Drastic increase in anti-Semitic incidents in US in 2017, ADL reports

The year 2017 has been fraught with anti-Semitic incidents in the US, an ADL report shows, although it includes bomb threats that turned out to be a hoax.  

The number of anti-Semitic incidents in the US remains significantly higher in 2017 compared to 2016, according to new data released on Thursday by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

In addition to the significant bump in the first quarter of this year, there was also a distinct increase after the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va., in August, the ADL reported.

In its latest Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, the ADL shows that from January 1 to September 30 there were 1,299 anti-Semitic incidents across the US, including physical assaults, vandalism, and attacks on Jewish institutions. This represents a 67 percent increase over the same period last year and already exceeds the 1,266 incidents reported throughout 2016.

Of the incidents reported, there has been a disturbingly high number of anti-Semitic bullying and vandalism incidents in K-12 schools and on college campuses across the US.

Compared to 2016, each of the first three quarters of 2017 had a higher number of incidents compared to the previous ear. These incidents peaked during the first quarter of 2017, and the pace slowed somewhat in the second and third quarters, the report shows.

Of all 1,299 anti-Semitic incidents so far in 2017, a majority – 667 – occurred in the first quarter of the year. An additional 632 anti-Semitic incidents were reported in the second and third quarters of the year, surpassing the 488 reported during the same period in 2016.

From the beginning of 2017 until September, there were 703 incidents of harassment, including 162 bomb threats against Jewish institutions, most of them perpetrated by an Israeli; 584 incidents of vandalism, including 52 against Jewish institutions and 12 physical assaults.

These incidents took place across the country, but consistent with prior reports, the states with the highest number of incidents tended to be those with the largest Jewish populations. These include New York State with 267 incidents; California with 197; Massachusetts, 117; Florida, 69; and Pennsylvania with 58 incidents.

The Charlottesville rally is August was one of at least 33 public white supremacist events in the US so far this year, which were supplemented with 188 incidents in which neo-Nazis used fliers to spread their message to new audiences, especially on college campuses.

Anti-Semitism continues to be a serious concern on college campuses and in public, private and parochial grade schools, the ADL underscored.

Incidents in K-12 grade schools in 2017 more than doubled over the same period in 2016, 269, up from 130. Of those, 142 incidents of harassment and 114 incidents of vandalism were reported.

On college campuses, a total of 118 anti-Semitic incidents were reported in the first three quarters of 2017, compared to 74 in the same period of 2016 – an increase of 59 percent.

“We are deeply troubled by the rising number of anti-Semitic incidents, bullying, and hate in our nation’s schools and we don’t think the statistics paint a full picture of what is happening,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and national director. “Many school-based incidents still go unreported. As a country, we have to do more to ensure that our schools remain places where students can learn safely without fearing bullying and hate.”

Report Stresses Neo-Nazis, Omits Islamic Threat

What appears to be missing in the ADL report, which stresses the neo-Nazi movement, is any reference to Islamic anti-Semitism in the US, including on campuses.

“We are astonished and horrified by the rise in anti-Semitic harassment, incidents and violence targeting our communities. While the tragedy in Charlottesville highlighted this trend, it was not an aberration. Every single day, white supremacists target members of the Jewish community—holding rallies in public, recruiting on college campuses, attacking journalists on social media, and even targeting young children. For over a century, ADL has worked tirelessly to protect any community targeted by hatred – and we’re not about to stand down now. No matter how emboldened these fringe elements of society may feel, they will never threaten our mission,” Greenblatt stated.

Regarding the 703 incidents of harassment from the beginning of 2017 until September, the report failed to mention that the 162 bomb threats were discovered to be a hoax by a mentally ill 18-year-old American-Israeli. The indictment said his motive was to cause “considerable” public alarm.

By: World Israel News Staff

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