The Russian central government does not organize…

The Russian central government does not organize pogroms, as is widely believed; but the anti-Semitic policy that it has carried out from 1881 has made them possible.

Official persecution and harassment of Jews has led the numerous anti-Semites to believe that their violence is legitimate, and their belief is strengthened by the active participation of a few high and many minor officials in fomenting attacks and by the reluctance of the government either to stop pogroms or to punish those responsible for them.