ADL Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents 2016
The Anti-Defamation League's annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents recorded 1,266 anti-Semitic incidents across the United States in 2016, a 34% year-over-year increase from 2015. Approximately 30% (369) of these incidents occured during November and December.
The 2016 anti-Semitic incidents included:
- 720 harassment and threat incidents (an increase of 41% over 2015)
- 510 vandalism incidents (an increase of 35% over 2015)
- 36 physical assault incidents (a decrease of 35% from 2015)
The ADL reported 34 anti-Semitic incidents related to 2016's divisive election, including graffiti that read Kill the Jews, Vote Trump,
and a man in Florida who was accosted and told Trump is going to finish what Hitler started.
During 2016 there was a significant increase in anti-Semitic incidents at non-Jewish elementary, middle, and high-schools. While there were only 114 in 2015, there were 235 in 2016; an increase of 106%.
Speaking in early 2017, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt confirmed a significant, sustained increase in anti-Semitic activity since the start of 2016,
adding that the number of incidents had accelerated over the past five months.
During the first three months of 2017, 541 incidents were reported, representing an increase of 86% compared to the previous year's period.
In keeping with the recent trend, the states with the largest Jewish populations, California and New York, topped the list of states with the most anti-Semitic incidents. California experienced 211 incidents of anti-Semitism during 2015, up from 198 in 2015. In New York state, 199 incidents were reported, increasing from 175 in 2015. There were 157 anti-Semitic incidents reported to the ADL from New Jersey in 2016, 137 from Florida, and 125 from Massachusetts.
Source: Anti-Defamation League
Download our mobile app for on-the-go access to the Jewish Virtual Library
