This week, the Anti-Defamation League announced that “U.S. anti-semitic incidents remained at a historic high in 2020” and are increasing in 2021. This comes at a time when Asian Americans have also been experiencing a rise in attacks.
In the ADL’s Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, “2020 was the third-highest year on record.” As lawmakers work to answer growing concerns regarding hate crimes across the United States, Florida Rep. Ted Deutch (D) is adding to the national dialogue, affirming that there needs to be an end.
On Twitter, Deutch stated that “Yesterday in ’19, a gunman armed w/ a semi-automatic AR-15 style rifle entered the Chabad of Poway, killing Lori Gilbert & injuring 3.” Because “’20 was another near-record year for anti-semitic incidents,” Deutch warned that “we must do more to combat this anti-Jewish hatred that lurks in our society.”
Yesterday in '19, a gunman armed w/ a semi-automatic AR-15 style rifle entered the Chabad of Poway, killing Lori Gilbert & injuring 3.
'20 was another near-record year for antisemitic incidents (@ADL).
We must do more to combat this anti-Jewish hatred that lurks in our society. https://t.co/i4g3ind5Pr
— Rep. Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) April 28, 2021
Deutch has voiced his support for gun control in the past, and the audit comes as State Senator Joe Gruters’ (R) 2nd-Amendment bill has just passed the Florida Senate and will make it's way to Governor Ron DeSantis’ (R) desk for signing.
State Senator Tina Polsky (D), like Deutch, warned of the implication the bill has on Floridians and other states should they follow suit.
“It just makes me very uncomfortable that we’re saying more guns, more guns, more guns, when we have had, is it 60 mass shootings so far this year?” Polsky questioned. “SO let’s just add more guns in a sacred place like a church, a temple, a mosque,” She added, asserting that “there are other ways to make those institutions safe.”
Yael Rabin of the ADL, who provided the year-end review of 2020, informed that “of the 2,024 incidents recorded in 2020, 1,242 cases of harassment, 751 cases of vandalism and 31 were cases of anti-semitic assault.”
