According to the Anti-Defamation League’s annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents issued today, there were 1266 incidents in the U.S. in 2016, an increase of 34 percent from the 942 incidents recorded in 2015.
California recorded the highest number of incidents in the country, with an increase of 21 percent from 175 to 211. This reflects an increase in all three categories: harassment, vandalism and assaults.
In addition, preliminary numbers for the first quarter of 2017 show that anti-Semitic incidents across the nation spiked 86 percent compared to the same period in 2016. These include 161 bomb threats at Jewish institutions, including the Westside Jewish Community Center in Los Angeles.
“We are particularly concerned to see the increase in assaults in California in 2016, with three assaults against Jews reported in the Los Angeles area,” said ADL Pacific Southwest Regional Director Amanda Susskind. “We also continue to see reports of what we call ‘old-fashioned’ anti-Semitism — heinous remarks about Jews – both verbally and in writing.” She also noted that across the Los Angeles area in 2016 a large number of swastikas were reported on Jewish-owned vehicles including communities of North Hills, Westwood, Woodland Hills, Hancock Park, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica.
Selected Incidents in 2016: Assaults
The ADL Audit recorded 36 assaults nationally in 2016, down from 56 in 2015. However, in California there were six reports of assaults, up from one in 2015. Incidents of assaults in the Pacific Southwest Region included:
- Suspect asked a man if he was Jewish and when he replied yes, suspect threw liquid in his face. (January, Studio City)
- Suspect approached victim, called him “f*cking Jew” and battered him. (February, Los Angeles)
Selected Incidents in 2016: Anti-Semitic Vandalism
The ADL Audit recorded 510 cases of anti-Semitic vandalism nationally in 2016, up from 377 in 2015. In California, there were 77 reports of vandalism, up from 69 in 2015.
Vandalism incidents are individually evaluated by ADL and are categorized as anti-Semitic based on the presence of anti-Semitic symbols or language; the identity of the perpetrator(s), if known; and the target of the vandalism and its proximity to Jewish homes, communities and institutions. Vandalism with swastikas and hate symbols are counted as anti-Semitic if they target Jewish property or communal institutions. Swastikas targeting other minorities or those used out of context simply for shock value are not counted.
Incidents of anti-Semitic vandalism in ADL’s Pacific Southwest Region in 2016 included:
- Two swastikas drawn on synagogue bathroom walls (February, San Fernando Valley)
- “Nazi” spray-painted on outdoor walls of synagogue (March, West LA)
- High school vandalized with racist and anti-Semitic graffiti including “F*ck fags and Jews.” (March, West LA)
- “Holohoax” written in chalk at various locations around UC Riverside campus (June and July, Riverside)
- Two swastikas reported inside a Jewish owned business (Palm Springs, September)
- Mezuzah forcibly removed from door of a kosher restaurant (Pico-Robertson, October)
- Graffiti on business with a swastika and “die Jews” (October, San Fernando Valley)
- Elementary school vandalized with racist and anti-Semitic graffiti including “Burn Jews.” (October, Riverside County)
Selected Incidents in 2016: Anti-Semitic Harassment
The ADL Audit recorded 720 incidents of anti-Semitic harassment in 2016 nationally, up significantly from 509 in 2015. In California, there were 128 reports of harassment incidents, up from 105 in 2015.
Anti-Semitic harassment includes verbal attacks and slurs against Jewish individuals (or individuals perceived to be Jewish); anti-Semitism conveyed in written or electronic communications, including anti-Semitic cyberbullying; and anti-Semitic speeches, picketing or events.
Incidents of anti-Semitic harassment in ADL’s Pacific Southwest Region in 2016 included:
- Neighbor threatened victims and told them they don’t like Jews (January, Van Nuys)
- Neighbor called victim “f*cking Jews” and told her to go back to “Jew Town.” (February, Valencia)
- Daily Stormer flyer sent by fax to various colleges included, “White Man, are you sick and tired of the Jews destroying your country through mass immigration and degeneracy?” (March, Los Angeles)
- Electronic road construction sign hacked to say, “Gas the Jews.” (August, Agoura) Student wore Nazi uniform to high school for Halloween. (October, Indio)
- At a restaurant on election night, man called a female patron “dirty Kike.” (November, West Hollywood)
- Supermarket patron witnessed man pushing a woman saying, “Out of my way, Jewish bitch” followed by chants of “Heil” and “Trump” and “9/11 was the Jews’ fault.” (November, Sherman Oaks)
- Middle school student said to fellow student, “Go to the gas chambers, dirty Jew.” (December, Altadena)
Hate crime statistics consistently show Jews to be the most frequently targeted religious group. According to the 2015 Hate Crime Report released in 2016 by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, the vast majority of religion motivated crimes — 71 percent — are perpetrated against Jews and Jewish institutions. The County’s conclusion that anti-Jewish hate crimes comprise the vast majority of religion-motivated hate crimes is consistent with findings of State and Federal agencies.
About the ADL Audit
The Audit identifies both criminal and non-criminal acts of harassment and intimidation, including distribution of hate propaganda, threats and slurs. Compiled using information provided by victims, law enforcement and community leaders and evaluated by ADL’s professional staff, the Audit provides an annual snapshot of one specific aspect of a nationwide problem while identifying possible trends or changes in the types of activity reported. This information assists ADL in developing and enhancing its programs to counter and prevent the spread of anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry.
See also:
Selected Incidents from Around the Country
State-by-State Breakdown 2015-2017
In the News:
Los Angeles Daily News (online)
Los Angeles Daily News (print edition)