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Dear John,
2020 was an unprecedented year and while the societal changes caused by COVID may have contributed to lower levels in some types of antisemitic incidents, other forms increased, including Zoombombings that emerged as a new way to spread hate and fear.
Our Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents report is being issued on the second anniversary of the deadly white supremacist attack on the Chabad of Poway, California. We are grateful that in 2020 there were no deadly attacks perpetrated against the Jewish community. However, violent incidents ranged from an attendee at a Chabad Hannukah gathering in Kentucky who was run over by a driver yelling antisemitic slurs to a counter-protestor at the Million MAGA March who was assaulted by a marcher who also called the victim a “f***ing Jew.”
Overall, ADL recorded a slight drop in antisemitic incidents, but Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., in 2020 each saw historically high levels of antisemitic incidents reported. Of particular concern, ADL recorded a marked increase in antisemitic incidents of harassment in 2020.
The data shows that the incidents are pervasive, with 47 states and the District of Columbia affected. Too many Jewish communities across the country had direct encounters with hate, and too many Jewish institutions – from schools to synagogues to community centers – have been reminded that they are vulnerable.
While any decline in the data is encouraging, we still experienced a year in which antisemitic acts remained at a disturbingly high level despite lockdowns and other significant changes in our daily lives. We can’t let our guard down. As communities open up and people spend more time in person with others, we must remain vigilant.
ADL remains committed to fighting back against antisemitism of all forms. With your help, we will double down on our work with elected leaders, schools, and communities to end the cycle of hatred.
 Doron F. Ezickson
Vice President, Mid-Atlantic/Midwest Division
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) | |
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In 2020, ADL tracked 2,024 antisemitic incidents across the U.S., a 4 percent decline from 2019. ADL’s Audit classifies incidents into three categories: assault, harassment, and vandalism. Of the total incidents reported in 2020:
Harassment: There were 1,242 harassment incidents, an increase of 10 percent from 2019.
Vandalism: There were 751 vandalism incidents, cases where property was damaged in a manner that harmed or intimidated Jews. Swastikas were present in 517 of these incidents. Acts of antisemitic vandalism decreased 18 percent from 2019.
Assault: There were 31 assault incidents involving a total of 41 victims where people were physically targeted with violence accompanied by evidence of antisemitic hatred. Assaults dropped 49 percent from 2019, perhaps due in part to COVID lockdowns and other pandemic-related behavioral changes. For the first time since 2017, there were no antisemitic fatalities reported.
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“In 2020 we documented record numbers of antisemitic incidents across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. and saw a steady rise in vandalism and substantial increases of harassment. We remain deeply concerned about these growing trends of hate and bigotry in our communities.” - Doron F. Ezickson, ADL Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic/Midwest Division.
In Maryland, 47 antisemitic incidents were reported in 2020, a 135 percent increase from the 20 incidents in 2019, and a 21 percent increase from the 39 incidents in 2018. Maryland registered the 11th highest number of antisemitic incidents reported in the country for 2020.
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Vandalism: 11 incidents – no change from 2019 (0 percent change)
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Harassment: 35 incidents – up from 8 in 2019 (338 percent increase)
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Assault: 1 incident – no change from 2019 (0 percent change)
In Virginia, 49 antisemitic incidents were reported in 2020, a 75 percent increase from the 28 incidents in 2019, and a 58 percent increase from the 31 incidents in 2018. Virginia registered the 10th highest number of antisemitic incidents reported in the country for 2020.
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Vandalism: 16 incidents – up from 12 in 2019 (33 percent increase)
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Harassment: 33 incidents – up from 16 in 2019 (106 percent increase)
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Assault: 0 incidents reported over the last 5 years
In Washington, D.C., 43 antisemitic incidents were reported in 2020, a 126 percent increase from the 19 incidents in 2019, and a 34 percent increase from the 32 incidents in 2018. Washington, D.C. registered the 13th (tied with Ohio) highest number of antisemitic incidents reported in the country for 2020.
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Vandalism: 14 incidents – up from 6 in 2019 (133 percent increase)
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Harassment: 27 incidents – up from 13 in 2019 (108 percent increase)
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Assault: 2 incidents: up from 0 in 2019 (200 percent increase)
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Incidents connected to Israel or Zionism climbed in 2020, with efforts from many groups trying to demonize Jewish support for the Jewish state. At the University of Illinois at Chicago, for example, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) shared a post on Instagram calling on students to "start Zionist shaming," and suggested taunting Jewish students with messages such as, "Go back to Brooklyn" and "Steal anyone's land today?"
The people and organizations committing these antisemitic acts range from white supremacist groups that post propaganda spreading anti-Israel and antisemitic beliefs to campus groups like SJP that direct anti-Israel hatred against Jewish students for real or assumed connections to Israel. Read More | |
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The disruption of in-school education in K-12 schools and on college campuses across the country during the pandemic resulted in a steep drop in school-based incidents after March 2020 as vast numbers of schools shifted to fully remote learning.
However, a rise in Zoombombings of school-related online gatherings came with the transition to online classes.
Incidents tracked by ADL at non-Jewish K-12 schools were down 61% from 2019, and incidents on college campuses were down 32%. The impact of COVID on these levels of incidents are particularly striking since pre-pandemic incidents in 2020 were trending up significantly over the previous year.
In the full audit, you can read about disruptive antisemitic incidents in schools across the country. Read More | |
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On March 24, 2020, a white supremacist interrupted a webinar about antisemitism hosted by a Massachusetts Jewish student group. He pulled his shirt collar down to reveal a swastika tattoo. A day later, a similar incident occurred in California at an online class hosted by a JCC; the perpetrator launched into a profanity-laced antisemitic rant and removed his shirt to display a swastika tattoo.
ADL’s Center on Extremism was alerted and examined screenshots of the individual behind both incidents. We identified him as Andrew Alan Escher Auernheimer, a self-described “white nationalist hacktivist” whose antisemitic screeds on the neo-Nazi Daily Stormer website blamed Jews for building “an empire of wickedness the likes the world has never seen,” among other incendiary messages. He has also, in previous incidents, sent white supremacist fliers to universities across the country that blamed Jews for destroying the country.
In addition to sharing information about Auernheimer with law enforcement, ADL created guidelines for safer video conferencing and reached out to Zoom, pushing them to repair flaws in Zoom’s technology that were enabling these kinds of attacks even as more and more of the country was reliant on video conferencing during the pandemic. ADL continues to both support victims of these kinds of online attacks, and to work with law enforcement agencies to disrupt the extremists who are hacking video connections to spread antisemitic, racist and obscene messages and images.
If you witness or experience Zoombombing or another act of antisemitism or hate, please report it to ADL online or connect with your local ADL office. You can also use our
guidelines to minimize the risk of Zoombombings for your organizations. | |
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You can take action against antisemitism with ADL.
At a time when many of us feel isolated, we can still join together to fight hate for good and make a difference in our communities.
Report an incident
We can’t do this alone. Because of thousands of people like you who have reported incidents, we have been able to help communities across the country by reporting on trends, educating lawmakers and law enforcement and advocating for stronger protections from incidents and crimes.
If you have experienced or witnessed an incident of antisemitism, extremism, bias, bigotry or hate, please report it using our incident form. When you hear of an incident happening to a loved one, friend or community member, remind them to report the incident to ADL.
Join us for Never Is Now: The Summit on Antisemitism and Hate | November 7-9, 2021
This November, thousands of experts, members of the ADL community, business leaders and students will come together virtually for Never Is Now, the world's largest annual summit on antisemitism and hate. Never Is Now is the best way to learn about and discuss contemporary drivers of antisemitism and hate and find out how you can take action in combating bias of all kinds. Watch sessions from 2020 and
sign up for updates to ensure you are among the first to hear event details as they become available.
Learn more about fighting antisemitism
ADL has a variety of resources to help you learn more about the root causes of antisemitism and hate and to share that information with others. MORE WAYS TO TAKE ACTION | |
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