Hate crimes towards Jews rose 36% from 2021 to 2022, accounting for greater than half of all reported religion-based hate crimes, the FBI mentioned this week.
The FBI’s Crime Data Explorer database recorded 1,124 anti-Jewish crimes in 2022 and 824 in 2021 — a 36% improve. The database famous 158 anti-Islamic crimes final 12 months, just about the identical because the 153 such incidents reported in 2021.
In an announcement, President Biden condemned the rising numbers.
“The data is a reminder that hate never goes away, it only hides,” Mr. Biden mentioned. “Any hate crime is a stain on the soul of America.”
While the figures had been compiled earlier than the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist assaults on southern Israel and the response by the Israel Defense Force, the president mentioned these current occasions have sparked concern about religious-based assaults on Jews and Muslims right here.
“To those Americans worried about violence at home, as a result of the evil acts of terror perpetrated by Hamas in Israel, we see you,” Mr. Biden mentioned. “My administration will continue to fight antisemitism and Islamophobia.”
The president mentioned he has directed Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas “to prioritize the prevention and disruption of any emerging threats” that would strike Jews, Muslims, Arab Americans “or any other communities during this time.”
Even earlier than the most recent outbreak of violence within the Middle East, assaults towards Jews and Jewish establishments within the U.S. had been rising, the Anti-Defamation League mentioned in March. The group reported an general improve of 36% in 2022 versus the earlier 12 months, for 3,697 incidents.
The Washington Times has requested the FBI to element which sorts of incidents it numbers as “hate crimes” in distinction to the ADL’s tally, which incorporates harassment, bomb threats and intimidation on college campuses, however has not but acquired a response.
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