According to the most recent Montgomery County Report on Bias Incidents, there were 143 reported bias incidents in 2021 – the highest number in nearly a decade. Of the 79 race-based incidents, 60.8% were anti-Black and 20.3% were anti-Asian. Of the 34 incidents motivated by bias towards religion, 85.3% were considered anti-Jewish, despite residents of Jewish faith making up only 10% of the population. The level of public animosity towards Jews is higher than it’s been in recent memory, with antisemitic hate crimes on the rise in our region and across the nation. Last year, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported a 34% increase in antisemitic incidents nationwide – the highest number on record since ADL began tracking such incidents.
As a Jew and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I know the fear and pain many of our neighbors are experiencing. One of the central functions of government is to provide comfort and safety to our residents, which is why we have a moral obligation to promote inclusiveness, celebrate diversity, prevent the spread of misinformation, and reject hate in all its forms.
