New Jersey

New Jersey sees spike in incidents of bias in 2023

Published

10 months ago

March 7, 2024

New Jersey sees spike in incidents of bias in 2023

TRENTON, N.J. — Reports in New Jersey of incidents of bias — like antisemitism and anti-Black behavior among others — climbed by 22% last year, according to preliminary data released Thursday by the attorney general.

Attorney General Matt Platkin’s office released the unofficial data for 2023 that saw reports to law enforcement climb to 2,699 from 2,221 the year before along with an analysis for 2022 and 2021 that showed an increase of 17% year over year.

The number of incidents recorded in 2022 is the highest the state has seen since record keeping began about 30 years ago.

“We’re seeing a real rise in bias and hate in the state. It’s not something we take lightly. And we’re using every available tool, to prevent it,” Platkin said in a phone interview.

The data reflects reports members of the public make to police across the state, including state police, alleging hate crimes or other incidents of bias against protected classes under the law, including race, religion and gender. The incidents include racially discriminatory graffiti, threats or actual physical harm.

The increase stems from a number of factors, according to Platkin. Among them are increased outreach to communities encouraging such reporting, he said. But the rise also mirrors trends seen in other states, and nationally, in higher reports of hate crimes specifically. The FBI, for instance, reported last year that hate crimes climbed nearly 12% in 2021. He also cited political divisiveness, the spread of misinformation on social media and a backlash to the demonstrations that followed George Floyd’s murder in 2020.

The most recently available figures from New Jersey show anti-Black and anti-Jewish bias were the most common race and religion based reasons for reports, reflecting trends from the prior years. Anti-Black incidents accounted for 34% of all bias motivations, while anti-Jewish bias motivated 22%, according to the attorney general’s office.

Last year also saw a rise in anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bias, the data showed. Anti-Muslim incident reports climbed to 107 from 61, while anti-Arab incidents reached 78 last year, from 46 in 2022. Platkin pointed to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel as a likely factor in those reports.

Platkin also said Thursday his office launched an online data dashboard aimed at giving the public information about bias incident statistics across the state.

From 2021 to 2023, 217 people were charged with bias intimidation in the state, Platkin said.

“Even if we can’t charge someone with crime or or hold someone accountable personally, we can see trends that are alarming and deploy resources to hopefully prevent bias incidents from occurring in the first place,” he said.

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New Jersey

NJ will commemorate these anniversaries in 2025. Here are some fun facts about our history

Published

2 hours ago

December 28, 2024

Press Room

NJ will commemorate these anniversaries in 2025. Here are some fun facts about our history

1-minute read

New Jersey will mark some significant anniversaries in 2025, as you might expect from one of the original 13 colonies in advance of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

While the anniversaries listed below are centuries old, there are certainly many other days worthy of commemoration in New Jersey in 2025.

The bullet points are a quick and easy way to learn some fun facts about New Jersey’s history.

Enjoy!

1775: First Provincial Congress of New Jersey — The First Provincial Congress of New Jersey convened in Trenton in 1775 to establish Colonial governance amid revolutionary unrest. Delegates replaced the royal governor, authorized the issuance of paper currency to support militia efforts and enforced fines on those refusing military service shortly after the American Revolution kicked off. This assembly marked New Jersey’s initial steps toward independence, shaping its role in the war and laying the groundwork for state governance.

1825: Queen’s College renamed Rutgers College — Rutgers was one of the nation’s first higher-education institutions. Founded in 1766, when the Colonies were on better terms with England, it was originally named for Great Britain’s queen. Now the state university of New Jersey, the school was given a new name in 1825 to honor Revolutionary War hero and benefactor Col. Henry Rutgers. The colonel donated a college bell and $5,000, saving the institution from financial hardship and setting it on a course to become a major public research university.
1875: Prudential Friendly Society founded — In 1875, John Fairfield Dryden founded the Prudential Friendly Society in Newark, pioneering life insurance accessibility for the working class. Dryden’s was the first U.S. company to offer industrial life insurance, which provided small policies with affordable premiums to the working class. The company’s “insurance for the people” philosophy became a cornerstone of its success. Prudential later evolved into a major global financial services provider, but its Newark roots and famed headquarters remain central to its legacy.
1875: State constitution amended — Also in 1875, New Jersey amended its 1844 constitution to reflect post-Civil War changes. The change was made to align with the federal 14th and 15th amendments and ensure equal protection and voting rights. The amendment, however, also mandated the establishment of a “thorough and efficient” system of free public schools, cementing the state’s commitment to universal education, yet leaving much up to interpretation. The adjectives nonetheless stuck when the state constitution was rewritten in 1947.
1925: Mary Teresa Norton takes office — Mary Teresa Norton in March 1925 became the first woman to represent New Jersey or any state in the Northeast in the U.S. House of Representatives. Representing North Jersey’s 13th District, she was a trailblazer in labor rights, social welfare and women’s issues. Norton, who served until 1951, chaired key committees, including the House Labor Committee. She also played a vital role in shaping the Fair Labor Standards Act. Her historic tenure set a precedent for women’s leadership in American politics.

More about 2025 in New Jersey

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New Jersey

Keefe | POST-RAW 12.27.24 | New Jersey Devils

Published

10 hours ago

December 27, 2024

Press Room

Keefe | POST-RAW 12.27.24 | New Jersey Devils

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