Over these past few weeks, scores of complaints and reports of intimidation have been forwarded to the Mountain States Office of the Anti-Defamation League.  ADL is not only closely following them, but is also providing support to the targets of intimidation and their communities, as well as being a resource to law enforcement.

Following the appearance of Nazi-themed graffiti at the Isabella Bird Community School,  a disgraceful act of vandalism that was intimidating to students, their families and the entire Stapleton community, the neighborhood came together in response.   A recent article in the Intermountain Jewish News quoted ADL Regional Director Scott L. Levin about this and other hateful incidents:

Since the election, there have been a number of reported hate incidents in the metro Denver area and beyond. It is important to take a step back and try to determine, to the best of our ability, what is contributing to the uptick and not simply attribute the rise to the divisive tone and rhetoric in this most recent election.

 

Certainly, some extremist movements and hateful people have felt emboldened to spread hate and fear. We must continue to explore what is prompting the increase in order to know how we can most effectively respond as a community and state.

 

In the meantime, we call on our leaders as well as our neighbors to vigorously and loudly proclaim their rejection of bigotry and hate.