ORLANDO, Fla. – A top federal prosecutor in Florida is raising concerns over a growing number of anti-Semitic hate crimes, urging community members to report incidents of discrimination and threats.
Roger Handberg, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, spoke Tuesday evening at the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida in Maitland as part of an ongoing effort to engage with the Jewish community. Handberg noted that cases of anti-Semitism have doubled since Oct. 7, 2023.
“We are seeing more of these types of threats than I have seen during other times of my career,” Handberg said.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, there were 1,951 anti-Jewish hate crimes nationwide in 2023, including 70 in Florida. Handberg believes the actual number is likely higher due to underreporting.
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“We try to find people that have crossed that criminal line and are making threats that are not just free speech,” he said.
The meeting also addressed growing concerns in schools. Stephen Poyner, director of education at the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center, said he has seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents, including swastikas drawn on walls and yearbooks.
“What do our parents, our community members do to engage?” Poyner asked. “We need to take action within our communities.”
The discussion follows a series of high-profile incidents, including a 2022 neo-Nazi rally in Waterford Lakes. Organizers of Tuesday’s event hope to equip the public with tools to combat hate and foster a more inclusive community.
“I hope they take the tools to engage more, to be more active in their citizenship and community,” Poyner said. “So we can create a society free of prejudice, bigotry, and anti-Semitism.”
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