Report: Antisemitic incidents in Connecticut spiked 42% in 2021

Antisemitic incidents in Connecticut elevated 42% in 2021 in comparison with the yr prior, in keeping with a brand new report by the Connecticut Anti-Defamation League.

ADL Connecticut reported receiving reviews of over 184 incidents of antisemitic harassment, vandalism, and assault in 2021.

A complete of 34 antisemitic incidents have been recorded in Connecticut in 2021, a 42% enhance relative to the 24 incidents recorded in 2020. Incidents of vandalism (16) elevated by 78%. Incidents of harassment (18) elevated by 38%. No assaults have been recorded in 2021.

Nationally, ADL recorded 2,717 antisemitic incidents in 2021, the very best whole since ADL began monitoring such information in 1979.

“The info paints a transparent image that antisemitism stays a severe concern, not solely throughout the U.S. but in addition right here in Connecticut,” Stacey Sobel, ADL Connecticut Regional Director mentioned in a press launch.

“From white supremacist propaganda within the public sq. and on faculty campuses, to bomb threats in opposition to JCCs, antisemitism reared its ugly head in each aspect of our society final yr. Over the previous 5 years, the ADL Connecticut workplace has acquired reviews of over 180 antisemitic incidents – a outstanding determine that we hope will function a stark reminder of the onerous work nonetheless forward to sort out all types of hate and antisemitism right here in our state.”

In line with the report, a number of the incidents in Connecticut have been fueled by the consequences of the Israel-Hamas battle in 2021 which noticed renewed bombing operations launched by the Israeli army in Gaza because of terror rocket assaults on the Jewish state.  

On Might 10, 2021, as combating broke out between Israel and Hamas, with heightened tensions and violence in some Israeli cities with giant Arab and Jewish populations, there was a surge of antisemitic incidents concentrating on Jewish communities and people within the U.S. and world wide. Between Might tenth and the tip of the month, ADL tracked a 141% enhance in incidents throughout the U.S. Almost 40% of the whole incidents included specific references to Israel or Zionism.

The results of the battle reverberated in Connecticut as effectively, as ADL Connecticut recorded a spike in antisemitic incidents throughout the month of Might, the vast majority of which consisted of antisemitic incidents on faculty campuses.