The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released a new report on May 12 revealing there were 2,107 anti-Semitic incidents in the United States in 2019, the highest in ADL’s recorded history. The total number of incidents in 2019 increased by 12% from 1,875 in 2018.
In California, there were 330 anti-Semitic incidents, including 186 instances of harassment, 919 instances of vandalism, and 9 instances of assault, including the Chabad of Poway shooting in April that left one woman dead.
“We grieve for the victims and families affected by the shooting in Poway and every one of these incidents,” ADL Los Angeles Regional Director Amanda Susskind said in a statement. “We continue to be concerned about the historic levels of anti-Semitic incidents over the last three years in California and note with alarm a massive uptick of anti-Semitic vandalism 53% (88 to 135) from 2018 to 2019.”
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt also said in a statement, “We are committed to fighting back against this rising tide of hate and will double down on our work with elected leaders, schools and communities to end the cycle of hatred.”
