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ADL 2011 Audit: Number of Florida Anti-Semitic Incidents Flat; But Marked by Significant Geographic Shifts
ADL 2011 Audit: Number of Florida Anti-Semitic Incidents Flat; But Marked by Significant Geographic Shifts The level of anti-Semitism in Florida experienced a minimal shift according to the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL’s) 2011 Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents released today. In 2011, a total of 111 anti-Semitic incidents of assault, vandalism and harassment were reported to ADL in Florida, a slight decrease from the 116 incidents of anti-Semitism captured in ADL’s Audit in 2010. Nationally, ADL’s Audit reported a 20-year low, with a 13% decrease to 1,080 anti-Semitic incidents in 2011 compared with 1,239 incidents in 2010. ADL’s full report is available online.
Consistent with previous years, Florida ranked fourth nationwide with the highest amount of reported anti-Semitic incidents, following California, New York and New Jersey – states that have large Jewish populations. Click here for a state-by-state breakdown.
The ADL Audit provides an annual snapshot of anti-Semitic trends by tracking incidents of vandalism, harassment and physical assaults against Jewish individuals, property and community institutions based on data gathered by ADL and law enforcement. In 2011, the most prevalent trends included swastika-related incidents, the targeting of Jewish institutions, school bullying and cyberbullying.
In 2011, ADL’s Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents in Florida reported: § 90 incidents of anti-Semitic harassment, threats and events (up from 86 incidents in 2010) § 20 incidents of anti-Semitic vandalism (down from 28 incidents in 2010) § 1 incident of assault (down from 2 incidents in 2010)
“While the change in the overall level of anti-Semitism statewide in Florida between 2011 and 2010 is nominal, the 2011 Audit revealed a geographic shift regarding where the anti-Semitic incidents occurred,” stated Yael Hershfield, ADL FL Interim Regional Director. “In 2011, 56 of the 111 anti-Semitic incidents took place in South Florida, down from almost 70% in 2010.”
The most notable geographic shifts in anti-Semitic activity included: § 16 anti-Semitic incidents in Miami-Dade County (down from 29 in 2010) - 7 anti-Semitic incidents in Miami (down from 18 in 2010) § 13 anti-Semitic incidents in Broward County (down from 17 in 2010) - 3 anti-Semitic incidents in Ft. Lauderdale (down from 5 in 2010) § 27 anti-Semitic incidents in Palm Beach County (down from 35 in 2010) - 6 anti-Semitic incidents in Boca Raton (down from 23 in 2010)
“One of the more disconcerting trends that emerged in Florida, consistent with national trends, involved incidents of anti-Semitic school bullying by peers,” stated Steven L. Daniels, ADL Florida Regional Chair. “In fact, the single incident of physical assault captured in ADL’s Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents in Florida involved a middle school student assaulted by a classmate who shouted horrible anti-Semitic epithets during the attack which took place in Boca Raton. These types of incidents are a sad reminder of the need for ADL’s expertise in the area of combating anti-Semitism, all forms of discrimination, bullying, and diversity education.”
The Audit has never included the daunting number of online anti-Semitic events and expressions that appear on countless and fluid websites, social media outlets and the blogosphere, since they are virtually impossible to quantify. However, ADL does receive and address reports from community members who have seen anti-Semitic content online. In addition, when a Jewish individual is targeted personally in an online forum and feels threatened, such an incident would be included in the Audit.
The following is a list of selected incidents of harassment and vandalism captured in ADL’s 2011 Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents in Florida:
§ Mount Dora: The Traditional Congregation of Mount Dora was desecrated with anti-Semitic graffiti.
§ Tampa Area: Three Jewish institutions received anti-Semitic hate mail during the same week.
§ Miami: During a JV basketball game with a team representing a Jewish school, fans of the opposing team shouted anti-Semitic slurs and mimicked the infamous Heil Hitler salute from the bleachers.
§ Pensacola: A Jewish boy at middle school was bullied when another student told him: “I am a Nazi, you are a stupid Jew…I am going to cut you up into pieces, feed you to a dog and kill the dog to put it out of its misery.”
§ Orlando: A Jewish middle school student had a note placed in her backpack with a large swastika that said: “Hitler loves you...F*ck you…I’m hungry make me a pizza you Jew.”
§ Tampa: An anti-Semitic poster was found on a window at the home of a Jewish high school student with the word “Jew,” an eggshell, a swastika, a drawing of Hitler and several pennies.
§ Central Florida: A student posted an anti-Semitic rant on Facebook about a teacher including: “F*ck jews. Hitler had the right idea, he should’ve just not been so extreme and taken his time…lmao…”
§ Naples: A swastika was painted on the garage door of a Jewish family’s home.
§ Naples: A Jewish artist’s mural celebrating diversity called “A Face in the Crowd” was vandalized with swastikas and multiple anti-Semitic and racist slurs spray painted over the mural.
§ The Acreage: A swastika was spray painted on a Jewish home.
§ Palmetto Bay: An extremist Neo-Nazi hate group called the National Socialist Freedom Movement leafleted a neighborhood as part of their recruitment outreach. (Palmetto Bay)
About the ADL Audit The Audit identifies both criminal and non-criminal acts of harassment and intimidation, including distribution of hate propaganda, threats and slurs. Compiled using official crime statistics, as well as information provided by victims, law enforcement officers and community leaders and evaluated by ADL's professional staff, the Audit provides an annual snapshot of one specific aspect of a nationwide problem while identifying possible trends or changes in the types of activity reported.
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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