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ADL records spike in antisemitic incidents during Israel-Hamas war
RELEASED. SHARMAN, MARIA AND ED. WE’RE HERE IN NEWTON WHERE A WALL WITH PICTURES OF HOSTAGES TAKEN BY HAMAS THAT WAS VANDALIZED LAST MONTH. IT’S SINCE BEEN REDEDICATED, BUT THE ADL SAYS MASSACHUSETTS HAD THE FIFTH HIGHEST NUMBER OF ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS IN THE COUNTRY. A SWASTIKA DRAWN ON A WALKWAY AT THE WEST NATICK MBTA STATION LAST YEAR. TWO SWASTIKAS SPRAY PAINTED ON THE ROAD IN WAYLAND. DISTURBING EXAMPLES OF THE RECORD HATE THAT HAD HIT MASSACHUSETTS AND NEW ENGLAND IN 2023. WHAT WE’RE SEEING IS AN ASTRAL MICHAEL INCREASE IN ANTI-SEMITIC HATE INCIDENTS, THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE’S ANNUAL AUDIT REVEALED A 205% INCREASE IN ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS IN NEW ENGLAND, AND A 189% INCREASE IN MASSACHUSETTS. BOTH NUMBERS OUTPACE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, THE REPORT SHOWS. LAST YEAR, MASSACHUSETTS ALONE SAW 440 ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENTS OF ASSAULT, HARASSMENT AND VANDALISM IN NEW ENGLAND, 623 ANTI SEMITIC INCIDENTS OF ASSAULT, HARASSMENT AND VANDALISM. WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW IS PART OF A TREND. I’M NOT SURPRISED THAT THERE’S A HUGE SPIKE IN ANTI-SEMITISM. SENATOR CYNTHIA STONE, CREEM COSPONSORED A BILL TO CLOSE A LOOPHOLE TO LET RENTERS BE PAID FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY HATE CRIMES. SHE ALSO WANTS TO INCREASE STATE GRANTS FOR SECURITY AT CHURCHES AND SYNAGOGUES. THE ADL, NOW CALLING ON THE GOVERNOR FOR HELP. WE ARE CALLING UPON THE NATION’S GOVERNORS, INCLUDING GOVERNOR MAURA HEALEY, WHO’S BEEN A GREAT ALLY TO THIS COMMUNITY, TO IMPLEMENT A STATEWIDE STRATEGY TO ADDRESS ANTI-SEMITISM. NOW, THE ADL SAYS IT’S ALSO SEEING AN UPTICK IN WHITE SUPREMACIST PROPAGANDA AND ALSO BOMB THREATS. THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE TELLING US THAT SHE HAS DELIVERED ON FUNDING FOR EDUCATION REGARDING HATE CRIMES AND CERTAINLY HAS STARTED A NEW STATE POLICE UNIT
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ADL New England records spike in antisemitic incidents during Israel-Hamas war
Updated: 4:47 PM EDT Apr 16, 2024
More than half of the antisemitic incidents recorded by the Anti-Defamation League last year in five northeastern states, including Massachusetts, occurred after the start of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.Data from the ADL’s Boston-based New England division indicates a total of 623 incidents of antisemitic assault, harassment and vandalism across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont during 2023. That’s an increase of 205% over the total from 2022. Of those incidents, ADL said 351 occurred after Oct. 7, when Hamas and Islamic Jihad, two militant groups backed by Iran, carried out a cross-border attack that killed 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped 250 others. Israel responded with an offensive in Gaza that has caused widespread devastation and killed over 33,800 people, according to local health officials.ADL reported that 440 of the regional incidents during 2023 occurred in Massachusetts, the fifth-highest total for any state in the nation. A total of 127 cities and towns in the state saw at least one incident, up from 71 towns in 2022.Another 52 occurred in Rhode Island, 35 in New Hampshire, and 53 were reported in Maine. “What we’re seeing is an astronomical increase in antisemitic hate incidents,” said Sara Colb, deputy director of ADL New England.State Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem cosponsored a bill to close a loophole and allow renters to be paid for damage caused by hate crimes. She also wants to increase state grants for security at churches and synagogues.”We’ve experienced in our own community desecration of pictures of hostages, ripping down signs, throwing rocks in people’s windows, accosting rabbis in a synagogue,” said Creem. Nationally, ADL recorded 8,873 incidents in 2023, setting a new record. Of those, 5,204 occurred after Oct. 7. The organization is calling on the nation’s governors to take action “The numbers are simply stunning. We have observed a significant rise of incidents, followed by a surge, followed now by a tsunami,” said Rabbi Ron Fish, ADL New England Interim Region Director. According to the State House News Service, leaders of faith-based schools called on Beacon Hill lawmakers last week to support increased funding for nonprofit security grants amid rising hate crimes and antisemitism. Gov. Maura Healey proposed funding the state program at $1.5 million in her fiscal 2025 budget proposal, while the House’s pitch calls for $3 million.
BOSTON —
More than half of the antisemitic incidents recorded by the Anti-Defamation League last year in five northeastern states, including Massachusetts, occurred after the start of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
Data from the ADL’s Boston-based New England division indicates a total of 623 incidents of antisemitic assault, harassment and vandalism across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont during 2023. That’s an increase of 205% over the total from 2022.
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Of those incidents, ADL said 351 occurred after Oct. 7, when Hamas and Islamic Jihad, two militant groups backed by Iran, carried out a cross-border attack that killed 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped 250 others. Israel responded with an offensive in Gaza that has caused widespread devastation and killed over 33,800 people, according to local health officials.
ADL reported that 440 of the regional incidents during 2023 occurred in Massachusetts, the fifth-highest total for any state in the nation. A total of 127 cities and towns in the state saw at least one incident, up from 71 towns in 2022.
Another 52 occurred in Rhode Island, 35 in New Hampshire, and 53 were reported in Maine.
“What we’re seeing is an astronomical increase in antisemitic hate incidents,” said Sara Colb, deputy director of ADL New England.
State Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem cosponsored a bill to close a loophole and allow renters to be paid for damage caused by hate crimes. She also wants to increase state grants for security at churches and synagogues.
“We’ve experienced in our own community desecration of pictures of hostages, ripping down signs, throwing rocks in people’s windows, accosting rabbis in a synagogue,” said Creem.
Nationally, ADL recorded 8,873 incidents in 2023, setting a new record. Of those, 5,204 occurred after Oct. 7.
The organization is calling on the nation’s governors to take action
“The numbers are simply stunning. We have observed a significant rise of incidents, followed by a surge, followed now by a tsunami,” said Rabbi Ron Fish, ADL New England Interim Region Director.
According to the State House News Service, leaders of faith-based schools called on Beacon Hill lawmakers last week to support increased funding for nonprofit security grants amid rising hate crimes and antisemitism. Gov. Maura Healey proposed funding the state program at $1.5 million in her fiscal 2025 budget proposal, while the House’s pitch calls for $3 million.
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