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ADL AUDIT: Anti-Semitic Incidents Decline; Disturbing Trend of Epithets, Vandalism against Jews

  • April 1, 2014

The number of anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. declined by 19 percent in 2013, according to the Anti-Defamation League.  The annual ADL Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents released today reported a total of 751 incidents of assault, vandalism and harassment, compared to 927 incidents reported in 2012.

California echoed this trend, with a 23 percent decrease from 185 to 143 incidents.

Vandalized car of member of Jewish community.

“We are pleased to see a decline in anti-Semitic incidents around the country and in California,” said ADL Pacific Southwest Regional Director Amanda Susskind.  “Still, as we track crimes and incidents, including assaults, vandalism and harassment, we are troubled by the increasingly insurmountable challenge of monitoring cyberspace, where hate can be anonymous and ubiquitous.”

While the total number of anti-Semitic incidents declined overall, one dark spot in the numbers was a significant increase in violent anti-Semitic assaults.  The Audit recorded a total of 31 anti-Semitic assaults on Jewish individuals or those perceived as Jewish in 2013, up from 17 in 2012.  One of these disturbing assaults took place in Los Angeles where a Jewish man was surrounded by five male suspects who yelled, “Fu**ing Jews” and “Heil Hitler!” before striking him.

Other disturbing trends in the ADL Pacific Southwest Region (serving Los Angeles, Kern, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties) relate to epithets used against Jews and continued vandalism against Jews and Jewish institutions.  Many of the vandalism incidents included swastikas or Nazi references that evoke a particularly emotional response in the Jewish community.

 

Examples of incidents reported to the ADL Pacific Southwest Region in 2013 include:

    • An employee was told by co-worker that if he was in charge he would “exterminate the Jews.” (Los Angeles, January)
    • An employee was told by co-workers that he “killed Christ” and “there is a lot of truth in what Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf.” (Los Angeles, March)
    • Orthodox Jewish students heard taunts of “Heil Hitler” from a passing car (Los Angeles, April)
    • A synagogue in San Bernardino County received voice mail from person claiming to be “Adolph Hitler.” (San Bernardino County, May)
    • Landlord reported tenant calling her “kike” and “Jew bitch.”  (Santa Monica, May)
    • Swastika reported on door of synagogue.  (San Fernando Valley, June)
    • Graffiti on construction site:  “All we are saying is:  let Jews breathe gas” with a swastika.  (San Fernando Valley, June)
    • Truck with the following painted on it:  “Fu** filthy Hollywood Jewish” and “Greedy Jews can go fu** themselves.”  (Burbank, June)
    • Vandalism on a Jewish home included swastika and white power symbols.  (San Fernando Valley, June)
    • Health clinic vandalized with “kill Jews” and swastikas.  (Los Angeles, August)
    • Garage door defaced with “Jew.”  (Riverside County, August)
    • Front door mezuzah vandalized.  (San Fernando Valley, August)
    • Swastikas painted in red marker on gate of Jewish organization thrift shop.  (San Fernando Valley, September)
    • Swastika on Jewish student’s personal property on college campus.  (Los Angeles, November)
    • “We will rise again…Hail (sic) Hitler” scrawled on sidewalk with a swastika.  (Pasadena, November)
    • Car of Jewish victim (among others) vandalized with swastikas and racial epithets.  (Pacific Palisades, November 2013)
    • Three males caught kicking door of synagogue said to staff something to the effect of:  “Fu**in’ Jews.”  (San Gabriel Valley, December.)

Statistics consistently show Jews to be the most frequently targeted religious group. According to the 2012 Hate Crime Report released in 2013 by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, the vast majority of religion motivated crimes – 89 percent – are perpetrated against Jews and Jewish institutions. The 2012 Hate Crime in California report from 2013 by the California Department of Justice indicated crimes against Jews comprised 63 percent of all religion-motivated hate crimes in the State of California in 2012.  The FBI’s most recent report, Hate Crime Statistics 2012,  indicates crimes against Jews comprised 62 percent of religion-motivated hate crimes around the country.

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:
National Press Release