LA Antisemitic Hate Crimes Rose by 7% in 2021, Report Says

The Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations 2021 Hate Crime Report found that antisemitic hate crimes rose by 7% from 2020 to 2021.

The report, which was released on December 7, found that the total number of antisemitic hate crimes in the country was 81 in 2021; the year before it was 76. Jews were the target of 74% of all recorded religious hate crimes in the county; the second highest was Muslims at nine percent. A couple of examples listed in the report include graffiti on a Santa Clarita elementary school saying “Gas chamber” and “Hitler did nothing” and an individual being called “Little Jew boy” while being punched repeatedly in the face.

Overall, violent religious hate crimes in the county increased from 23% to 53% from 2020 to 2021 and hate crimes as a whole increased by 23% over that same time period. The total number of hate crimes recorded by the county was 786, the highest ever recorded in the county’s history.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Janice Hahn tweeted that the results of the report were “disturbing.”

This morning, we are releasing the 2021 LA County Hate Crime Report. The results are disturbing:
▪️ Hate crimes went up by 23%
▪️ Hate crimes grew across all motivation categories — but racially motivated crimes had the highest jump– up 17%
▪️ 74% of the crimes were violent

— Janice Hahn (@SupJaniceHahn) December 7, 2022

“We are witnessing a widescale normalization of antisemitism in our county and our nation,” Anti-Defamation League Los Angeles Regional Director Jeffrey I. Abrams said in a statement. “While this report covers 2021, we have recently seen a terrifying increase in hateful vitriol from celebrities and elected leaders – most recently with [rapper Kanye West]’s repeated tirades against the Jewish people. We know that words matter. And words can and do incite real life violence.” Abrams added that a spike of antisemitism occurred during the May 2021 Israel-Hamas, which included a pro-Palestinian caravan attacking patrons outside the Sushi Fumi restaurant in the Beverly Grove area.

““The best way to combat hate is to stand together as one community against racism and bigotry of all kinds,” Abrams said. “We are grateful to continue to have LA County and our partners at LA vs. Hate as key partners in our work to reduce hate crimes and increase public awareness of the impact these kinds of crimes have on our communities.”