At an event at Katz Hillel Day School in Boca Raton on Monday, Gov. Rick Scott announced that he would propose $1 million in funding to boost security for Jewish Day Schools across the Sunshine State. That’s up from last year when $654,000 was used for security at these schools.
Scott made the case for why these funds are needed.
“Every Florida student deserves to have the opportunity to learn in a safe and comfortable setting,” Scott said. “After Florida’s Jewish community received hateful threats last year, we saw the need to provide additional security so the children that attend Jewish Day Schools can learn without having to worry about feeling threatened. While last year’s investment will make a huge difference, we must continue to do more. I look forward to working with the Legislature to provide this important funding and will continue to work with our federal partners and members of Florida’s Jewish community to ensure the safety of families and students.”
Scott is not the only office holder from Florida warning about rising anti-Semitism. Back in February, more than 150 members of Congress signed onto a letter from a Florida congresswoman urging the U.S. Justice and Homeland Security Departments and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigate bomb threats to more than 50 Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) in 26 states. Freshman U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., wrote the letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Homeland Security Sec. John Kelly and FBI Director James Comey asking for a federal investigation of the wave of recent threats.
Murphy paired with U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley, D-NY, to write the letter. From the Florida delegation, Republican U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Vern Buchanan, Carlos Curbelo, Mario Diaz-Balart, Bill Posey and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen signed the letter as did Florida Democrats U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor, Charlie Crist, Val Demings, Ted Deutch, Lois Frankel, Alcee Hastings, Darren Soto, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Frederica Wilson.
“These bomb threats are unacceptable,” Murphy said. “Federal law enforcement agencies must do everything within their power to punish those responsible for the threats that have already taken place, to prevent future threats from occurring, and to ensure these threats are never converted into action. This letter urges senior federal officials to advise Congress on the steps that are being taken to deter these threats from being made, to identify and prosecute the perpetrators, and to enable JCCs to enhance security measures such as physical barriers and guards.
“As the letter notes, these phone calls have a severe economic, as well as emotional, impact,” Murphy added. “JCCs provide a range of educational and community services for Jewish and non-Jewish individuals and families, with a particular focus on children and youth. The individuals who make these calls no doubt recognize that bomb threats can compromise a JCC’s financial future.”
Back in April, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released its annual “Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents” which found anti-Semitic incidents rising 34 percent in 2016 and 86 percent in the first three months of 2017.
“There’s been a significant, sustained increase in anti-Semitic activity since the start of 2016 and what’s most concerning is the fact that the numbers have accelerated over the past five months,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the ADL. “Clearly, we have work to do and need to bring more urgency to the fight. At ADL, we will use every resource available to put a stop to anti-Semitism. But we also need more leaders to speak out against this cancer of hate and more action at all levels to counter anti-Semitism.”
