WHEREAS antisemitism or “Jew hate” in America has long been directed toward Jewish communities of all colors, sects, and orthodoxy, from “Red lining” in real estate from 1920 through the 1950’s as well as “tight restrictions” that kept Jews out of jobs in law firms, medical professions, universities, colleges, hotels and country clubs; in 2019 88% of American Jews believed antisemitism was a problem in America; proven by a 2020 “Audit of Antisemitic Incidents” that recorded more than 2,100 acts of assault, vandalism and harassment an increase of 12 percent which included five fatalities and 91 individuals targeted in physical assaults; and
WHEREAS California saw a rise in antisemitic hate crimes of 12% or 126 to 141 in 2019, including a fatal Synagogue shooting in the City of Poway; The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recently has documented antisemitic acts in Riverside County; and a report found that antisemitic reports of vandalism increased 12 percent between 2011 and 2012 in the ADL’s Pacific Southwest Region which includes, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Kern Counties; and in California viewed as a five-year trend from 2016-2020, California experienced an increase in incidents of almost 40 percent; and on October 2019 vandalism occurred at a Jewish Attorney’s building in Palm Springs; where a swastika was drawn on a sign visible from Palm Canyon Drive; and
WHEREAS the most recent violent incident which caused fear and anxiety among all Riverside County residents involved a resident that was reported on May 18, 2021; on May 23, 2021 Xavier Pabon, a Banning man was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on several Jewish men outside a restaurant in the Beverly Grove area of Los Angeles; and WHEREAS antisemitism or “Jew hate” in America has long been directed toward Jewish communities of all colors, sects, and orthodoxy, from “Red lining” in real estate from 1920 through the 1950’s as well as “tight restrictions” that kept Jews out of jobs in law firms, medical professions, universities, colleges, hotels and country clubs; in 2019 88% of American Jews believed antisemitism was a problem in America; proven by a 2020 “Audit of Antisemitic Incidents” that recorded more than 2,100 acts of assault, vandalism and harassment an increase of 12 percent which included five fatalities and 91 individuals targeted in physical assaults; and
WHEREAS California saw a rise in antisemitic hate crimes of 12% or 126 to 141 in 2019, including a fatal Synagogue shooting in the City of Poway; The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recently has documented antisemitic acts in Riverside County; and a report found that antisemitic reports of vandalism increased 12 percent between 2011 and 2012 in the ADL’s Pacific Southwest Region which includes, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Kern Counties; and in California viewed as a five-year trend from 2016-2020, California experienced an increase in incidents of almost 40 percent; and on October 2019 vandalism occurred at a Jewish Attorney’s building in Palm Springs; where a swastika was drawn on a sign visible from Palm Canyon Drive; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Riverside County Democratic Party vehemently denounces vandalism and violence against Jewish communities; calls on our elected officials to condemn antisemitic sentiment in any and all forms; and calls on elected officials and law enforcement agencies to proactively enforce existing hate crime laws to protect the Jewish community.
Authored by: Patrick Weiss, AD 42 need email and phone and additional sponsors
Sponsors: Riverside County Democratic Party, Stephen Jaffe, AD 71, DOD President; Elle Kurpiewski, AD 42, Region 19 Director; Steven Schwartz, AD 75; Joy Silver, AD 42 Dori Smith, AD 42, Rick Weingard, AD 42
