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‘Staggering increase’ in Jewish hate, Robert Kraft’s foundation finds
The Foundation to Combat Antisemitism released a report on antisemitism on Thursday.
A new report released Thursday from the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism found that hate against Jewish people has been on the rise in the US since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas and the subsequent military response from Israel.
FCAS, founded by billionaire and CEO of the New England Patriots Robert Kraft, found “a significant shift toward Jewish hate among US adults in the last year.”
“Hate is out of control in our country, and I have never seen anything like this in my lifetime,” Kraft, chairman and chief executive officer of the Kraft Group, said in a statement. “Understanding what is driving this increase in Jewish hate, and the decline we are seeing in allies who are willing to stand up against it, is critical to our ongoing mission to combat all hate.”
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The Stand Up to Jewish Hate: The US Antisemitism Landscape Survey marks the organization’s first published report based on longitudinal data collected since 2022. The survey analyzed over 500 million posts daily from social media, websites, blogs, and forums to “identify key conversations and insights on this topic,” according to a press release.
Tara Levine, president of FCAS, said the report serves to raise awareness about the “staggering increase in Jewish hate and all hate in America.”
“What we are looking to do is raise awareness, specifically among the unengaged audiences, those people in America who are sitting on the sidelines,” Levine told Boston.com. “We need to engage them, and we need to activate them so that they become allies in this fight against Jewish hate and this fight against all hate.”
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The report says that in June 2023, antisemitism manifested largely through “a rising belief in anti-Jewish tropes,” but by June 2024 antisemitism “became more overt.”
The percent of American adults who believe Jews are “at least somewhat of a threat to the unity of American society,” nearly doubled in one year, from 12% to 21%, which the report labeled as an indicator of “overt prejudice.”
“The study identifies key segments among US adults, including Allies who are well informed about antisemitism and activated to stand up to Jewish hate, and Haters who show blatant prejudice and tend to be outspoken about it,” the press release said.
Previously:
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New state budget allows for a Special Commission on Antisemitism. Here’s what it will do.
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Patriots’ Robert Kraft halts support for alma mater, Columbia University, amid pro-Palestine protests
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‘The most meaningful and fulfilling action of my life’: Kraft donates another $100 million to fight antisemitism
The increase in hate was most pronounced among young people — in June 2024, 25% of all American adults were classified as “Haters” or “Leaning Haters” and for 18-to-29-year-olds, 32% fell into that category, the survey says.
Still, the report said that Americans in their 30s and 40s shifted at a similar rate, resulting in a “corresponding loss” of “Allies” and rise in “Haters.”
“This trend cuts across generations,” the report says.
The release of the FCAS report follows the unveiling of the Special Commission on Antisemitism, included in the new Mass. state budget signed in July, which will report data trends relating to antisemitism and review the Commonwealth’s hate crime statutes.
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The report also comes in the wake of various Pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses across the country and many in the Boston area, leading to thousands of arrests in the wake of Oct. 7.
A federal lawsuit accusing Massachusetts Institute of Technology of tolerating antisemitism, in part from the protests, was dismissed in July, citing the university’s efforts to address potential threats to Jewish students. However, a similar one against Harvard University was allowed to continue due to what the judge deemed was an inadequate response from the university.
There were 440 antisemitic incidents in Massachusetts recorded in 2023 by the Anti-Defamation League, which also reported a “massive spike post-Oct. 7.”
Since the release of the report, Levine said more than 20,000 people have reached out to offer their support.
“This just really shows the grassroots support of this campaign to stand up to Jewish hate and stand up to all hate,” Levine said.
Levine said FCAS is focused on “building empathy” as an “antidote to hate.”
“When you have empathy, you understand what it’s like for someone who’s on the receiving end of hate, and you want to be able to stand up against that hate and support those individuals,” Levine said. “That’s incredibly powerful.”
