Jewish Group Reports Sharp Increase In Antisemitic Incidents

MILWAUKEE, WI — Incidents targeting Wisconsin's Jewish population are on the rise, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Milwaukee Jewish Federation says, based on their most recent report.

According to the Federation, antisemitic incidents reported in Wisconsin increased 55 percent from 2018 to 2019 and a 329 percent increase since 2015, according to a report released Monday, March 2.

The 2019 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents will be presented by the Jewish Community Relations Council at a public event on Wednesday, March 4, 7 p.m. at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center – Daniel M. Soref Community Hall, 6255 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Whitefish Bay.

“We are living in a time of increased boldness, brazen expressions of hate,” Council Chair Ann Jacobs said in a statement. “We do not have reason to believe that more people feel animosity toward Jews than before, but we know that more people are acting on their bigoted ideology. That should be a communal call to action to end the many signals in our society that encourage people to express bigotry and animosity.”

As cited in their report, troubling trends in the audit include:

• Harassment, threats, and assault increased by 150 percent (from 16 to 40 incidents)
• Hate group activity (900 percent increase)
• References to the Holocaust, Nazi, and Hitler (94 percent increase)
• Middle school activity (250 percent increase)
• Conspiracy theories (67 percent increase)
• Pejorative references to Israel and Zionism (160 percent increase)

Each reported incident is corroborated and reviewed before any action is taken, the Council said. The audit is reviewed by the Council's Antisemitism and Constitutional Law Task Force and the JCRC Board before the final approval process of the JCRC Community Council.

“The call to action should be to speak out whenever we hear bigotry; to form alliances with neighbors and particularly other marginalized groups; to advocate for other targeted groups with the understanding that there is enough compassion for multiple groups; to lift up voices of leadership that reflect the values that we embrace,” said JCRC Director Elana Kahn.

The JCRC works year-round to respond to and prevent incidents through ongoing interfaith and intercultural relations, ongoing efforts fighting bigotry against all people, and its Hours Against Hate initiative. The organization strongly encourages individuals and institutions to report all incidents, and ensures full confidentiality:

Report online: MilwaukeeJewish.org/Antisemitism
Email: JCRC@MilwaukeeJewish.org
Call: 414-390-5736