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Anti-Semitic Incidents in Pennsylvania Down Slightly in 2018, Remain Significantly Above Historic Average

  • April 30, 2019

Philadelphia, PA, April 30, 2019 … Pennsylvania witnessed 89 anti-Semitic incidents across the state in 2018, according to a new report released today by ADL (“the Anti-Defamation League”). While anti-Jewish activity in the Commonwealth declined 7% from the prior year, it remains 41% higher than the historic statewide average of 63 incidents per year, recorded since 1979.

This is the third straight year of above-average anti-Semitic activity in the Commonwealth, following a six year period of near-historic lows from 2010-2015. Pennsylvania had the 5th highest number of incidents in the nation this year, after California (341), New York (340), New Jersey (200) and Massachusetts (144).

“While we are moderately encouraged to see a slight dip in anti-Jewish activity across Pennsylvania last year, we remain deeply concerned at the high levels of anti-Semitism in the Commonwealth,” said Nancy K. Baron-Baer, Regional Director of ADL’s Philadelphia Region, which serves eastern Pennsylvania. “We cannot allow these elevated numbers to become the new normal in Pennsylvania. Now is not the time to let up – we need our elected officials, law enforcement officers, faith leaders and community members to continue pushing back against anti-Semitism.”

In Pennsylvania in 2018, ADL recorded:

  • 50 incidents of harassment, up 11 percent from 2017;
  • 37 incidents of vandalism, down 27 percent from 2017;
  • 2 physical assaults, an increase from 0 incidents in 2017.

This year included two physical attacks on the Jewish community, including the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in American history, which claimed the lives of 11 Jewish congregants and injured 7 others. While ADL was obliged to count the attack as a single “incident” in the Audit in order to remain consistent with past data-keeping practices, each victim was separately recognized in our recent report, Murder and Extremism in the United States in 2018, and on our interactive H.E.A.T. (Hate, Extremism, Anti-Semitism, Terrorism) Map.

The Pittsburgh shooting sparked a surge in reports of anti-Semitic activity in the last quarter of the year. ADL recorded 33 anti-Semitic incidents in the 66 days between the shooting and the end of the year, more than twice the number of incidents that occurred in the same period in 2017.  Prior to Pittsburgh, the Commonwealth experienced an anti-Semitic incident once every 5.5 days; after the shooting, ADL recorded an incident every 2 days – nearly three times the previous rate.

“We cannot forget that these numbers represent real people whose lives have been deeply impacted by anti-Jewish hate,” continued Ms. Baron-Baer. “The Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, for example, counted as a single ‘incident’ in our Audit, but that statistic cannot even begin to capture the pain inflicted upon the victims, their families, their neighbors and the global Jewish community. That is why ADL believes that even one hate incident is too many. We, as a society, must work harder to protect individuals and communities from the truly devastating effects of bigotry.”

Nationally, ADL recorded 1,879 anti-Semitic incidents in 2018, making it the third-highest year on record. This included a 105% surge in anti-Semitic assaults to 39, affecting 59 victims. ADL also recorded 98 acts of targeted anti-Semitic harassment online, an increase of 15% over the prior year.

SELECTED PENNSYLVANIA INCIDENTS IN 2018

  • Cumberland County: A hand-drawn swastika and the words “Kill the Jews!” were discovered in a bathroom at a public high school. (March)
  • Delaware County: A Jewish girl in middle school was the victim of an ongoing anti-Semitic cyber-bullying campaign at the hands of another student. (March)
  • Philadelphia County: During an anti-Israel protest, a speaker stated, “Jews, you are the root of all problems in America;” “Jews are always on the wrong side of history. This is why you, the Jews, are so despised;” and “The Holocaust happened for a reason…” (April)
  • Wayne County: A group of Jewish camp counselors were harassed at a movie theatre by a group of teenagers, who threw popcorn and quarters at them while chanting, “You dirty Jews, go pick them up!” (June)
  • Adams County: A college student punched a Jewish peer and repeatedly called him a “kike” and a “faggot.” (September)
  • Chester County: A Jewish university student discovered swastikas drawn on the white board of her off-campus apartment door. (September)
  • Bucks County: Anti-Semitic and racist graffiti was spray-painted on the exterior walls of a middle school. (October)
  • Allegheny County: White supremacist Robert Gregory Bowers conducted a deadly shooting spree at the Tree of Life synagogue, killing 11 and wounding 7. (October)
  • Lancaster County: A Jewish high school student was the target of an ongoing anti-Semitic cyberbullying campaign, in which the student’s photo was digitally inserted into numerous Holocaust-themed images. (October)
  • Monroe County: A swastika was carved into the garage door of a Jewish person’s home. (November)
  • Philadelphia County: An anti-Semitic flyer was discovered in a middle school. The flyer read: “Stop fighting for Jewish lies and fight a real war to save your race!” (November)
  • Centre County: In two separate instances, a 9-foot-tall menorah was vandalized and stolen from a Jewish fraternity. (November and December)
  • Montgomery County: A couple at a restaurant verbally accosted Jewish children, calling them “Jew bastards.” (December)

HOW ADL IS RESPONDING

ADL pursues a comprehensive approach to address anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry, including training law enforcement, educating youth and advocating to elected officials.

ADL trains 15,000 law enforcement officials each year on extremism, terrorism, hate crime and implicit bias, including 1,500 officers in eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware.

ADL is the largest anti-bias educator in the nation, impacting over 1.5 million children in 2018. In our region, over 300,000 youth participate in ADL’s No Place for Hate® program annually. Every day, ADL develops rigorous and standards-aligned educational resources on anti-Semitism and all forms of bias, and shares them with thousands of educators and families in the region.

ADL also works to empower the public to fight anti-Semitism and all forms of hate. For nine years, ADL has hosted the Walk Against Hate, bringing thousands of people from across the region together to celebrate diversity and challenge bigotry. This year’s Walk Against Hate will take place on May 19, 2019 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. More information can be found at www.walkagainsthate.org.

ADL has been a longstanding partner in the effort to ensure the safety of Jewish community organizations and recently announced that former Homeland Security secretaries Michael Chertoff and Jeh Johnson will co-chair a new Community Safety and Security Task Force convened by ADL and the Secure Community Network (SCN), the homeland security and safety initiative of The Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of President of Major American Jewish Organizations. The task force will work to enhance the safety, security and resilience of religious communities.

POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

In response to the high levels of anti-Semitic incidents recorded over the past few years, ADL has made the following policy recommendations:

  • Speak out against anti-Semitism: In the aftermath of the deadliest anti-Semitic incident in American history, public officials and civic leaders must use their bully pulpits to speak out against anti-Semitism and all forms of hate and extremism.
  • Take legislative action: Congress and the Pennsylvania General Assembly should hold hearings on hate crimes, the rise of extremist groups and the proliferation of extremist propaganda, and support legislation that improves prevention and response to domestic terrorism.
  • Improve reporting and investigation of hate-related incidents: Policymakers should support efforts to provide law enforcement with tools and training to proactively and reactively counter hate crimes. Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies should also improve their procedures for hate crime data collection and reporting.
  • Prioritize anti-bias education: School districts should promote anti-bias and bullying prevention programs in elementary and secondary schools. The Governor, PA Department of Education, legislators and mayors should increase funding to promote inclusive school climates, including investing in anti-bias training and curriculum.

ABOUT THE AUDIT

The ADL Audit includes 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, partner organizations and the media, and evaluated by ADL staff, the Audit provides a regular snapshot of one specific aspect of a nationwide problem while identifying possible trends or changes in the types of activity reported. ADL has released its annual Audit since 1979. This information assists ADL in developing and enhancing its programs to counter and prevent the spread of anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry.

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ADL is a leading anti-hate organization. Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of anti-Semitism and bigotry, its timeless mission is to protect the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. ADL is the first call when acts of anti-Semitism occur. A global leader in exposing extremism, delivering anti-bias education and fighting hate online, ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate. More at www.adl.org and on Twitter: @ADLPhiladelphia