Hate Crimes in Massachusetts: A Closer Look

In 2024, hate crimes in Massachusetts showed a troubling trend: antisemitic incidents became the most common type. This shift is significant because, historically, hate crimes against the Black community were more frequently reported. The state's Executive Office of Public Safety and Security released data showing 467 hate crime incidents, with antisemitic incidents making up a quarter of them. The rise in antisemitic incidents is not a new problem. It has been growing for years, according to advocacy groups like the Anti-Defamation League. In 2024, it marked the fifth straight year of increase in New England. Most of these incidents involved vandalism, property destruction, and intimidation, rather than physical violence.After the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, state officials formed a commission to study the rise of antisemitism in Massachusetts. The commission focused on the impact in schools and issued recommendations to increase tolerance, improve education about antisemitism, and better monitor hate crimes against Jews. The commission's report revealed that nearly 85% of religious-based hate crimes in 2024 were against Jewish people, who make up just 5% of the state's population. State leaders, including Governor Maura Healey, pledged to take action against antisemitism. However, there is concern that antisemitic incidents are underreported because they are not always treated with the same seriousness as other bias incidents. Meanwhile, hate crimes against other demographic groups, including the Black community, have been declining. Some attribute this to increased awareness and progress made after the murder of George Floyd in 2020. However, there are fears that recent political shifts may reverse this progress.