2006 Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents
Harassment
Posted: March 14, 2007
A total of 885 incidents of harassment were reported by the ADL Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents in 2006, a decrease of 22 percent compared with the 1,140 reported in 2005.
Harassment accounted for 57 percent of the overall total.
The following is a sampling of some of the more troubling incidents of harassment recorded across the country as part of the 2006 Audit:
Seattle, WA: One person was killed and five others wounded in a shooting at the Seattle Jewish Federation on July 28. Naveed Afzal Haq, a 30-year-old U.S. citizen of Pakistani descent, surrendered to authorities minutes after the shooting began. The Federation's assistant director, Pamela Waechter, was killed. One of the injured women was five months pregnant. Haq allegedly forced his way through a security door by holding a gun to a 13-year-old girl's head and began firing after telling Federation staff members that he was "a Muslim-American" who was "angry at Israel" (July 28).
Phoenix, AZ: Two Jewish men severely beaten by at least six assailants using chains, brass knuckles and boots, and shouting anti-Semitic slurs (November).
Brooklyn, NY: Jewish woman on subway was assaulted by man who said, "Hitler should have killed all the Jews," and who then punched her as she tried to exit the train (September).
Seattle, WA: Synagogues and other Jewish community organizations received many anti-Semitic phone and e-mail messages following erroneous news reports that a rabbi had sought the removal of Christmas Trees at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport (December).
Studio City, CA: Jewish man received telephone call from individual claiming to represent local synagogue who then played recording of speech by Adolf Hitler (February).
Plantation, FL: Jewish community center preschool received 3 bomb threats (April).
St. Louis, MO: Jewish professor received message stating, "We would love to talk about the history of the Jews. Join us for a gas barbecue at [the recipient's address]." Message was dated April 20, Hitler's birthday "celebrated" by many hate groups (April).
Brooklyn, NY: Jewish woman on subway was assaulted by man who said, Hitler should have killed all the Jews," and who then punched her as she tried to exit the train (September).
Miami, FL: Neighbors allowed their 3 dogs to surround 5-year-old Jewish boy and his aunt, pushing them to the ground, while neighbor called the aunt a "Jew bitch" and taunted her by saying, "What are you going to do, start a war like Israel?" (December).
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