Antisemitic incidents in US hit highest level ever: Anti-Defamation League

HOUSTON, United States

Hate crimes against the Jewish community in the US hit the highest level ever in 2022, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

The ADL's findings showed that antisemitic incidents surged to historic levels last year with a total of 3,697 hate-related incidents reported across the country.

That is a 36% increase from 2021 and the highest level ever recorded in the group's history since it began keeping records in 1979.

“We’re deeply disturbed by this dramatic and completely unacceptable surge in antisemitic incidents," said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO and National Director, in a statement.

"While we can’t point to any single factor or ideology driving this increase, the surges in organized white supremacist propaganda activity, brazen attacks on Orthodox Jews, a rapid escalation of bomb threats toward Jewish institutions and significant increases of incidents in schools and on college campuses all contributed to the unusually high number,” he continued.

According to the ADL Center on Extremism, which conducted the audit, harassment rose 29% in 2022 (2,298 incidents) compared to 2021 (1,776 incidents), where Jewish people were harassed with antisemitic slurs, stereotypes or conspiracy theories.

Acts of vandalism surged 51% with 1,288 incidents reported in 2022 versus 853 incidents reported the year before, involving cases where property was damaged along with evidence of antisemitic intent and antisemitic impact on Jews.

The ADL said swastikas, which are generally interpreted as symbols of antisemitic hatred, were present in 792 of these incidents, up 37% from 2021.

In addition, assaults rose 26% from 2021 to 2022 with 111 incidents reported where Jewish people, or people perceived to be Jewish, were targeted with physical violence accompanied by evidence of antisemitism.

“This data confirms what Jewish communities across the country have felt and seen firsthand – and corresponds with the rise in antisemitic attitudes," said Greenblatt. "From white nationalists to religious fanatics to radical anti-Zionists, Jewish people see a range of very real threats. It’s time to stop the surge of hate once and for all."

The ADL also said antisemitic activity reported on college and university campuses increased by 41% in 2022, with 219 incidents reported at more than 130 campuses across the country.

When it came to non-Jewish kindergarten through 12th grade schools, the ADL said 494 incidents were reported in 2022, an increase of 49% from the year before.

The states with the highest number of incidents were New York (580), California (518), New Jersey (408), Florida (269) and Texas (211). The ADL said these five states combined accounted for 54% of the total antisemitic incidents across the US.