Data: 39 anti-Semitic incidents reported in Connecticut in 2018
The ADL data found 19 cases of harassment and threats, 19 cases of vandalism and one assault in Connecticut in 2018.
There were 39 incidents of antiJewish harassment, vandalism and assault reported statewide in 2018, according to data released Tuesday by the Anti-Defamation League.
The number of anti-Semitic incidents reported across Connecticut reached a peak in 2017 with 49 incidents, up from 38 in 2016, the ADL said.
“While the number of incidents reported to our offices declined slightly in 2018, the level of reported anti-Semitic incidents over the last three years is the highest we have seen in over a decade,” said a statement from ADL Connecticut Regional Director Steve Ginsburg. “Here in Connecticut, we are redoubling our efforts to educate students, communities, law enforcement and leaders on this pernicious age-old hatred.”
The ADL’s report featured data from criminal and non-criminal acts of harassment and intimidation, including distribution of hate propaganda, threats and slurs. The data was compiled using information from victims, law enforcement and community leaders.
The full report can be found at adl.org/audit2018.
The ADL data found 19 cases of harassment and threats, 19 cases of vandalism and one assault in Connecticut in 2018.
The data was released just a few days after a shooting at a California synagogue left one dead and three wounded. Following the weekend shooting, Connecticut religious organizations called the incident one of many showing a “disturbing” trend of attacks on the Jewish community.
Nationwide, the Jewish community saw near-historic levels of anti-Semitic incidents in 2018, the ADL said. Most notably, the ADL said, was the deadly attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh in October. After the incident, the ADL called it the “deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the U.S.”
The ADL said there were 1,879 reported attacks against Jewish community members and institutions across the county in 2018 — the third highest year on record since the ADL started to track the data in the 1970s.
“While the overall number of incidents represents a 5 percent decline from the 1,986 incidents reported in 2017, the number of incidents last year remained at near-historic levels — 48 percent higher than the total for 2016 and 99 percent higher than in 2015,” the ADL said.
Jack McDevitt, director of the Institute on Race and Justice at Northeastern University, said in a prepared statement that the data is a great resource that researchers and policymakers should look at to make changes.
“The audit identifies trends and emerging issues in hate crimes and analyzes these trends in ways that allow policymakers to address the issues in their jurisdiction,” McDevitt said. “The increased number of antiSemitic incidents tied to extremist groups is deeply troubling and should be addressed immediately by police and prosecutors.”
In response to the data, the ADL released some policy suggestions.
“In the aftermath of the deadliest anti-Semitic incident in American history, public officials and civic leaders should use their bully pulpits to speak out against anti-Semitism and all forms of hate and extremism,” the ADL said.
The organization also said it wanted to see Congress hold additional hearings on the increase in hate crime and the rise of extremist groups.
The ADL also said it hopes to see school districts promoting anti-bias and bullying prevention programs in elementary and secondary schools.
“Congress, the U.S. Department of Education, state legislators and mayors should increase funding to promote an inclusive school climate and for anti-bias education and hate crime prevention,” the ADL said.
“It is incumbent upon our leaders to continue fighting anti-Semitism at every opportunity,” said George Selim, ADL Senior Vice President of Programs and a former Department of Homeland Security official. “We will continue to advocate for legislative and other remedies to ensure that there is no place for anti-Semitism in our society.”