MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Pittsburgh shooting last weekend has left a resonating feeling among Jewish communities around the world.
It was the worst antisemitic attack in U.S history, and it’s effects are being felt here in Medicine Hat.
“We reflect so we obviously mourn the losses of innocent families,” Dina Jubrak, a Medicine Hat resident.
Dina Jubrak is a local Jewish resident who teaches Hebrew classes, she says the shooting brought back the memory of antisemitic scare in Medicine Hat a couple of months ago.
A 35 year old man was arrested for allegedly passing money stamped with hate markings directed towards unnamed persons of the Jewish faith.
When police searched the suspects home, they seized four firearms, over 12,000 rounds of ammunition, and white supremacy documents.
Jubrak says the whole situation was unsettling.
“I think we can’t even really grasp it, it’s really sad,” says Jubrak. “But here in Medicine Hat, the police did step ahead and they found the guy with the weapons and the bullets ahead of time.”
Loki Hulgaard is facing 14 charges, including incite hatred in public and is scheudled to be back in court next week.
Despite the arrest, Dina’s students were uneasy with the situation.
Especially because the class was taught at the Library, a place where Dina says the accused frequented.
“Most of my class dropped out because of the uncomfortable situation,” says Dubrak. “People got nervous.”
The class ended up being moved to a more secure location inside the Saamis Immigration building.
And now, after seeing the actions of Robert Bowers, the alleged Pittsburgh shooter, Dina says the antisemitic threats from a couple of months ago seem far too real.
She adds that she’ll continue to bring a voice to a group of people who are so often targeted, a continue teaching her class, regardless of any attacks.
