JACKSONVILLE, Fla — A surprising jump in antisemitism in places like Jacksonville is now driving up numbers statewide. The Anti-Defamation League’s 2022 audit of anti Semitic incidents showed Florida hit an all-time high.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
Duval fell behind just Miami-Dade and Broward in the top three. Experts with ADL said two reasons include both anti Semitic projections on buildings and flyers in yards.
According to the audit, there was a 36% uptick in anti Semitic incidents in 2022 compared to 2021 nationwide. That number increased in Florida to a 42% spike. But even more shocking is areas like Duval which showed an 833% jump from three incidents in 2021 to 28 in 2022.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
“It’s just a massive increase in the number of incidents happening in the Jacksonville area,” Sarah Emmons, the Florida Regional Director for ADL, said.
She said 12 of the incidents are offensive literature, like flyers thrown in people’s driveways.
Related read: Nazi group throws anti Semitic flyers on Jacksonville and Orange Park lawns – Action News Jax
There were also eight incidents of harassment and six demonstrations.
“It’s just devastating and really these acts — whether it’s flyers or laser projections -- are meant to intimidate communities,” Emmons said. “Certainly the Jewish community, to make people feel scared.”
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
The audit included criminal and non-criminal incidents. Florida ranked alongside California, New Jersey, and New York with the highest increases.
You can read more on ADL’s audit here: Anti-Defamation League | PR: Antisemitic Incidents In Florida More Than Double Since 2020 | Florida (adl.org)
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
