Connect with us

latest

Report: Antisemitism, White Supremacy On Rise In Mass.

Published

on

By Alison Kuznitz

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, MAY 23, 2023…..As antisemitic attacks and white supremacist activity escalate in Massachusetts, the Anti-Defamation League is imploring Beacon Hill policymakers to pass legislation to crack down on hate crimes and online harassment.

Massachusetts logged the country’s sixth highest rate of antisemitic harassment, vandalism and assault in 2022, according to a new report from the ADL Center on Extremism. There were 152 antisemitic incidents last year, compared to 108 in the prior year, marking a 41 percent rise.

Some 71 cities and towns experienced at least one antisemitic incident in 2022, compared to 54 in 2021.

Trailing only Texas, Massachusetts recorded the second highest number of white supremacist propaganda incidents last year, the report found. The distribution of white supremacist propaganda increased by 71 percent from 2021 and 2022 — rising from 272 instances to 465 — largely attributed to groups like Patriot Front, the Nationalist Social Club and the Goyim Defense League, according to the report.

The ADL also labeled Massachusetts a “hotbed for anti-LBTQ+ extremism” after a “considerable” spat of hate incidents, including threats to Boston Children’s Hospital surrounding gender-affirming care.

“Extremists have targeted Massachusetts with the intention to instill fear and intimidation through their stunts, propaganda and increasingly aggressive demonstrations,” Peggy Shukur, ADL New England interim regional director, said in a statement. “We are pleased that our key elected officials, including Attorney General Andrea Campbell and Governor Maura Healey, are committed to holding those who commit hateful actions accountable to the fullest extent of the law. We call on our civic leadership, government officials and all citizens of the Commonwealth to firmly denounce hateful rhetoric and condemn anti-LGBTQ+ and antisemitic extremism whenever and wherever it occurs.”

Healey, in a statement, said her administration is committed to being a “strong partner” to combat hate.

“The State of Hate report puts down on paper what far too many members of our communities experience each and every day – organized hate exists here in Massachusetts,” Healey said. “We stand with the LGBTQ+ community, Jewish community, communities of color, and all who are the targets of hate and discrimination.”

FBI data show there were 412 reported hate crimes in Massachusetts in 2021, compared to 310 in 2020, the report states. That’s an increase of 33 percent.

Patriot Front is a Texas-based white supremacist group, but the ADL said it has become “increasingly active” here due to Massachusetts’ connection to the founding of the United States. Members marched through downtown Boston last July, displaying flags, riot shields and banners that read “Reclaim America” and “Strong Families Make Strong Nations.”

The Nationalist Social Club, also known as NSC-131, is now one of New England’s most active white supremacist groups, according to the report. Members held at least 30 events in Massachusetts over the past two years, including hanging antisemitic banners over highways and protesting outside a drag queen story hour that led to the arrest of the group’s leader, Chris Hood.

The People’s Initiative of New England, a local activist offshoot of NSC-13, aspires to have a candidate run for local office. Its broader agenda calls for seceding from the country, creating a “white homeland” and stopping non-white immigration, the report states.

A range of other extremist groups continue to operate in the commonwealth, the report said, such as the Black Hebrew Israelite movement and the Nation of Islam, which the ADL describes as a “notoriously antisemitic Black nationalist organization.”

Lawmakers can crack down on hate crimes by passing a Sen. William Brownsberger bill (S 914) that would make sex and gender a protected class for criminal prosecution, the report recommends. The ADL also supports bills from Rep. Christine Barber and Sen. Cindy Creem (H 1392 / S 924) that would outline a path for restitution in hate crimes involving property damage.

The ADL recommends that law enforcement agencies be required to report “comprehensive” hate crime data on a quarterly basis, combined with a separate procedure to collect such information from community and advocacy groups, plus civil rights agencies.

The report presses lawmakers to clamp down on rising online harassment against the Jewish community, including doxing, which the ADL defines as the “publishing of private, personally identifiable information with malicious intent.” Bills from Rep. Tram Nguyen and Sen. Barry Finegold (H 1707/ S 971), as well as from Sen. Becca Rausch (S 1116), would allow people to seek civil damages from doxing.

State lawmakers can also follow California’s example by passing legislation to hold social media platforms accountable and ensure “they are effectively moderating hate and abiding by their own guidelines,” the report states, adding that a “lack of transparency” by social media companies “has meant that users and policymakers have no way to know if companies actually abide by and enforce their own policies.”

“This rise in extremism is a chilling reminder of the work we have left to do to combat hate and protect our residents,” Campbell said in a statement. “My office is committed to standing up for marginalized communities that have been targeted and harmed by hate in all forms, and will use every resource we have available under the law to hold accountable those who make them feel unsafe.”

Advertisement
17 Comments

17 Comments

  1. Ok Groomer

    May 23, 2023 at 11:28 am

    No mention of Antifa? No mention of all the anti-Catholic and Anti-Christian attacks? And reports of hate crimes are NOT hate crimes. Publish the actual accounts that were verified not of people just reporting them. Increase of reports are NOT increase in verified incidents. This is why NO ONE trusts the news. These articles are penned in such a way to justify infringing on people’s rights. Misgender a ” trans ” person , hate crime , Any criticism of Israel , hate crime. And Gender Affirming care? You mean cutting of healthy breasts of young girls because of gender dysphoria? Absolute calamity what they’re doing to confused children. This is absolutely disgusting. Children cannot enter legal contracts , can’t smoke , drink alcohol or drive a car but can consent to dangerous drugs and surgeries. This is an travesty on a grand scale and these laws seek to do silence all opposition. If people want to ” transition ” 18 or older period end of sentence anything else is State sponsored child abuse.

  2. HuntersCrackPipe

    May 23, 2023 at 12:42 pm

    This article was clearly generated using Chat GPT.

  3. Antifa

    May 23, 2023 at 2:49 pm

    What’s wrong with being anti-fascist? Is it cool to be fascist now? Only to MAGAt’s! And where’s those hate groups going after the Catholics? I don’t see guards posted outside of churches on Sunday! You know these above comments come from people who ain’t smart enough to realize they support fascism because they are ignorant Dunning-Kruger MAGAt’s. Like the orange fascist said himself “there’s good people on both sides”, not!

    Oh and where’s those riots from antifa? The only riot I’ve seen lately was January 6th trying to overthrow the government by a bunch of fascist MAGAt’s.

    You two do know we shot and killed fascist during world war II. You two would have been suckers for Hitler all day long! But the facts show from people much smarter than you that have done the research that most of the political violence in this country right now by radicalized right wing fascist. Thank the old mighty that these people are the minority.

    The above is what happens when you flunk out of history class! I bet they love Putin too! Hell Trump did.

    • I Hate Stupid Democrats

      May 23, 2023 at 5:03 pm

      Nothing wrong with being anti-fascist however don’t equate that group with my Grandfather and his brother who both served in world war 2! False equivocation on your behalf and not the first time. And everything goes back to your boogeyman Trump. I didn’t vote for Trump he’s about as dumb as Creepy Joe. What you morons don’t understand is YOU are the exact reason he got elected in the first place.

      You absolutely won’t hear about any anti-Christian or anti-Catholic violence on State Sponsored media I.E CNN , MSNBC or Fox News. They happen , Trans girl killed 6 Christians in a targeted attack the FBI refuses to release her manifesto for a reason take a guess. How about Katherine Clark’s son spraying painting a historic Boston monument with anti-police rhetoric when arrested punched the police officer in the face and resisted arrest? Oppsss silent about that. That’s anti-fascist alright.

      More ” anti-fascist ” heros at work 63 Churches attacked in the first 3 months of 2023

      https://www.christianpost.com/news/sixty-three-churches-attacked-first-three-months-2023-report.html#:~:text=The%20Family%20Research%20Council%20recorded,in%20its%20first%20three%20months.

      https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/apr/10/attacks-churches-surged-first-quarter-2023-report-/

      How about your ” anti-fascist ” heros so bum bent about the overturning of Roe-V-Wade attempting to kill a Supreme Court judge?

      pregnancy Crisis Centers are under attack by your ” anti-fascist ” heros

      https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/11/pro-choice-militants-pregnancy-crisis-centers-attacks-us

      You didn’t see or hear any of that because you never looked because you’re to devoted to your party to seek the truth, That’s the benefit of not belonging to either party and thinking for yourself , something you clearly cannot do, hence why you’re here spouting all the lefty talking points and labeling anyone who doesn’t agree with you or you’re warped world view a ” MAGAt’s ” or ” fascist ” or ” racist ” or ” transphobe ” Take a look in the mirror everything you type can be applied to you.

    • MortisMaximus

      May 23, 2023 at 5:05 pm

      Another alarming rant by a psychotic person, with a Messianic Complex. Ken get back on your Meds. There are no white supremacists on Fall River Reporter’s message boards, nor are they marching through Fall Rivers massive pot holes. Your hyperbole is way too over the top. None of this Extremist behavior has anything to do with reality. We know Russia, Russia, Russia was a pathetic hoax. Come up with a new routine so we can at least feel we’re getting our monies worth. Otherwise please stay off the message boards, you stink of cheap Russian Vodka, or as you call it; VAKKA…

    • HuntersCrackPipe

      May 23, 2023 at 5:13 pm

      Are you making threats? Better tone it down, you sound like Adam Lanza. Sandy Hook called and wants it’s Alex Jones money. Your comments aren’t fit for the comic pages of the defunct Herald News. 10% for the big guy. Anymore lies you’d like to spread?

  4. Biz thinker

    May 23, 2023 at 7:34 pm

    I miss President Trump policies. The best policies ever.

    • HuntersCrackPipe

      May 23, 2023 at 8:56 pm

      I had an out of body experience when President Trump removed America from the Paris Climate Accord. Now we’re back under Resident Biden, plus his 10% cut.

  5. Antifa

    May 24, 2023 at 7:20 am

    The above supports hate but “Think” they’re good people! Then they come out with whataboutism but the problem this time is there is no whataboutism. There isn’t extreme hate and violence coming from the left. Anybody that calls themselves a crack pipe has to be smoking it! MAGA=FASCISM. You two would have loved Hitler and probably love Putin!

    • HuntersCrackPipe

      May 24, 2023 at 9:17 am

      This clown show Antifa calls for us to be shot. Talks about how he hates Magat’s then says we’re the ones full of hate. Talk about gaslightiting. I have never seen a more delusional person than the Messianic one. Funny because the person who is trying to highlight the ridiculousness of the current Resident of the White House and his family criminal enterprise is the problem; HuntersCrackPipe, not the person who is on video smoking the actual crackpipe is. Hunter Biden. Ken you are a massive tool, for your father satan.

      • Antifa

        May 24, 2023 at 10:59 am

        You’re the clown who would have kissed Hitler’s butt! Just saying during world war II we shot fascia’s idiots. The Germans that served didn’t think they were fascist either. Too bad you’re not smart enough to realize that you’re ignorantly stupid! (Dunning-Kruger) But I’m sure you think you’re a genius! You only think you’re a genius. If you’re a sucker to trumpublican fascism your fascist. You’re not conservative you’re an extremist and the extreme to the right is fascism and the extreme to the left is communism. But since the rich in this country keep on getting richer and financing Republicans campaigns the middle class keeps on falling behind then we are extremely far from communism! If you’re xenophobic and you supported the insurrection you’re fascist.

        So where do you get your statistics from, out of your ass? So once your research paper coming out? 🤣

    • Fed Up

      May 24, 2023 at 5:03 pm

      I wrote a nice retort to your nonsense and Fall River Reporter never allowed it to be scene. They are in the business of suppressing free speech. There isn’t extreme hate coming from the left? Either you’re trolling for lying or plain stupid.

      LBBTQ ” trans ” female ( the left ) targets a Christian school and murders 3 children and 3 adults. That’s as extreme & violent as it gets.

      Democratic Majority Whip of Massachusetts ( the left ) vandalizes monuments with anti-cop rhetoric when being placed under arrest for it assaults a police officer and gets off with a slap on the wrist because Mommy is juiced-in lefty

      https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/top-democrats-transgender-daughter-sentenced-003255522.html

      63 Church’s attacked in the first 3 months of this year alone. All because The Supreme Court overturned Roe-v-Wade most done by Jane’s Revenge ( the left )

      https://www.christianpost.com/news/sixty-three-churches-attacked-first-three-months-2023-report.html

      Man kills teenager over Political argument ( the left )
      https://www.valleynewslive.com/2022/09/19/man-admits-killing-teen-after-political-dispute-foster-co/

      Leftist Professor destroys pro-life display at the College she teaches at and when NYP sends some one to interview her , she pulls a machete on in holding it to his throat threatening to ” chop him up ”

      https://www.zerohedge.com/political/pro-life-display-destroying-cuny-prof-fired-after-threatening-reporter-machete

      The entire 2020 ” mostly peaceful ” RIOTS were ( the lefts ) baby and leftist Attorney General Maura Healy an endorsement of the violence as long as it’s the leftists who are doing it

      https://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/healey-regrets-2020-comment-on-how-forests-grow/

      I could literally go on-and-on with examples but I digress. And don’t EVER compare the scam parading around as ” anti-fascists ” with people like my Grand Father and his brother who fought real fascism in World War 2. These morons are LARPing useful idiots to the leftists who promote the violence. Don’t thing children should be able to pick their own gender? You’re a ” Nazi ” and it’s good to punch ” Nazis ” same with allowing biological men into the locker rooms of girls.

      The right engages in violence as well. Unlike you I don’t pretend it doesn’t exist. However the left is cornering the market as of late. Thrown tantrums in colleges with anyone who is not an extreme leftist comes to speak , pulling fire alarms , throwing thousands of marbles on the floor and all of the above mentioned.

      • Ken Paiva

        May 25, 2023 at 8:35 am

        Don’t see any comment of yours that wasn’t shown.

  6. HuntersCrackPipe

    May 24, 2023 at 3:49 pm

    More unhinged hyperbole from Ken Massonic.

    • Fed Up

      May 25, 2023 at 12:38 pm

      I wrote both of those days ago and now they’re just appearing? Seems suspect, Especially considering the vast majority of my posts appear in moments after hitting the button.

  7. HuntersCrackPipe

    May 26, 2023 at 1:58 pm

    Laughable!!!🤣

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending

Copyright © 2017 Fall River Reporter