Toronto (July 22, 2019) – Even with a slight decrease in hate crime targeting the Jewish community, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) notes a national statistics report that reveals the community is targeted more than all other groups and 19% overall.

According to the data released by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, the total number of police-reported hate crimes decreased from 2,073 in 2017 to 1,798 in 2018. The Jewish community remained the most targeted, with a total of 347 hate crimes. FSWC tracks antisemitic hate crimes by province online.

“It's 2019 and it's outrageous that the Canadian Jewish community is still being targeted by hate crimes after more than 250 years of integration into this beautiful country,” said FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo. “Sadly, much of the antisemitism we are seeing today is coming from a rising tide of white supremacism, the radical left and also from some elements in the Muslim community at events like Al Quds Day and university campaigns like Israeli Apartheid Week and the promotion of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against the Jewish state.”

FSWC deplores hatred against any group and focuses its energy on countering hate through its award-winning programs like Tour for Humanity; tolerance training workshops; Compassion to Action, an educational mission to Poland and Israel; and student programs like Freedom Day and Speakers Idol.

“Our effort and investment is focused on bringing Canadians together who share the same values of freedom, democracy and human rights,” said Benlolo.