ADL Notes Anti-Jewish Hate Crimes Remain Vast Majority of Religion-Based Crimes

Date: November 17, 2011

The 2010 Hate Crime Report released by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations today shows that the total number of reported hate crimes decreased significantly (28 percent).  While religion-motivated hate crimes also dropped, the vast majority – 79 percent -- was against Jews and Jewish institutions.  

The news of anti-Jewish hate crimes comprising the overwhelming majority of religion-motivated hate crimes is consistent with findings of State and Federal agencies.  The 2010 Hate Crime in California report released by the California Department of Justice earlier this year indicated crimes against Jews comprised 65 percent of all religion-motivated hate crimes in the State of California in 2010.  The newly-released FBI Hate Crime Statistics 2010 indicated crimes against Jews comprised 67 percent of religion-motivated hate crimes around the country.

"The overall decline in hate crimes is a good trend.  But it is still disturbing that the overwhelming majority of those motivated by religion in Los Angeles County, statewide and across the country are against Jews and Jewish institutions," said Amanda Susskind, Regional Director of the Pacific Southwest Region of the Anti-Defamation League.

"We also remain concerned that even with a precipitous decline, African-Americans remain the most frequently targeted victims of hate crimes," said Susskind.  "And, while hate crimes in general were down, sexual orientation crimes were more likely to be of a violent nature than other hate crimes."

Although the rate of anti-Jewish hate crimes dropped in 2010 (one out of seven) compared to 2009 (one out of five), it increased compared to 2008 (one of ten).  The appearance of a drop compared to 2009 might be in part due to a spike in 2009 as a result of counting as separate a number of likely related instances of similar hateful graffiti targeting the Jewish community.

The Anti-Defamation League's annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, issued in October, reported anti-Semitic incidents up eight percent in California, from 275 to 297. For the second year in a row, California led the nation in the number of anti-Semitic incidents.

Some examples of anti-Semitic incidents reported to the ADL Pacific Southwest Region during 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

• 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 San Fernando 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 San Fernando 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 San Fernando Valley high school. (June)
• "Jews" spray-painted in alley of home of Jewish resident of Beverly Hills.  (June)

ADL is the organization that drafted model hate crimes legislation on which hate crimes laws in 45 states, including California, are based, and serves as a resource both to aid and to train law enforcement agencies.  ADL worked closely with a broad coalition of partners on the 2009 passage of the "Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act," which expanded federal hate crime laws to include protections for victims targeted because of their perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, and provided for increased federal involvement in investigating and prosecuting hate violence in America.

In addition to responding to hate crimes and providing victim assistance after a crime has occurred, ADL works daily to prevent the spread of hate that can lead to such crimes.  Now the preeminent provider of anti-bias education programs from preschool through college and even in the workplace, ADL helps students recognize bias and the harm it inflicts on individuals and society; explore the value of diversity; improve intergroup relations; and combat racism, anti-Semitism and all forms of prejudice and bigotry.

"We feel particularly fortunate to have LA County as a partner in our work to reduce hate crimes and increase public awareness of the impact of these message crimes," said Susskind. "The LA County Hate Crime Report is a reminder that the important work of ADL is still needed." 

Information about the 2010 ADL Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents can be found at:
https://regions.adl.org/pacific-southwest/news/adl-annual-audit-of-1.html

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