New Mexico saw antisemitic incidents increase in 2023, according to report

Fallon Fischer
·3 min read
2

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has released a new report showing antisemitic incidents are at an all-time high across the United States. In New Mexico, antisemitic incidents nearly quadrupled in 2023 compared to data from 2022.

New Mexico recorded eight anti-Jewish incidents in 2022, and that number increased to 31 incidents in 2023. Out of the 31 incidents, 26 involved harassment, which the group defines as “cases in which one or more Jewish people, or people perceived to be Jewish, were harassed verbally or in writing with antisemitic slurs, stereotypes, or conspiracy theories.” Five out of the total number of incidents consisted of vandalism, which is described by the group as “cases where property was damaged in a manner that incorporated evidence of antisemitic intent or which had an antisemitic impact on Jews.”

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The Anti-Defamation League Mountain States Region of Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming shared some of the reports that it received about incidents in New Mexico. They can be viewed below:

  • A Jewish student at the University of New Mexico was called an ethnic slur while counterprotesting an anti-Israel rally.

  • A student drew a swastika on a cabinet in a Jewish teacher’s classroom.

  • Fake blood, a fake body bag and anti-Israel graffiti was spray-painted in front of a Jewish-owned art gallery.

  • A student experienced antisemitic harassment at school from another student who displayed photos of ovens.

The majority of incidents in the Mountain States Region occurred in Colorado, with 198 reports in 2023 compared to 71 in 2022. In Wyoming, the number of reported incidents increased from two reports in 2022 to 13 in 2023.

ADL Mountain States Regional Director Scott Levin issued the following statement:

“The staggering increase in reported antisemitic incidents in 2023 is alarming. Unfortunately, it only tells a part of the story. Behind each reported incident is a Jewish individual who was personally targeted with harm because of their identity, or a Jewish institution that was targeted because it is a place where Jewish people congregate and pray. Whether it is a middle school child who had a swastika drawn on her arm or a synagogue that received a bomb threat while people were gathered for a funeral service, the harm to Jewish individuals and institutions is real. These stories must not be forgotten or overlooked. It is unacceptable that hatred of Jews continues to grow at a dangerous pace. We need everyone to recognize antisemitism for the true threat it is not only to Jews, but to our entire society. The Jewish community cannot fight this hate alone.”

While New Mexico did see an increase in incidents, the number of incidents in the state is on the lower end compared to more than one dozen other states in the country.

At the national level, antisemitic incidents surged in 2023, with a total of 8,873 incidents reported across the United States, an increase of 140% from 3,698 incidents in 2022, which is the highest level recorded since ADL began tracking this data in 1979.

The states with the highest number of incidents were California (1,266), New York (1,218), New Jersey (830), Florida (463) and Massachusetts (440). Combined, these five states accounted for 48% of the total incidents.

The ADL noted in its audit that the dramatic increase in incidents took place primarily in the period after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. In the three-month period between Oct. 7 and the end of 2023, ADL said it recorded more incidents than in any full year on record.

ADL receives reports about incidents from its online portal and also gets information from law enforcement. More information about the 2023 audit can be found here.

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