ADL: Anti-Semitism Remains High Despite Drop in Incidents

BOSTON (AP) — A Jewish civil rights organization says while the number of anti-Semitic incidents in Massachusetts was down last year compared to 2017, there were some disturbing upward trends.

The Anti-Defamation League said Tuesday it recorded 144 anti-Semitic incidents in Massachusetts in 2018, a nearly 20% decrease compared to 2017. Of those, 82 were acts of vandalism that included anti-Semitic messages, and 59 were harassment. Fifty-eight cities and towns in the state recorded at least one anti-Semitic incident.

The ADL said there were three reported assaults against Jews in the state last year, compared to none in 2017. Those numbers reflect a national trend of rising anti-Semitic assaults.

ADL New England Regional Director Robert Trestan says “after years of hate becoming normalized, bigots are turning their anti-Semitism into action through violence.”