The FBI’s newly released 2022 hate-crime statistics, which are based on data that some 78% of U.S. law enforcement agencies agreed to provide, reveal that 2,044 incidents—of a total of 11,643—were based on religion, and 1,124 of the religion-based incidents involved hatred of Jews.
“Antisemitic hate crimes rose 25% from 2021 to 2022, and antisemitism accounted for over half of all reported religion-based hate crimes,” U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday, addressing the FBI stats.
“To those Americans worried about violence at home, as a result of the evil acts of terror perpetrated by Hamas in Israel, we see you. We hear you,” Biden said.
The president added that he directed his team, including U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland (both Jewish), to “prioritize the prevention and disruption of any emerging threats that could harm Jewish, Muslim, Arab-American or any other communities during this time.
“My administration will continue to fight antisemitism and Islamophobia,” Biden said.
