NYPD Says Anti-Semitic Hate Crimes Up Staggering 82 Percent
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The NYPD has offered an update on crime throughout the city for the first quarter of 2019.
The report shows a disturbing trend, CBSN New York's Marcia Kramer reported.
Thursday is Yom Hashoah the day Jews remember the 6 million killed in the holocaust and it comes as the Police Department is reporting a dramatic rise in hate crimes, the hike fueled by anti-Semitism.
WATCH: NYPD Monthly Crime Stats Briefing:
According to police, hate crimes were up 67 percent in the first quarter of the year, January through April. There were 145 incidents, compared to 87 in the first four months of 2018. Of those, 82 of the 2019 incidents were anti-Semitic, an 82 percent increase.
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The increase in anti-Semitic incidents has come on the heels of the attack on a California synagogue on Sunday, the last day of Passover, in which a gunman opened fire with an assault rifle.
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One woman was killed, three other people were injured.
"I think it's really clear, Marcia, the forces of white supremacy have been unleashed," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at an afternoon press conference. "I think what's happening in this country is a lot of folks used to be told it was unacceptable to be anti-Semitic, to be racist, and now they're getting more permission."
Evan Bernstein of the Anti-Defamation League said he blames the massive spike on the internet.
"People are using online platforms to rile themselves up, and also to get their messaging out to other people to get them riled up," Bernstein said. "Now, instead of people putting maybe a swastika out there or doing, say, harassment, certain people are now using weapons and killing people."
MORE: Hate Crimes On The Rise In New York Amid Spate Of Anti-Semitic Attacks
The NYPD is also reporting an increase in crimes based on sexual orientation.
The ADL said the solution is education, as in better educating our youth not to hate.
Police officials said arrests for hate crimes have doubled.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said 80 percent of the ant-Semitic crimes in the city involve the drawing of swastikas in some way.
