Nonprofits Receive Grants To Combat Hate Crimes In Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Several organizations in Montgomery County received grant awards to combat hate crimes as part of the state’s Protecting Against Hate Crimes program.

The Protecting Against Hate Crimes program provides $5 million to nonprofit organizations in Maryland, including faith-based organizations, with facilities and membership that can be targeted for a hate crime to provide security enhancements. The funding can be used to support equipment, personnel and physical security enhancements.

“Every Marylander has a role to play in combating racism, bias and hate and in keeping our communities safe,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in an Aug. 3 statement.

Montgomery County has seen a rise in antisemitic and racist incidents over the past year. County officials have made a point to condemn each act, including graffiti in communities and schools, and have called on residents to do what they can to stem the rise in incidents.

READ ALSO: Response To Antisemitism's Rise In MOCO Discussed At Forum

Antisemitic graffiti was found last November along the Bethesda Trolley Trail in Montgomery County. Also, antisemitic graffiti was found at Old Georgetown Road and Tuckerman Lane that included a swastika and symbols for white power. Montgomery County Public Schools has seen a rise in antisemitic incidents.

Scotland African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Potomac was burglarized and the target of racist graffiti late last year, an incident that County Executive Marc Elrich described as another example of “racist and hate-filled vandalism” in the county.

The vandalism at the Scotland AME Zion Church came about two weeks after antisemitic graffiti was found along the Bethesda Trolley Trail in Montgomery County.

Here is the list of the Montgomery County groups that received grants for use from July 1 to June 30, 2024, as part of Maryland's Protecting Against Hate Crimes program.

• Mt. Zion United Methodist Church
• Bender JCC of Greater Washington
• Young Israel-Ezras Israel of Potomac
• Torah School of Greater Washington
• Bethesda Jewish Congregation
• Bethesda United Methodist Church Of Bethesda
• Hebrew Home of Greater Washington Inc.
• Silver Spring Jewish Center Inc.
• Yeshiva of Greater Washington Inc.
• Aish Hatorah of Washington DC Inc.
• Anjuman-E-Ezzi (Washington D.C.)
• B'nai Shalom of Olney
• Shaare Tefila Congregation
• Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah
• Connelly School of the Holy Child
• The Ivymount School Inc.
• Temple Shalom
• Chabad of Bethesda Inc.
• Shaare Torah, Inc