Denver, CO, May 13, 2021 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Mountain States Region expressed shock and deep concern over reports that a University of New Mexico student was allegedly targeted due to his Jewish identity and assaulted by a group of individuals at a party on May 7 in Albuquerque. The student sustained physical injuries and was treated at a local hospital, according to the police report. ADL Senior Associate Director Jeremy Shaver spoke with KRQE, Albuquerque’s CBS affiliate, about the incident. Read and watch here.

 

“We are outraged and appalled by the violent attack against a University of New Mexico student and the alleged antisemitism that prompted the attack,” said Scott Levin, Regional Director, ADL Mountain States Region. “It is abhorrent that anyone would be attacked simply because of who they are. We strongly encourage law enforcement to fully investigate this assault, including the allegations of antisemitism. And, we encourage prosecutors to pursue hate crime charges if the evidence in the case shows that the student was attacked by the group because of his Jewish identity.”

 

Antisemitism is on the rise across the United States. Antisemitic incidents remained at a historically high level across the United States in 2020, with a total of 2,024 incidents of assault, harassment and vandalism reported to ADL. While antisemitic incidents declined by 4 percent nationwide after hitting an all-time high in 2019, last year was still the third-highest year for incidents against American Jews since ADL started tracking such data in 1979.

ADL’s 2020 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents showed little change in New Mexico compared to 2019. There were eight reported incidents in New Mexico in 2020 compared to seven in 2019. The audit identified four cases of harassment and four cases of vandalism in New Mexico.

 

Among the reports the ADL Mountain States Region received in 2020 pertaining to New Mexico were:

· A parking lot on the campus of the Jewish Community Center was vandalized with swastika and SS graffiti.

· A synagogue’s religious service was “zoombombed” with antisemitic messages and Nazi imagery.

· A banner was hung over an overpass on Interstate 25 in Albuquerque that read, “Why are Jews banning free speech?”

· A synagogue received a harassing and antisemitic email.

 

Antisemitic incidents can be reported to ADL online: https://www.adl.org/reportincident

 

ADL is a leading anti-hate organization. Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of antisemitism and bigotry, its timeless mission is to protect the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. ADL is the first call when acts of antisemitism occur. A global leader in exposing extremism, delivering anti-bias education and fighting hate online, ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate. ADL’s Mountain States Region covers Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. More at https://mountainstates.adl.org/.

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