Anti-Semitism is rearing its ugly head in Riverdale, New York; for the second time in the last month, a swastika was found in a public place, this time carved into the ground around second base in Seton Park.
Another swastika was found recently painted on a sidewalk, and “Kill Jews” was painted on a sidewalk as well. In reference to the latest incident, Councilman Andrew Cohen, Rep. Elliot Engel, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and state Sen. Jeff Klein released a joint statement saying, “It is our hope that all necessary resources are provided to find those who perpetrated these appalling acts, so they can be brought to justice quickly.”
An investigation by police in the 50th Precinct and the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force is ongoing.
There has been a clear increase in the number of anti-Semitic acts since Israel went to war with Hamas in July; the World Zionist Organization examined the number of anti-Semitic incidents recorded before Operation Protective Edge was launched and after it started. The study found that in July 2014, 318 anti-Semitic incidents occurred around the world, as opposed to 66 in July, 2013, a 383% increase.
Anti-Semitic attacks increased by 436% in Europe, 1200% in South America, 600% in South Africa, 800% in Oceania, 127% in the United States, and 100% in Canada. Some examples include teenagers threatening Jewish schoolchildren on an Australian bus, using a baseball bat to attack Jews in Paris, and firebombing attacks in Toulouse and Germany.