‘Major’ Increase in Anti-Semitism in Florida

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida — There has been a significant increase in extremist-related incidents nationally and in Florida over the past two years, according to a new report released Tuesday by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

The organization said these incidents were caused, in part, by widespread disinformation and conspiracy theories that fueled extremism and fostered anti-Semitism.

This has resulted in unrest and violence, including the attack on the US Capitol on January 6 last year, and an increase in white supremacist activism and hate crimes.

Read the full report below.

From January 2020 to August 2022, ADL said it documented more than 400 instances of white supremacist propaganda distribution in Florida.

The overwhelming majority of these incidents involved the white supremacist group the Patriot Front and the New Jersey European Heritage Association, according to the organization’s reports.

The report notes that there are several other hate groups based in or existing in Florida, including the NSDAP, Sunshine State Nationalists, NatSoc Florida, White Lives Matter, American First/Groyper Movement, Endangered Souls, and Florida Nationalists. Outlined.

Ninety-five of these incidents contained anti-Semitic words or symbols, targeted Jewish organizations, or both, the report said.

The survey found that hate crimes have continued to rise in Florida over the past several years.

“Anti-Semitism and extremism have been propagated by groups from diverse political and ideological backgrounds,” the report said.

According to the latest data from the FBI’s 2020 Hate Crime Statistics Report, 56.1% of all religion-based hate crimes reported nationwide in 2020 targeted the Jewish community.

In Florida, hate crimes against Jews accounted for 80% of religiously motivated incidents in 2020, and anti-Semitic hate crimes have increased 300% since 2012.

According to data compiled by the George Washington University Program on Extremism, 90 of the 855 people indicted in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol attacks are from Florida, more than any other state.

ADL Florida recommended the following steps to combat extremism:

1. Condemn Hate:

Elected public officials and community leaders must strongly and consistently condemn anti-Semitism and extremism whenever and wherever it occurs.

2. Pass and enforce laws to protect marginalized communities:

Our leaders must pass and enforce laws, including comprehensive hate crime bills and state nonprofit security grant programs.

3. Protect free and fair elections:

Both elected leaders and community members must advocate for election systems that are accessible to all voters and protected from violence.

4. Disrupt hatred and extremism through appropriate law enforcement actions:

Law enforcement agencies should allocate resources to hate crime units and receive training on how to recognize and document hate crimes, anti-Semitic incidents, and other prejudice-based incidents. This is training that ADL can provide.

5. Prioritize Anti-Bias and Holocaust Education:

Students should develop an accurate understanding of historical events such as the Holocaust and engage in purposeful opportunities to learn and investigate prejudices to help them become productive citizens.