State bolsters security at houses of worship

Following a sharp rise in Islamophobia and antisemitism in the U.S., the State Bond Commission authorized the release of $5 million in grants Friday to improve security in houses of worship and qualifying nonprofits in Connecticut.

It is the third round of funding for the Connecticut Nonprofit Security Grant Program, but the first following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

“These should be safe places where people feel safe and are safe. We’re doing everything we can to make that real,” Gov. Ned Lamont said.

Since 2021, the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection said the program has distributed roughly $10 million to 237 nonprofits that are at risk of terrorist attacks, hate crimes or violent acts, including 129 houses of worship.

Awards are capped at $50,000 and may be used to improve security infrastructure, including the installation of remote and electronic locks, security cameras, alarm systems, reinforced vestibules, bullet-resistant glass and more.

According to Senate Democrats, during the last allocation, more than 200 institutions applied for funding, 100 of which did not receive a grant.

Lamont said distribution will be prioritized by need with half the funds going to houses of worship, including synagogues and mosques.

“Hate speech can sometimes turn into hate crimes, and we’re doing everything we can in the state of Connecticut to not allow that to happen,” Lamont said. “Following 20 years ago, what we did in terms of securing our schools, now we’re doubling down in our not-for-profits, including our houses of worship.”

In the two months since the Israel-Hamas war started, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said they documented a “staggering” 2,171 reports of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian incidents. In 2022, the council said they would typically see 798 complaints in a roughly two-month period.

The Anti-Defamation League said antisemitic incidents are up by 337%, recording 2,031 incidents since Oct. 7, compared to 465 during the same span in 2022. The ADL said 40 of the most recent incidents were physical assaults, 250 targeted Jewish institutions.

State Rep. Holly Cheeseman, a ranking member of the Finance Revenue and Bonding Committee and a member of the Bond Commission, said that even before recent events, the need for more security at religious institutions was evidenced by previous attacks, like the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, which killed 11 congregants in 2018.