The past two years have shown a dramatic increase in violence from extremists, particularly in the state of Florida. A new study from the Anti-Defamation League reveals that the Sunshine State may be among the most hateful in the nation.
Since 2012, anti-Semitic hate crimes in Florida have increased by 300 percent. From 2020 to 2021, they increased by 50 percent.
FBI statistics for 2020 reported that 56.1 percent of religious-based hate crimes nationally targeted Jewish individuals, whereas in Florida, attacks against the Jewish community accounted for 80 percent of religiously motivated incidents.
From January 2020 to August 2022, over 400 cases of white supremacist propaganda distribution were found in Florida, 95 of which included anti-Semitic language and/or targeted a Jewish institution.
"Florida is home to an extensive, interconnected network of white supremacists and other far-right extremists," the report states. "Which often collaborates in planning and executing propaganda distribution campaigns, banner drops and in-person demonstrations."
According to the report, Florida has 15 branches of the Proud Boys that are "actively recruiting new members." Other organizations in the state include the infamous White Lives Matter group, as well as several other explicitly neo-Nazi associations.
To falsify a unified, outsized appearance, the organizations will attend each other's events. Groups have also largely infiltrated school board meetings in attempts to ban certain books with queer or racial topics. They've also pressured board members and lawmakers to pass anti-LGBTQ+ policies.
According to the New York Times, at least six former and current Proud Boys hold seats on the Miami-Dade Republican Executive Committee; two are facing federal charges related to participation in the January 6th Insurrection.
On top of rising hate crimes and anti-Semitism, Florida is also home to the most people charged in the insurrection, with 90 of the 855 arrested (10.5 percent) hailing from the state.
Since the FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property, the ADL found a "significant" rise in online rhetoric threatening federal law enforcement officers, particularly those who carried out the warrant.
In order to combat the rising extremism in the state and country, the ADL emphasizes the need for law enforcement to directly oppose bigotry, and to install hate crime units where necessary. They also stress that "fair and free elections" are crucial to protecting voters from political violence.
On top of that, the organization called on local and national elected officials to explicitly condemn hatred and to pass legislation protecting marginalized communities. Most importantly, the ADL urges legislators and educators to prioritize teaching the history of the Holocaust.
"Students need both an accurate understanding of historical events, such as the Holocaust, as well as purposeful opportunities to learn about and explore bias in order to help them become productive citizens," they state. "We urge community leaders, elected officials, and school system administrators to prioritize anti-bias and Holocaust education in schools."
