Report: New York hate crimes skyrocket, with Jews targeted in majority of incidents

(The Center Square) — Hate crimes have skyrocketed in New York over the past five years, according to a new report by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, which revealed nearly half of the incidents reported last year targeted Jewish people.

DiNapoli said there were 1,089 reported hate crime instances in 2023 — a 69% increase over pre-pandemic levels in 2019 and the highest number since the state began collecting the data as required by New York’s 2000 Hates Crimes Act.

The most common hate crime reported in New York state in 2023 was based on religious discrimination, with 543 incidents reported. Discrimination based on race, ethnicity and national origin constituted about one-third, and sexual orientation/gender identity accounted for almost 17% of the hate crimes reported to authorities.

In 2023, 44% of all recorded hate crime incidents and 88% of religious-based hate crimes targeted Jewish victims, the largest share of all such crimes.

The share of racially motivated incidents in the state is now greater than it was five years ago, DiNapoli's report said. Nearly 17% of all hate crime incidents and 52% of racially motivated hate crimes were anti-Black, the report noted.

DiNapoli said the data is troubling and a call to action by state policymakers — and average New Yorkers — to take steps to reduce discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation.

"Fighting hatred and bigotry demands that we communicate with, respect and accept our neighbors," he said in a statement. "It requires our spiritual, political, community and business leaders to take active roles in denouncing hate, investing in prevention and protection efforts, and increasing education that celebrates the value of New York’s diversity."

DiNapoli said the data likely doesn't capture all hate crimes because victims may be hesitant to report incidents due to "language barriers, fear of retaliation, mistrust in law enforcement or lack of confidence that justice will be served."

Antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate incidents and crimes have skyrocketed in New York and nationally since the war between Israel and Hamas began, according to advocacy groups, who say some of the confrontations have been violent.

The data shows the uptick in violence and intimidation against Jewish and Arab Americans has coincided with the Middle East conflict and comes in the wake of an increase in hate crimes nationally in recent years.

Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, said the report "challenges every New Yorker, from our government offices, religious institutions, private industries, to our schools, to actively build strategies to combat all forms of hatred.”

"It is more than timely; it's a crucial reminder that each hate crime statistic represents a New Yorker who is suffering," Treyger said. "This isn't merely about data — it's about upholding our state and city's core values of compassion and inclusion."

There have also been several high-profile attacks on Muslim and Palestinian New Yorkers, with hate crimes against Asian New Yorkers remaining elevated over the past few years.

The recently signed budget expanded the list of offenses eligible for prosecution as hate crimes to nearly 100 by adding offenses such as graffiti, arson, gang assault, first-degree rape, criminal possession of a weapon and sex trafficking. Under previous law, there were only 66 offenses that could be charged as hate crimes.

Hochul has also provided more funding to the Securing Communities Against Hate initiative, which provides security grants to churches, synagogues and mosques to harden their infrastructure against attacks.

Hochul's budget plan boosted that funding to $35 million – a $10 million increase over the previous fiscal year.