Current:Home > StocksU.S. sees "unprecedented," "staggering" rise in antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents since start of Israel-Hamas war, groups say-InfoLens
U.S. sees "unprecedented," "staggering" rise in antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents since start of Israel-Hamas war, groups say
View Date:2024-12-23 16:41:00
Reports of antisemitic incidents across the United States have soared in the two months since the deadly Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants on Israel sparked a brutal war in the Gaza Strip, according to new data released Monday by the Anti-Defamation League. The group calls the rise "unprecedented."
Reported incidents of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim hate have also spiked in the U.S. over the same period, according to data from the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The Anti-Defamation League said it recorded 2,031 antisemitic incidents nationwide between Oct. 7 and Dec. 7, which is up significantly from 465 incidents during the same two-month period in 2022. The latest numbers represent a 337% increase in reports compared with last year. It is also the highest number of any two-month period since the ADL began tracking antisemitic incidents in in 1979.
Most of the incidents — at least 1,411 — "could be clearly linked to the Israel-Hamas war," according to the group, which describes its mission as working to "stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all," including combatting extremism and other forms of hate both online and offline.
Antisemitic incidents recorded by the ADL over the last two months included 40 reports of physical assault, 337 reports of vandalism, 749 reports of verbal or written harassment, and 905 rallies that involved "antisemitic rhetoric, expressions of support for terrorism against the state of Israel and/or anti-Zionism," the group said, noting that Jewish people across America have experienced an average of almost 34 antisemitic incidents each day since Oct. 7.
"This terrifying pattern of antisemitic attacks has been relentless since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7, with no signs of diminishing," Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the ADL, said in a statement. "The lid to the sewers is off, and Jewish communities all across the country are being inundated with hate. Public officials and college leaders must turn down the temperature and take clear action to show this behavior is unacceptable to prevent more violence."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations released data last week showing that it has received a "staggering" 2,171 complaints of bias incidents or requests for help between Oct. 7 and Dec. 2, amid what it called "an ongoing wave of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate."
"From Burlington to Chicago to DC and elsewhere, innocent Americans are suffering the consequences of this wave of bigotry," CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said in a statement. "Until our nation stops the violence in Gaza and rejects bigotry here in America, we fear that both Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism will continue to spin out of control."
In Burlington, Vermont, three Palestinian-American college students were shot and wounded on Nov. 25 in what authorities are investigating as a possible hate crime. In the Chicago area, a landlord is charged with murder and hate crimes for a stabbing that killed a 6-year-old Muslim boy and wounded his mother.
Protests and tensions tied to the Israel-Hamas war have divided college campuses, leading to a congressional hearing last week where three university presidents were grilled about how they are handling antisemitism at their schools. Claudine Gay of Harvard University, Liz Magill of the University of Pennsylvania and Sally Kornbluth of MIT testified before lawmakers who pressed them on action to condemn anti-Jewish sentiment. Magill tendered her resignation over the weekend.
The ADL's new data includes 400 incidents on college and university campuses over the last two months, compared with 33 incidents during the same period last year.
The group recorded 250 antisemitic incidents that specifically targeted Jewish institutions, like campus Hillels and synagogues.
The ADL data also noted the case of a Jewish man who sustained a head injury and died following an encounter with a pro-Palestinian demonstrator at a protest in Los Angeles last month. The other man is facing a charge of involuntary manslaughter and has pleaded not guilty.
The ADL cited an increase in reports of vandalism and harassment targeting Jewish or Israeli businesses, as well, including an incident in Philadelphia earlier this month where a crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters chanted outside an Israeli-Jewish owned restaurant accusing the establishment of "genocide." Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro denounced the demonstration as "a blatant act of antisemitism."
"Vandalism of a Jewish business isn't political protest — it's antisemitism and it's criminal," said Greenblatt. "Boycotts have historically targeted the Jewish community at times of crisis, and it's alarming that it's happening again now."
- In:
- Hamas
- Israel
- Islam
- Anti-Defamation League
Emily Mae Czachor is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. She covers breaking news, often focusing on crime and extreme weather. Emily Mae has previously written for outlets including the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed and Newsweek.
Twitter InstagramveryGood! (1)
Related
- Patrick Mahomes Breaks Silence on Frustrating Robbery Amid Ongoing Investigation
- Hundreds of drugs are in short supply around the U.S., pharmacists warn
- Commercial vehicle crashes into Texas Department of Public Safety office, multiple people injured
- 'Deadpool & Wolverine' makes a splash with cheeky new footage: 'I'm going to Disneyland'
- Beyoncé course coming to Yale University to examine her legacy
- Rowan football coach Jay Accorsi retires after 22 seasons, 4 trips to NCAA Division III Final Four
- 'Deadpool & Wolverine' makes a splash with cheeky new footage: 'I'm going to Disneyland'
- Prince William and Prince George Seen in First Joint Outing Since Kate Middleton Shared Cancer Diagnosis
- John Robinson, successful football coach at USC and with the LA Rams, has died at 89
- Why Kyle Richards Needs a Break From RHOBH Following Mauricio Umansky Split
Ranking
- Fantasy football waiver wire: 10 players to add for NFL Week 11
- What are PFAS? Forever chemicals and their health effects, explained
- Arizona's abortion ban likely to cause people to travel for services in states where it's still legal
- Louisiana lawmakers reject minimum wage raise and protections for LGBTQ+ people in the workplace
- US overdose deaths are down, giving experts hope for an enduring decline
- Don't delay your Social Security claim. Here are 3 reasons why.
- K-Pop Star Park Bo Ram Dead at 30
- Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist Announce Divorce: Check the Status of More Bachelor Couples
Recommendation
-
Hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field can be fixed for about $55M in time for 2026 season, per report
-
Convicted killer of college student Kristin Smart attacked at California prison for second time
-
DeSantis bans local governments from protecting workers from heat and limits police oversight boards
-
Wisconsin woman in Slender Man stabbing will remain in psychiatric hospital after release petition denied
-
Threat closes Spokane City Hall and cancels council meeting in Washington state
-
8-year-old Kentucky boy died from fentanyl not from eating strawberries, coroner reveals
-
4 charged in theft of $300,000 worth of Legos from California stores
-
Wilma Wealth Management: Embarking on the Journey of Wealth Appreciation in the Australian Market