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Thursday, January 18, 2024
Annapolis Human Rights Day is February 5, 2024
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
MD Stop the Hare is January 18th
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MD Insurance Administration Opens Virtual Disaster Center
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Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Hate Crimes Against Jewish and Muslim Americans Continue to Surge
Reports of hate crimes and bias incidents targeting Jews, Muslims and Arabs continue to surge across the U. S. New data from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) indicate a marked rise in reported incidents of both antisemitism and anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias.
The ADL said it recorded 2,031 antisemitic incidents in the two months after the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel, including reports of physical assault, vandalism, and “anti-Israel rallies that included classically antisemitic, anti-Zionist and/or terror-supportive rhetoric.” The organization said it received reports of 465 antisemitic incidents during the same two-month period in 2022. The new data constitutes an over 330% increase in reported incidents of antisemitism from the 2022 time period. “This is historic but can be directly linked back to the Israel-Hamas war as a majority of the incidents referenced the conflict in one form or another,” said Jake Hyman, a spokesperson for the ADL.
CAIR said it has tracked a similarly serious rise in requests for help and reports of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias. After recording an “unprecedented” spike in bias incidents during the first month of the war, the nation’s largest Muslim advocacy group said 2,171 requests for help and reports of bias have been made to its U. S. national headquarters and chapters since October 7. Those reports include incidents of hate crimes and hate speech, as well as workplace discrimination and incidents described as “violations of an individual’s right to free speech and expression."
Attorney General Merrick Garland instructed law enforcement officials across the country to “remain vigilant in the face of risks of terrorism and hate-fueled violence” at the recent National Violent Crime Reduction Summit in Indianapolis. Garland discussed how the U. S. Department of Justice is “closely monitoring” the impact of the Israel-Hamas war, and how the conflict in the Middle East is inspiring extremists both at home and abroad. He also noted the spike in hate-fueled violence “comes at a time when law enforcement agencies and communities across the country have already been facing significant challenges regarding violent crime.”
The increase in reported hate and bias motivated incidents has produced a climate of fear for many Jewish, Muslim, and Arab people living in America. Jews across the country told CNN they are changing the way they celebrate Hanukkah this year. Some have broken with yearslong traditions and removed the menorah from their windows. Others have grown more defiant and have chosen to boldly declare their Jewish identity despite the rise in antisemitism.
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Hate Bias Reporting Forum on January 31st
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Saturday, December 30, 2023
Signs Again Vandalized at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
The noxious hate crime of antisemitism has surfaced yet again in Baltimore. Two signs at the front of the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation on Park Heights Avenue in Pikesville were destroyed by being slashed multiple times on December 24th. The signs were replacements for the original ones that were vandalized on December 10th. The Baltimore Hebrew Congregation has displayed the two signs – "We Stand with the People of Israel" and "Bring the Hostages Home" at the corner of Park Heights and Slade avenues for just over two months.
"I am simultaneously deeply disturbed and not surprised at all," Rabbi Andrew Busch said. "Deeply disturbed that someone would impinge on our right to speak our mind. Deeply disturbed that anyone would object to a statement of bringing hostages home. Deeply disturbed that the property of a synagogue would be vandalized."
Congregation leaders said another nearby religious institution reported an Israeli flag was slashed Thursday. "Suburban Orthodox congregation right behind us had an Israeli flag that was also slashed with a knife or some kind of sharp object," Busch said. He also commented that they are not letting hate stop them from expressing their beliefs.
The congregation plans to launch a campaign to encourage people to report antisemitism. "We have new signs. They're going to be going up in schools and synagogues and across the community, telling (people) to go to our websites to report when acts occur to stand against hate," Busch said.
A camera was installed at the site after the first vandalism case, and Congregation leaders hope it captured the person or people who are responsible.
BHC filed a police report about the incident. Busch noted that the police responded quickly, as they did when the signs were vandalized the first time. According to Howard Libit, executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, Baltimore County Police have said that they are going to increase patrols around the area and review camera footage, especially from neighbors in the community who may have captured something about this crime. “It is gratifying to know how seriously Baltimore County Police are taking this,” Libit said.
BHC plans on replacing the signs again.
If you know anything about what happened, call Baltimore County Police at 410-307-2020.
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Read the December 29, 2023 WBALTV story.
Above photo of sign taken from cited WBALTV article.
Read the December 29, 2023 Baltimore Jewish Times article.
Baltimore City police said they are investigating.
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