Report Sharp Rise in Anti-semitic, Racial Incidents in Long Island

The Long Island regional office of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith reported today that since the close of the 1980 audit period (Dec. 8, 1980), ADL has received report of a total of 70 anti-Semitic and racial incidents in Nassau and Suffolk Counties as of the end of July, a total nearly 70 percent higher than that of the entire 1980 reporting year.

In ADL’s 1980 audit of incidents, Long Island (Nassau-Suffolk) alone accounted for 39 out of the 377 incidents reported and included in the national audit. Each of ADL’s 26 national regional offices contribute to the national audit.

The county breakdown recorded by the L.I. regional office credits Nassau with 51 incidents and Suffolk with 19, so far this year. Five incidents have been categorized as cases of life-threatening violence (two of personal assault and three of attempted arson), and four are labeled as racial incidents. Kurt Kelman, chairman of the League’s Long Island Regional Board released the findings with the comment:

“While the absolute number of incidents recorded to date is well in excess of the entire reporting period for the previous year, we attribute the larger number to several factors, not the least of which is public confidence in the police follow-up during 1980 which led to a record number of arrests and convictions for such acts. What we have in these figures is a truer reflection of the extent of prejudice rather than an increase in intensity. However, the numbers do tell us that anti-Semitism and racism among adolescents on Long Island is a problem which must be addressed by schools, churches and youth serving institutions of all kinds as a permanent part of their agenda.”