At least 100 Jewish Community Centers have been
threatened so far, including facilities in Westchester and Staten Island
New York City is experiencing a dramatic rise in hate
crimes, city law enforcement officials said.
Antisemitic hate crime surged 94 percent since last
February, driving up hate crime numbers throughout the city, NYPD Chief of
Detectives Robert Boyce said at a press conference Wednesday. He believes it’s
part of a nationwide pattern.
The department has received several “very
troubling” antisemitic threats, but is “highly focused” on
assessing each threat and taking the appropriate measures as necessary, says
Mayor Bill de Blasio. He added that the “atmosphere of hate” is
giving rise to more widespread acts of discrmination.
“We will not accept antisemitism in this country, but
the backgroup is worrisome,” he said. “An atmosphere of hate has been
fostered in these last few months in America, we have to stop it.”
To combat the rise in hate crimes, police presence has been
ramped up at centers and places of worship, says NYPD Chief of Department
Carlos Gomez. There’ll be an increase in security during the Passover holiday
as an extra precaution.
A wave of bomb threats targeting Jewish Community
Centers have left thousands on edge
since the start of 2017. Threats called into JCCs in at least five states,
including New Jersey, prompted evacuations Jan. 9.
At least 20 centers and day schools were targeted in a new
round of threats, the national Jewish Community Centers Association told NBC
News Monday. Among those targeted were facilities in Pennsylvania and in the
New York City area like Plainview, where 400 people, including 200 preschoolers,
were forced to leave the building, police said.
