WASHINGTON — When it comes to hate crimes, Montgomery County differs from the rest of the country. Instead of race-based crimes, the county sees more religious hate crimes than anything. And in 2016, most of those were anti-Semitic.
“Our community is concerned. We’re aware of it and we’re concerned,” said Rabbi Mendel Bluming, of Chabad of Potomac, reacting to the findings of a report on Montgomery County’s bias-motivated crimes in 2016.
The annual report shows of the 94 hate crimes that year, 38 were religious in nature, while race was the factor in 34, ethnicity in 12, sexual orientation in six and gender in four.
All but six of the victims of the religion-based crimes were anti-Jewish. That makes 84 percent, “despite Jewish persons making up only 3.1 percent of the population,” the report said.
The two worst months for hate crimes were November and December, with 18 and 14, respectively. No other month had more than nine.
“Let me be clear: Hate and prejudice have no place in this county,” Police Chief Tom Manger said in the report.
Around the Passover holiday, Bluming hopes all families can take pause and discuss the concept of inclusion.
“Hate generally comes when people are distant and ignorant. When we get to know each other better and we are open to the goodness and the kindness in each other, this world becomes a much more beautiful and special place,” Bluming said.
The 94 hate crimes in 2016 were a 42 percent rise over the previous year. The county also saw reports of vandalism.
“The most frequent type of vandalism/graffiti reported in the swastika, identified in more than half of the vandalism cases in 2016. General swastikas are reported in locations such as public restrooms, public recreation areas, and sometimes even on the department’s speed cameras,” the report said.
After threats to Jewish institutions around the country, local people of different faiths have gathered in the county this year to show support to the community.
