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Comments (0)The level of anti-Semitism in the United States has tied a historic low point, according to an Anti-Defamation League poll.
The survey, which was released Thursday, found that 12 precent of Americans hold anti-Semitic views, down from 15 percent in 2007 and matching the 12 percent figure recorded in 1998. The highest number on record was 29 percent in 1964.
The poll of 1,200 men and women has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percent.
It asks respondents whether they agree with 11 statements about Jews—such as whether they are “more loyal to Israel than America” and whether they have “too much power in the U.S. today”—and are classified as holding anti-Semitic views if they agree with six of them.
The survey also found that foreign-born Hispanics and African Americans continue to hold anti-Semitic views at much greater levels than other Americans, with 35 percent and 28 percent of the two groups falling into that category, respectively. Eighteen percent of U.S.-born Hispanics hold such views, the poll found.
In other findings, 30 percent of respondents agreed that “American Jews are more loyal to Israel than to America” and 29 percent believe that Jews are responsible for the death of Christ.
“The fact that anti-Semitic attitudes have reached their lowest point to date is good news, the product of many years of constant and intense efforts by ADL and others to make America a more accepting society,” ADL national director Abraham Foxman said in a statement.
“At the same time, there continues to be violence targeting Jews and an increasing use of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. We can’t dismiss that 12 percent of the American people means that there are still over 30 million Americans that hold anti-Semitic views.”
Obama Inks Measure with Security Funds for Nonprofits
President Obama signed into a law a homeland security bill that includes funds for non-profits.
The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act 2010, which was signed Wednesday, includes $19 million in funding for a grant program to improve security for nonprofits and religious institutions. The funds allocated for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program represent a $4 million increase from current levels.
Jewish groups, including Agudath Israel of America, Jewish Federations of North America (formerly United Jewish Communities) and the Orthodox Union, had lobbied for the funding increase and are lauding the bill’s passage.
Jewish groups have received the plurality of the funds since the program was established in 2005.
The money is used typically to enhance security at communal buildings, including Jewish community centers, schools and synagogues, through video systems and barriers among other measures.
Obama Signs Hate Crimes Bill
President Obama signed legislation expanding federal involvement in prosecuting hate crimes.
The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act would expand the federal definition of hate crimes to include those motivated by gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability. It also will allow federal authorities to pursue hate-crimes cases when local authorities are either unable or unwilling to do so.
“We must stand against crimes that are meant not only to break bones, but to break spirits—not only to inflict harm, but to instill fear,” Obama said at a White House reception Wednesday commemorating the signing of the bill, which he signed earlier in the day as part of the $680 billion defense authorization bill.
“Because no one in America should ever be afraid to walk down the street holding the hands of the person they love,” he said. “No one in America should be forced to look over their shoulder because of who they are or because they live with a disability.”
Obama also noted that advocates had been working to pass the bill for more than 12 years. A number of Jewish groups, led by the Anti-Defamation League, had pushed the measure.
ADL national director Abraham Foxman said it was a “monumental achievement and a great day for America” as he joined with civil rights leaders and members of Congress at the White House ceremony.