TORONTO (April 18, 2018) - A TorontoPolice hate crime report released today reveals a 28% increase in hatecrimes in 2017. According to the report, the Jewish community – followed by theBlack, Muslim and LGBTQ communities – was the most frequently victimized.

“It isdisheartening and profoundly worrisome to see such a sharp increase in thenumber of annual hate crimes in Toronto,” said Friends of Simon WiesenthalCenter (FSWC) President and CEO Avi Benlolo. “It was an overwhelming year forthe Jewish community, as we witnessed a clear increase in the number ofantisemitic hate crimes taking place.”

The reportstates that there was a total of 186 hate-motivated occurrences in 2017compared to 145 in 2016, and the number of occurrences last year is higher thanthe city’s ten-year average of 147 occurrences. A total of 53 occurrencestargeted the Jewish community, an increase of 23% from 2016.

As a humanrights organization, FSWC works tirelessly to counter intolerance and promoteequality in Canada through its numerous educational programs, including dailyworkshops and the award-winning Tour for Humanity. The organizationthanks members of the Toronto Police Service for their ongoing vigilance andcommitment to creating a safe and welcoming city for all Torontonians.

Media Contact:

Avital Borisovsky  
Communications Associate    
416.864.9735 x 29 aborisovsky@fswc.ca

______________________________________________________

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is a top Jewish human rights foundation in Canada's organized Jewish community. It directly impacts over 100,000 people each year and 500,000+ peripherally. FSWC is committed to countering racism and antisemitism and to promoting the principles of tolerance, social justice and Canadian democratic values through advocacy and educational programs including workshops, Freedom Day, Spirit of Hope Benefit, Tools for Tolerance and the widely acclaimed Tour for Humanity. FSWC is affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewish human rights organization headquartered in Los Angeles which has won two Academy Awards, has built two Museums of Tolerance (with a third being built in Jerusalem) and is an NGO at the United Nations, UNESCO, OAS, OSCE, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament. Visit us at www.fswc.ca. 

Canadian Headquarters: Toronto           Branches: Los Angeles • New York • Chicago • Paris • Buenos Aires • Israel

‍