OLYMPIA, Wash. — Antisemitic incidents in the Pacific Northwest continue to trend upward, according to the latest data from the Anti-Defamation League.
An audit that factors in criminal and non-criminal acts of harassment and intimidation found there were 370 total incidents in the region in 2023, up from 130 in 2022. The audit is compiled using information from victims, police, community leaders and evaluated by the League's staff.
Washington state had the highest number of reported incidents in 2023, with 190, followed by 124 antisemitic incidents in Oregon, 13 incidents in Alaska, 21 in Montana, and 22 in Idaho.
There were 8,873 antisemitic incidents reported across the United States in 2023 - an increase of 140%, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
“In 2023, Jewish communities across the Pacific Northwest experienced the highest levels of antisemitic incidents since ADL began our audit four decades ago,” Regional Director of ADL Pacific Northwest Miri Cypers said in a prepared statement. “At a time of historic levels of antisemitism, this requires attention and action from every sector of society.”
In November of 2023, a Mercer Island synagogue was vandalized, which led to an investigation by the FBI. That same month, at least nine synagogue and Jewish institutions received suspicious letters containing white powder; Jewish leaders met with the FBI after suspicious mail was sent to at least four Seattle synagogues alone.
Across the country, there was an average of 24 incidents per day, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
An online heat map shows incidents throughout the U.S. since 2016.
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