor holds the key to creating meaningful change by uniting schools, businesses, and government agencies against hatred through a comprehensive statewide strategy. This unified approach would ensure Jewish students can learn without harassment, Jewish workers can perform their jobs without discrimination, and law enforcement prioritizes hate crime investigations and prevention. Join ADL in urging Governor Gianforte to protect Jewish Montana residents’ right to live, work, and worship without fear. Make your voice heard today and stand against antisemitism in our state.”
Interestingly, CAIR, which represents the Muslim community in the United States, also condemned this antisemitic attack. “This alleged antisemitic neo-Nazi attack is yet another disturbing reminder of the growing threat posed by white supremacist and neo-Nazi ideologies,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “We stand in solidary with the Jewish community – and all other minority communities – in Montana and nationwide as bias-motivated bias violence is unfortunately increasing around the country.”
