Anti-Defamation League: Anti-Semitic Incidents Up In New York State, Down In New York City

7 April 2006

Anti-Semitic incidents - including threats, vandalism, harassment and other act of hate directed at Jews - declined modestly in New York City in 2005, while experiencing an increase across all of New York State, according to the Anti-Defamation League's annual Audit of Anti- Semitic Incidents, issued today. New York State continues to rank first in the nation for anti-Semitic incidents.

In the five boroughs of New York City, 219 anti-Semitic incidents were reported in 2005, down from the 227 incidents reported in 2004. The decline was primarily due to a dramatic decrease in Brooklyn, where there were 51 incidents reported in 2005, down from 71 the previous year. Each of the other four boroughs experienced increases.

A total of 381 incidents were reported across New York State in 2005, with 227 incidents of harassment and 154 incidents of vandalism. By comparison, 350 incidents were reported statewide in 2004, according to the annual ADL Audit.

"Despite all of the positive gains we have made in building a safer and more tolerant New York, it is clear that there is still a small minority of individuals who feel free to act out their anti-Semitism," said Joel J. Levy, ADL New York Regional Director. "While some of the activity is the kind we have come to expect from hate groups active in the region, many of the incidents, including those in the schools and on the college campus, are being carried out by young people with no ties to organized hate groups."

In New York, campus and school incidents sharply increased, with 77 incidents in 2005, as compared with 40 incidents in 2004. The distribution of hate literature or leaflets also rose to 11 incidents, from 6 in 2004.

Nationwide, ADL's Audit reported a total of 1,775 incidents in 2005, marking a 3 percent decline from 2004. The 2005 ADL Audit comprises data from 42 states and the District of Columbia, including official crime statistics as well as information provided to ADL's 30 regional offices by victms, law enforcement officers and community leaders. The Audit identifies both criminal and non-criminal incidents of harassment and intimidation, including distribution of hate literature, threats and slurs.

New York: Anti-Semitic Acts by County and Borough

The most dramatic increase in anti-Semitic incidents in New York State was reflected on Long Island, with a total of 107 incidents, up from 78 in 2004. Westchester County also increased, with 23 incidents, up from 16.

According to the Audit, New York State experienced 227 incidents of harassment, reflecting a dramatic increase from 158 in 2004. (This category includes verbal intimidation, threats, and physical assaults. Physical assaults were specifically on the rise, with 16 reported, up from 7 in 2004). There were 154 incidents of vandalism, down from 179 incidents in 2004.

The following are the total number of anti-Semitic incidents in specific regions:

-- Long Island, 107, up from 78

-- Manhattan, 112, down from 105

-- Brooklyn, 51, down from 71

-- Queens, 37, up from 35

-- Bronx, 11, up from 10

-- Staten Island 8, up from 6

-- Westchester, 23, up from 16

-- Upstate New York, 31, up from 30

Sampling of Anti-Semitic Incidents in New York State in 2005

-- In January, a sheet with "white power" and a neo-Nazi symbol painted on it was hung on an overpass near Exit 13 over the Northway about 30 miles north of Albany, along 1-87.

-- In March, a Hatzola ambulance in Belle Harbor was defaced with a swastika, a Hitler reference and the words "death to Jews."

-- In April, two teenage girls were charged with criminal mischief for shattering a window at a Bath Beach synagogue in Brooklyn. The two 18 year olds used a slingshot to fire a hard object through the window of the synagogue.

-- Also in April, a student at a Brooklyn secondary school told another that Jews deserved the Holocaust and spit soda in his face.

-- In May, anti-Semitic slurs, including "Kill the Jews, 7-14- 05", and swastikas were found on written on at least 17 cars, bus shelters, mailboxes and newspaper racks Fresh Meadows, Queens. Two 20 year olds were charged with 18 counts of criminal mischief as a hate crime.

-- In June, cars were defaced with anti-Semitic slogans in nine different locations in Midwood, Queens.

-- Also in June, KKK business cards were found around town, in driveways, by schools and left in bars and restaurant restrooms as part of a local recruitment effort in Port Jervis.

-- In August at Levittown Memorial High School in Long Island, a swastika, KKK and "white power" were spray-painted on the rooftop.

-- In September, three teenagers vandalized and defacated in a synagogue in Monticello. The teens spray-painted holy books, as well as the faces in dozens of framed photos of rabbis. They also used glue and glitter from children's supply closet to make a swastika on a table. They set fire to the velvet curtain over the ark by the Torah and sray painted anti-Semitic graffiti on handball courts outside including a red swastika, KKK, Heil Hitler, and 4:20 (Hitler's birthday).

-- In October, three teenagers spray painted "F-- u Jew" on the front door of a home in Queens. One of the perpetrators was apprehended and said that he did it because he heard a Jewish family had moved in.

-- In November a local high school student was arrested for putting up swastikas around the campus at Syracuse University.

-- In December, a female student living on the Columbia University campus found her hallway and door covered floor to ceiling with racist, homophobic, anti-Semitic and anti-Christian symbols and words, including, "KKK", "Adolph Hitler is King (not Jesus)" and "Hitler is God". Her walls were covered with SS symbols, triangles, swastikas and depictions of Jesus crucified. Two Columbia students were later arrested and charged with criminal mischief as a hate crime.

-- Also in December, across the state, four menorahs set up in towns for Chanukah were destroyed within days of their installation.

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 to ADL's 30 regional offices by victims, law enforcement officers and community leaders, the Audit provides an annual snapshot of a nationwide problem while identifying possible trends or changes in the types of activity reported.

Editors Note: Additional information on the national figures for anti-Semitism is available online at http://www.adl.org. To speak with an expert, contact ADL Media Relations at (212) 885- 7749 or e-mail adlmedia@adl.org.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

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