By Meryl Feld / Editor
“While the past few years has seen our audit numbers pretty consistently between 8 and 13 incidents, for 2019 we recorded 42,” Karen Aroesty, the regional director of ADL Heartland, which serves Eastern Kansas, Missouri and Southern Illinois, told The Chronicle. That’s over three times the incidents recorded in our region in previous years.
The largest portion of incidents involved the posting and distribution of white supremacist propaganda. “While these may not seem as concerning as physical or property violence, these incidents hit their mark on many, causing intimidation and fear that more tangible damage will follow,” Areosty said.
ADL Heartland also saw a significant increase in cyber-harassment. Three victims were targeted through their cell phones with texts.
“People who want to be intentional about their hatred, have platforms to do it much more easily than they ever have,” Aroesty said. Keeping your personal and contact information private, may protect you from certain types of harassment. Not posting photos of a vacation while you’re away may help too.
Aroesty believes that their incident numbers are actually low, as many incidents go unreported. “I sometimes worry with the Jewish community when it comes to anti-Semitism. That even though people are vey concerned about it, they see the tangible impact of it and they are anxious, they often don’t report.” She thinks this may have to do with a desire for privacy, not wanting to be seen as a victim, not seeing the benefit of reporting and a concern that people will think they should not have complained.
“We are blessed in this region to have so many folks who are willing to step up and be allies,” Aroesty said. This year, ADL Heartland was instrumental in getting a non-partisan bill to the Missouri legislature that prohibits swatting — deceiving emergency services to send police and emergency responders to another’s address. Anti-bias education is also a major focus of their work.
“People need to take some comfort that the vast number of people out there are good people who want to build community,” Aroesty said, “Extremists are on the fringe, and we want to keep them there.”