SAN DIEGO (SDJW) –The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported on Monday that hate crimes are on the increase in the United States, prompting quick reaction from a variety of Jewish organizations. Here is alphabetical order are news releases from some of those organization on the FBI report and related topics.
Anti-Defamation League — ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) today called on Congress and law enforcement agencies across the U.S. to improve data collection and reporting of hate crimes in response to newly released FBI data for 2019. The data reveals a harrowing trend of increasing hate crimes being reported in the United States, even as fewer law enforcement agencies provided data to the FBI.
The FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics Act (HCSA) report reveals that 2019 was the deadliest year on record with 51 hate crime murders – a 113-percent increase over the previous record of 24 set in 2018. Total hate crime incidents rose to 7,314, marking the fourth increase in the past five years. After declining in 2018, religion-based hate crimes increased by 7 percent, with 63 percent of the total number of reported religion-based hate crimes directed at Jews and Jewish institutions.
“When one individual is targeted by a hate crime, it hurts the whole community—that’s why people are feeling vulnerable and afraid,” said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. “We urge Congress to immediately pass the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act to improve hate crime training, prevention, reporting and best practices.”
For 2019, the FBI reported:
- Race-based hate crimes remained the most common type of hate crime, as has been the case every year since the FBI began reporting hate crime data nearly three decades ago. Constituting over 50 percent of all hate crimes, race-based hate crimes underscore the importance of the national conversation aimed at countering systemic anti-Black racism.
- A 14-percent increase in anti-Jewish hate crimes, from 835 in 2018 to 953 in 2019; 63 percent of the total reported religion-based crimes were directed against Jews and Jewish institutions.
- Anti-Hispanic hate crimes rose nearly 9 percent, the fourth straight year of escalating numbers. This is a trend not unrelated to the escalation of anti-immigrant rhetoric, bigotry, and dehumanization in the public discourse.
- After a 41-percent increase in 2018, hate crimes targeting individuals based on gender identity rose another 18 percent last year.
The increase in reported hate crimes comes despite the fact that, for the second straight year, the number of law enforcement agencies providing data to the FBI has declined. The FBI’s annual report has consistently provided the most comprehensive snapshot of bias-motivated criminal activity in the United States, but there has long existed a reporting gap that underrepresents the true number of hate crimes that occur.
The FBI’s report is based on voluntary local law enforcement reporting to the Bureau. In 2019, 86 percent of participating agencies didn’t report a single hate crime to the FBI, including at least 71 cities with populations over 100,000. Just over 2,000, or 14 percent, of the more than 15,000 participating agencies actively reported at least one hate crime.
“The total severity of the impact and damage caused by hate crimes cannot be fully measured without complete participation in the FBI’s data collection process,” Greenblatt said. “We are working with our partners to improve hate crime data reporting. While some of the increase in 2019 may be the product of better reporting in some jurisdictions, it is critical to improve training at local law enforcement agencies across the country. We also need to remove the barriers that too often prevent people in marginalized communities – the individuals most likely to suffer hate crimes – from reporting hate-based incidents in the first instance. In this pivotal moment in our national conversation about the importance of justice for communities of color, religious minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community, we must make combating hate crimes a top priority.”
ADL has updated its interactive hate crime map to reflect the most recent FBI data. The map includes links to every hate crime law on the books in the U.S. and FBI hate crime data from 2004-2019 for all 50 states and for cities with more than 100,000 residents. The map gives users the ability to explore hate crime laws, as well as hate crime data, broken down by targeted, protected characteristics at the national, statewide, and city level.
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Jewish United Fund of Chicago et al. — The University of Illinois, in coordination with the Jewish community, today announced commitments to address the alarming increase in anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist harassment and discrimination on its campus. Jewish United Fund Chicago, Illini Hillel, Hillel International, Illini Chabad, Arnold & Porter, and the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law issued the following joint statement:
“We thank UIUC Chancellor Robert Jones for joining with us in issuing this statement today recognizing as ‘unacceptable’ the anti-Semitic harassment Jewish students at UIUC have experienced for years and committing that ‘the university must do more.’ The Chancellor’s validation of these students’ painful experiences is significant. We particularly appreciate the Chancellor’s acknowledgement of certain key points, e.g.:
–‘For many Jewish students, Zionism is an integral part of their identity and their ethnic and ancestral heritage. These students have the right to openly express identification with Israel. The university will safeguard the abilities of these students, as well as all students, to participate in university-sponsored activities free from discrimination and harassment.’
–‘We deplore anti-Semitic incidents on campus, including those that demonize or delegitimize Jewish and pro-Israel students or compare them to Nazis. This subjects them to double standards that are not applied to others.’
–‘All Jewish students, including those who identify with Israel or Jewish campus organizations, should be able to participate in campus activities aimed at fighting racism and achieving social justice.’
–‘[T]he university is committed to complying with applicable federal, state and local antidiscrimination laws as a state and federally funded institution.
“This statement and the commitment it demonstrates is important, however, it is only a first step. It pledges the university to adhere to its legal obligations to respond to anti-Semitism as it manifests itself today at the University of Illinois. In particular, the university properly recognizes that ‘anti-Semitic forms of anti-Zionism, and other forms of discrimination have no place at this university.’ The next steps will involve real work, including, among others, focused and regularly recurring educational programming regarding anti-Semitism, review and revision of practices and procedures, and the creation of an Advisory Council on Jewish and Campus Life that will consist of stakeholders who are ‘committed to the principles set forth in this statement.’
“As we noted in our joint statement, ‘our collective and collaborative efforts will not end with these actions.’ We look forward to ongoing collaborative work with the Chancellor and his team to convert the objectives outlined today into action that achieves our shared, common values, including the freedom and security of all University of Illinois students.”
The University’s statement can be found via this website.
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Orthodox Union Advocacy Center — Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (Orthodox Union) – the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization – called upon Congress to provide dramatically increased funding for federal grants to enhance the security of American synagogues, Jewish schools and other non-profits at risk of harm. The Hate Crimes Statistics report released today by the FBI documents that in 2019 there were 7,314 hate crimes incidents with a 14 percent increase in those targeting American Jews. Indeed, the report states that anti-Jewish acts account for more than 60 percent of anti-religious bias crimes. (It is important to note that these figures are likely low because hate crime reporting is not mandatory.) To protect the Jewish community against such attacks, the Orthodox Union in 2005 helped spearhead the creation of the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program, administered by the Department of Homeland Security, which provides grants of up to $100,000 apiece to Jewish day schools, synagogues and other houses of worship and nonprofits to secure their buildings against terror attacks.
Said Orthodox Union Executive Director for Public Policy Nathan Diament: “Congressional leaders are currently considering funding levels for federal programs for the balance of this fiscal year. The disturbing FBI report highlights the need, sadly, for more security resources for the Jewish community – and other at risk faith communities. We appreciate that the House of Representatives, led by Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey, has set the mark at quadrupling funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to $360 million. And, we appreciate that this dramatic funding increase has been supported by key Senators including Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and others. We call on leaders to finalize and pass this increased funding level for this critical community security program right away.”
Said Orthodox Union President Mark (Moishe) Bane: “We are deeply troubled by what is documented in the FBI’s latest Hate Crimes Statistics report. It sadly confirms what too many Jewish communities across the United States have seen and felt over 2019 and over 2020. We know the majority of our fellow Americans reject anti-Semitic hate and other forms of bigotry. We will work with all people of good will to combat this scourge upon our community and American society at large.”
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Secure Community Network –The rise in hate crimes continued in 2019, making it the fourth increase in the past 5 years according to the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics report, released earlier today. Religious-based hate crimes increased by 7%, with 60.3% of the total number of reported religious-based hate crimes directed at Jewish community members and institutions.
The Jewish community continues to face a consistent threat of violence year after year. 2019 marked a 14% increase in anti-Jewish hate crimes, yielding 953 reported crimes. Additionally, while the Jewish people make up 1.7% of the population in the United States, 60.3% of religiously motivated hate crimes targeted Jews.
“These horrific statistics remind us all that the Jewish community remains a top target for violent hate crimes,” said Michael Masters, National Director and CEO of the Secure Community Network. “Despite our relatively small population, these attacks show no signs of slowing down. We must continue to work to be as prepared and secure as possible.”
It is important to note that these statistics are likely under-reported; the FBI report is based on voluntary reporting by local law enforcement. This marks the second straight year that the number of law enforcement agencies providing data to the FBI has declined. In 2019, 86 percent of participating agencies reported zero hate crimes to the FBI.
As the official safety and security organization of The Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the Secure Community Network constantly monitors all hate crime reports against the Jewish community, and uses intelligence like this to mitigate future attacks and threats.
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World Jewish Congress –– Hateful discourse that is directed at the Jewish people can escalate easily, posing a threat to democratic values, peace and stability in societies the world over. The World Jewish Congress (WJC) has long worked with the United Nations to ensure that the fight against antisemitism is at the forefront of the UN’s human rights agenda.
In partnership with the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations and the Permanent Missions of Albania, Argentina, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Republic of Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, and Uruguay, the WJC will hold a high-level online event on the role of the United Nations in combating antisemitism as a Side Event to the 75th United Nations General Assembly on17 November 2020 at 10 a.m. EST / 16 p.m. CET.
For many years, we have been witnessing a dramatic rise in antisemitism. Virtually every opinion poll and study conducted over the last few years have painted a dark picture of the increase in antisemitic sentiments and perceptions: Jews the world over feel threatened. It is important to note that hateful discourse beginning with the Jews also expands to other members of society and threatens the basic fabric of modern democracies, rule of law and the protection of human rights.
Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, ancient antisemitic libels have been reawakened, coupled with conspiracy myths and religious intolerance. Consequently, Jews worldwide have become increasingly afraid to express their identity or practice their religion freely amid fear that violence may be directed towards them; yet living free from fear and persecution is a fundamental human right.
As the United Nations is the main multilateral intergovernmental body working to uphold human rights around the world, the question thus becomes what measures must be taken by the UN system in order to safeguard the Jewish population and combat antisemitism using a human rights-based approach.
While the UN is committed to confronting this issue and has undertaken some efforts to combat related aspects, such as by elaborating the United Nations’ Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, or the publication of the Report on combating antisemitism to eliminate discrimination and intolerance based on religion or belief by the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, it is certainly possible to optimize the efforts that have been made to date and expand the system-wide approach to antisemitism.
Antisemitism is an issue that crosses borders, continents, and time. Properly addressing it therefore requires a holistic approach involving a multi-prong response that needs the involvement of both the UN in New York, where the UN’s most important bodies and decision makers lie, and Geneva, the center of the UN’s human rights mechanisms, along with all relevant agencies such as UNESCO in Paris.
Register for the conference via this website.
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Preceding provided by the organizations listed above.