News

US Department of Justice Awards Hate Crimes Grant to Charleston Jewish Federation

Published

9 months ago

November 11, 2023

Press Release

Charleston Jewish Federation is proud to announce the receipt of a transformative grant of $400,000 from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) to support “Community-based Approaches to Prevent and Address Hate Crimes.” This landmark grant underscores the tireless efforts of our community and positions us as the first Jewish Federation to receive this grant.

Officially titled “Stamping Out Hate in South Carolina’s Lowcountry: A Collaborative Approach to Educating, Responding, and Documenting Hate Crime in the Lowcountry and Beyond,” this project embodies our commitment to proactively address antisemitism and all forms of hate in our community. With the invaluable support of the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, we can now expand our existing initiatives to effectively track, respond to, and educate about issues of antisemitism and all forms of hate.

Building upon our successes, this grant will enable us to implement three vital components. Firstly, we will expand our comprehensive hate and antisemitism training for K-12 schools, workplaces, law enforcement agencies, and local government officials. By equipping key stakeholders with the necessary tools and knowledge, we aim to foster a culture of understanding, inclusivity, and respect throughout our community.

Secondly, we will launch an impactful marketing and awareness campaign aimed at educating the general public about the realities of antisemitism and promoting the use of our joint incident reporting form, developed in collaboration with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Secure Community Network (SCN). By amplifying our collective voice, we hope to empower individuals to report incidents and contribute to the ongoing fight against hate.

Last, we have committed to rolling out a regular “Stamp Out Hate” town hall, convening all Charleston-based communities targeted by hate and all local law enforcement to listen to community concerns about hate incidents and provide resources for reporting and responding to these incidents.

Antisemitic incidents have seen an alarming surge nationwide, with a staggering 39% increase in 2022 compared to the previous year, marking the highest number recorded by the ADL since 1979. The Southeastern region witnessed an even more distressing 171% rise, with South Carolina experiencing a devastating 193% surge in antisemitic incidents. In light of the recent escalation of violence and hate on social media in response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the urgency to safeguard our community has never been more pronounced.

“This groundbreaking grant signifies a recognition of the exceptional and forward-thinking work Charleston Jewish Federation has done in combating antisemitism and all forms of hate,” said Brandon Fish, Director of Community Relations at Charleston Jewish Federation. “With the support of the Department of Justice, we will significantly expand our capacity to address antisemitism and all forms of hate and create a replicable model that can serve as a beacon of hope for similar communities across the state and nation.”

Background

Charleston Jewish Federation is a nonprofit organization that fosters a vibrant and inclusive Jewish community in Charleston, South Carolina. Through strategic partnerships, initiatives, and advocacy, we strive to create a safe and thriving environment for all members of our community.

In 2019, along with key partners Alliance For Full Acceptance (AFFA), Mother Emanuel AME Church, NAACP Charleston, Charleston Hispanic Association, and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), we launched the Stamp Out Hate SC Coalition to organize communities targeted by hate in support of hate crimes legislation. Since then, these partnerships have strengthened and expanded.

In 2021, Charleston Jewish Federation hired SCN Regional Security Advisor Jason Roebuck as a security consultant to our local Jewish institutions, to liaise with local law enforcement, and offer security training for Jewish institutions, community members, and interfaith partners.

In 2022, the Charleston Jewish Federation launched a first-of-its-kind antisemitism and hate reporting tool that automatically sends reports to ADL and SCN, allowing for a comprehensive and multidisciplinary response to hate-related incidents. That partnership has also led to our hiring of the first ADL-trained facilitator in South Carolina and, most recently, the first South Carolina Law Enforcement Summit, which provided hate crime and antisemitism training to approximately 100 law enforcement leaders and professionals.