CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) – In 2023, more than half of religiously motivated hate crimes in the United States were directed against the Jewish community, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Local leaders met Thursday to talk about what they can do to help reduce anti-Semitic hate crimes.

Charleston police officers were joined by the Jewish Federation of Charleston and the Secure Community Network where they watched presentations and had group conversations about how to recognize hate crimes.

“Thus, hate crimes constitute a special crime because they target individuals or communities because of their identity. In some ways, it truly is the worst crime, because it erodes trust in communities, it erodes the civic fabric of a community, and it truly threatens everyone, not just the targeted group. And so, whether it’s extremism against the Jewish community, the Muslim community, the Black community, LGBTQ, we have to take all of those threats seriously,” said Eytan Davidson, the League’s southeast regional director. anti-defamation.

Davidson said that over the past 10 years there has been a frightening increase in the number of anti-Semitic hate crimes, and he’s not sure why.

“With the increasing levels of hatred we see in our society, it is more important than ever to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure they have the resources, training and education they need to recognize threats and to protect our communities. It is also very important that we remain vigilant in our communities and take care of our neighbors,” he said.

Davidson said training and educating police officers on how to recognize hate threats and domestic extremism is essential for a civilized society since they are the ones responsible for public safety.

“This conference is intended to educate law enforcement about the different threats, what they look like, how to find them, and to educate them about the communities in which they serve,” he said.

South Carolina is one of two states that still does not have a state-level hate crime law.

Davidson said some municipalities have enacted their own anti-hate ordinances, but believes state legislation is needed so law enforcement and prosecutors can handle these crimes the way they need to be handled so that there be justice and fair treatment for all.

He said if you witness or experience an incident of hate or anti-Semitism, you can report it to local law enforcement and the Anti-Defamation League so they can work to stop hatred before it spreads.

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