Report: Anti-Semitism on the rise in Wisconsin

 

WISCONSIN (CBS 58) -- A newly released report shows a sharp increase in the number of anti-Semitic attacks in Wisconsin.

The Jewish Community Relations Council says the number of incidents increased by 55-percent between 2018 and 2019.

More troubling -- those reports increased 329-percent since 2015.

It shows a rise in incidents at middle schools and more cases of holocaust denial.

The findings were discussed Wednesday night at an event in Whitefish Bay.

Officials say they're troubled by the findings, but they remain optimistic.

"There are those moments where you see communities come together to erase anti-Semitism. Even in these unfortunate statistics, there are kernels of hope and goodness," said Ann Jacobs, Chair of Milwaukee's JCRC. 

The JCRC says the best way to combat incidents of anti-Semitism is by calling it out. They also ask that people report any instances of anti-Semitism to them directly.