Hate Crimes Against Jews Surge 28% in the US, Therefore Simon Wiesenthal Center Reiterates It’s Call To Have A FBI Special Taskforce

March 14, 2023

With hate crime at its highest level in decades, the Simon Wiesenthal Center is once again calling for the creation of an FBI Special Taskforce to combat anti-Semitism. Hate crimes surged nearly 12 percent between 2020 and 2021, according to updated statistics released by the FBI on Monday. Contributing to the overall rise was a 28% increase in anti-Jewish incidents, from 683 to 871.

“Simon Wiesenthal Center reiterates its call to the FBI for the creation of a Special Taskforce on Anti-Semitism. We reiterate our call on social media giants to stop extremists ­– from terrorists to anti-Semites – from leveraging their powerful marketing platforms used to mainstream hate into our everyday lives,” stated SWC Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action Agenda, Rabbi Abraham Cooper.

 The SWC will be releasing its Digital Terrorism and Hate Report in partnership with NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams on Monday, March 20. The 2023 report comes at a time of unprecedented hate, anti-Semitism, Holocaust denial on global platforms by neo-Nazis, racists, and white supremacists. A Digital Terrorism + Hate “Report Card” will also be released grading the social media companies on their failure to curb online hate. 

For further information, please email Michele Alkin, Director of Global Communications at malkin@wiesenthal.com or Shawn Rodgers at srodgers@wiesenthal.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization numbering over 400.000 members. It holds consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS and the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO).