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Poll: Anti-Semitic Incidents Decline in U.S.

New York and New Jersey incidents increased while national rate fell

by
Romy Zipken
July 30, 2013
Abe Foxman.(David Karp/JTA)
Abe Foxman.(David Karp/JTA)

According to a new poll by the Anti-Defamation League’s annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, anti-Semitic incidents are down 14 percent since 2012 in the United States. Incidents have decreased over the past three years, YNet reports.

The ADL Audit reported a total of 927 anti-Semitic incidents across the US in 2012, including assaults, vandalism and harassment, marking a 14% decline from the 1,080 incidents reported in 2011.

While the poll shows positive progress, there is no way to account for anti-Semitic comments on the internet, which are abundant.

“This explosion of viral hate is impossible to quantify, but it may have led to a migration of sorts where the haters and bigots are more likely to take to the Internet to express themselves anonymously, rather than acting out in a public setting,” added [Barry] Curtiss-Lusher.

Despite the dropping rates nationally, New York and New Jersey—states with large Jewish populations—saw an increase in incidents, Haaretz reports.

The ADL recorded 248 anti-Semitic incidents in New York in 2012, representing a 27 percent increase from the 195 incidents in 2011. New York City’s five boroughs had a total of 172 anti-Jewish acts, including incidents of assault, harassment and vandalism, compared to 127 in 2011.

At 173 incidents, New Jersey had 29 more than the previous year.

Abraham Foxman, the ADL’s national director, said the progress made is a good sign, however, the amount of incidents is still “disturbing.” The poll has been conducted since 1979.

Romy Zipken is a writer and editor at Jewcy. Her Twitter feed is @RomyZipken.