ADL Audit Released: California Leads the Country in Anti-Semitic Incidents

Date: October 4, 2011

For the second year in a row, California led the nation in the number of anti-Semitic incidents, according to the Anti-Defamation League's annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents released today.  The number of anti-Semitic incidents increased eight percent in California in 2010, from 275 to 297.  Nationally, the number of incidents rose slightly from 1,211 to 1,239 incidents of vandalism, harassment and physical assaults against Jewish individuals, property and community institutions across the U.S. 

"This year's audit reveals an increase in the number of incidents of harassment, with numerous reports of disparaging comments directed to and about Jews," reported ADL Regional Director Amanda Susskind.  In the Pacific Southwest Region (serving Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and Kern Counties), in several cases, anti-Semitic epithets preceded physical assaults.  "The use of the term, 'dirty Jew,' and similar slurs was pervasive," said Susskind.

An incident in the ADL Pacific Southwest Region that received international attention was the "Beat the Jew" game played by a group of students at La Quinta High School in May 2010.  The game, which was promoted through a Facebook page, involved students in a car called "Nazis" chasing a student running on foot called the "Jew."  Since that time, ADL has provided trainings and workshops to students and educators in the Desert Sands Unified School District, with the generous support of the Jewish Federation of Palm Springs and Desert Area.

While the number of vandalism incidents is down, use of the swastika and other anti-Jewish symbols continues to be reported on Jewish homes, cars, businesses and at Jewish institutions.

Statistics consistently show Jews to be the most frequently targeted religious group.  In Los Angeles County, anti-Jewish hate crimes account for one out of five of total hate crimes and 88 percent of hate crimes targeting religious groups, according to the 2009 (most recently available) Hate Crime Report of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations.      

Examples of incidents reported to the ADL Pacific Southwest Region in 2010 include:

ASSAULTS

• High school student in Valley assaulted by another student who called him a "kike." (March)
• In Santa Clarita, woman called "fat Jew" and "f*ck Jews." When husband intervened, he was assaulted. (May)
• Man physically assaulted in Santa Monica while attacker yelled, "You dirty Jew" and "I hate all Jews." (July)

 HARASSMENT

• Voice mail message left on teacher's phone:  "You dirty fu*king Jew." (January)
• Calabasas resident threatened by phone calls from anonymous caller, including a threat to kill her on a specific date.  "You dirty Jew.  I know where you live." (June)
• Tenant in Pasadena apartment harassed by someone yelling through window:  "Wake up you fu*king Jew." (June)
• Neighbor in Reseda yelled outside victim's home:  "Fu*king Jew bi*ch."  "Fu*king money hungry bi*ch." (July)
• Unknown caller made a bomb threat to kill the Jews at a Los Angeles business. (November)
• Jewish store owner in LA harassed with verbal epithets including "fu*king Jew" and "fu*k Israel" followed by threats to his security. (November)

VANDALISM

• "Kill all Jews" graffiti at bus stop in West LA. (January)
• Swastikas and SS lightning bolts in pedestrian tunnel near valley synagogue. (January)
• "The Jew lives here" written in chalk on sidewalk in front of Sherman Oaks home. (March)
• Jewish teacher at middle school in Valley reported swastikas in her classroom and anti-Semitic threats (April)
• Numerous 5-foot swastikas painted on alley walls near rabbi's residence in mid-City.  (June)
• Vandals spray-painted "Fu*k Jews" and "step on Jews" among other epithets at Valley high school. (June)
• "Jews" spray-painted in alley of home of Jewish resident of Beverly Hills.  (June)
• Apartment resident in Riverside found small Nazi flag hanging from his mezuzah along with "Heil Hitler" written on the wall next to the mezuzah. (October)
  
                                               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 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.

See also:
National Press Release

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