Following a report indicating a significant rise in hate crimes against Jewish residents in Florida, Attorney General Ashley Moody is set to host a law enforcement training session aimed at addressing antisemitism on college campuses. The Hate Crimes in Florida Report highlighted a 94% increase in such crimes from 2022 to 2023, with the Jewish community being particularly targeted following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.
Attorney General Moody emphasized the state's commitment to protecting its Jewish community. "Florida is a law-and-order state, and we have taken extraordinary steps to protect the Jewish community since the October 7th attacks," she stated. She also noted that despite ongoing efforts by law enforcement, there has been an uptick in reported antisemitic incidents, prompting this new training initiative.
The aftermath of the October 7 attacks saw antisemitic incidents tripling across the United States, especially on college campuses. In response, Attorney General Moody had previously communicated with higher education officials about Florida's zero-tolerance policy towards antisemitism and relevant state laws.
Moody has consistently supported Israel and advocated for Jewish Floridians through various actions. These include urging university police departments to enforce laws protecting Jewish students, condemning Hamas attacks alongside other attorneys general, advising higher education officials about legal protections for Jewish students, and calling for measures against those supporting terrorist groups.
In collaboration with the Combat Antisemitism Movement, this upcoming training aims to educate law enforcement personnel about hate crimes and antisemitism within academic institutions. Developed by George Washington University’s Program on Extremism, it will cover topics such as Hamas' activities in America and campus protests. The program targets federal and state agencies as well as local law enforcement officers.
Scheduled for April 30 at Florida Atlantic University's Boca Raton campus from 8 a.m. to noon, interested participants are encouraged to contact Gabe Groisman of the Combat Antisemitism Movement for more details.