City Offers Anti-Harassment Training as Tensions Rise

September 16, 2024 -- Santa Monica will observe United Against Hate Week early this year by offering a free virtual training on Wednesday on stopping voter harassment at the polls.

The week, usually observed in November, was moved up to September 21 to 27 "with the added goal of curbing the hate that rears its ugly head during the election season," City officials said.

The observance also coincides with ongoing anti-Israel activism on U.S. campuses that has reached unprecedented levels, according to a report published Monday by the Anti-Defamation League.

The report tallied 2,087 anti-Israel incidents of assault, vandalism, harassment, protests/actions and divestment resolutions between June 1, 2023, and May 31, 2024, a "staggering" 477 percent increase over the same period last year.

"This marks the highest number ever documented by ADL," according to the report. "These incidents included both blatant acts of antisemitism, as well as anti-Israel activity, which is not always antisemitic."

This year, the ADL did not attempt to tally the number of campus anti-Israel events "as these numbers were exceedingly high."

Overall, anti-Israel incidents impacted more than 360 campuses nationwide, with 35 incidents taking place at UCLA, which ranked fifth among campuses with the highest number of incidents.

On September 6, the California Legislative Jewish Caucus announced that four bills to combat antisemitism had passed the State Legislature and are awaiting Governor Newsom's signature.

The bills "will help protect Jewish students on campus, better educate young people about the Holocaust and modern forms of antisemitism, and address the concerning rise in hate crimes," according to the Caucus.

Last Tuesday, the Santa Monica City Council issued a proclamation in support of United Against Hate Week and Los Angeles County’s LA vs Hate campaign.

The free virtual trainings are offered by Right to Be, "an organization that teaches people simple and safe tactics that empower them to stop harassment in public spaces," City officials said.

United Against Hate Week is an annual reminder that "we all share the responsibility of standing against the hate and bias that threaten the wellbeing and safety of our community," City officials said.