CAIR-NJ Reports Anti-Muslim, Anti-Palestinian Hate Wave Persists Through First Half of 2024 as Israel’s Genocidal Attacks Continue

January to June complaints in New Jersey increased by 118% over the same period in 2023, according to data tracked by CAIR-NJ.

(Newark, NJ, 8/16/24) The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today announced that complaints including reports of discrimination, anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate saw a significant surge during the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2023.

From January to June 2024, CAIR-NJ documented a total of 186 complaints, a 118% increase over the same period in 2023. Many of those complaints consisted of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian bias and discrimination at school settings and the workplace.

SEE: US anti-Muslim incidents rose about 70% in first half of 2024 amid Gaza war – Reuters

Of those 186 complaints, 35 were specifically hate incident or crime related, which is more than double the number of hate incident or crime reports CAIR-NJ documented between January and June 2023.

Table 1: Comparison of Total Reported Complaints Jan-June 2023 and 2024

For an even more stunning comparison, CAIR-NJ received 72 reports of hate incidents or crimes throughout 2023. This year’s figures so far eclipse last year’s numbers in nearly all categories of reports– which include a wide range of discrimination in various forms such as employment, education, hate incidents and crimes, and bullying.

“The number one complaint category was previously employment discrimination, but it was overtaken by reports of hate incidents and crimes last October following Israel’s US-backed genocide in Palestine. That trend is sustained to the present,” CAIR-NJ Operations Manager Dyaa Terpstra said in a statement.

“Our data shows free speech in opposition to genocide has led to investigations and punishments in the workplace and in education institutions. CAIR- NJ has also seen government agencies like the FBI weaponized against our community members for being anti-genocide or for just being openly Muslim online.”

SEE: Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate

It’s important to note that hate crimes and incidents against Muslims in the U.S. are typically underreported because many victims do not come forward. The actual number of such incidents is likely higher. These numbers constitute only what is reported to CAIR-NJ.

Notably, New Jersey is home to some of the most diverse communities in the country. More specifically, New Jersey is home to nearly 300,000 American Muslims, representing one of the largest Muslim populations of any state in the U.S. The city of Paterson, for instance, has been dubbed “Little Palestine” because it is home to one of the largest Palestinian populations nationwide.

Table 2: Reported complaints Amid US-Backed Gaza Genocide Anti-Muslims Wave Sept. 2023 – June 2024

The anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian trend remained high nationwide, too, with a total of 4,951 complaints from January to June 2024 across the U.S., CAIR National data shows.

CAIR-NJ is certain the primary catalyst of this hate and discrimination wave against Muslims and Palestinians in New Jersey and nationwide is the result of Israel’s latest round of the ongoing genocidal attacks on Palestinians in their homeland beginning October 2023.

SEE: Western News Media Coverage of Gaza Genocide Favored Israel – The Intercept

Further exacerbating the experience of Muslims and Palestinians in the U.S. is the way in which western news media has been covering the ongoing genocide and its impact on communities both at home and abroad. Additionally, many politicians and other public figures with large followings and influence have also publicly supported Israel’s US-backed assault on Gaza and beyond. As of August 15, more than 40,000 people have been killed and more than 90,000 have been injured in Palestine as the U.S. continues to fuel the Israeli genocide of Palestinians.

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, with a mission to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

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CONTACT: Operations Manager Dyaa Terpstra, dterpstra@cair.com, 908-668-5900 ext. 102, CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Aya Elamroussi, aelamroussi@cair.com, 551-208-5482