In the wake of attacks in Pittsburgh, Poway, the rise of organized local hate groups, and major increases in assaults on Jews, the Lakewood Vaad shares a plea from Law Enforcement.
If you are harassed because of your religion, that is serious and a bias incident – call the police immediately.
The penalties for bias harassment are greater than for simple harassment / simple assault. Harassment is a criminal act: racial slurs/hate speech, anti-Semitic graffiti or fliers, being asked to leave a public place because you are Jewish, threats, objects thrown at you, being shoved while in line are all criminal acts -report them. Every time.
•If you see, hear or experience a bias incident report it to 911 immediately.
Make it easy for the police to help us stay safe.
For online threats, you can call the Counterterrorism Watch Desk at 1-866-4-SAFE-NJ. The CT Watch Desk is staffed 24/7 – you are not required to provide your name.
Mr. Eli Tabak and Mr. Eli Liberman, speaking on behalf of the Tzibur, pointed out that, “There are 30 law enforcement officials in Ocean County who specifically deal with bias crimes. Please keep in mind that not every incident may lead to a public result, but every report helps law enforcement build a case. Help them help us – keep reporting.”
LPD direct number is
732-363-0200.
Please call us to report first. We have officers patrolling all over town and have a better chance of apprehension to crimes in progress if you call us right away 24/7.
Thank you and together we can combat these senseless crimes.
Why is it a crime to verbally harass someone. What happened to freedom of speech?
(PS I’m Jewish, not asking out of hate, just asking out of curiosity)
Freedom of speech doesn’t allow for everything. It has its limits
You may not yell fire in a public place because of freedom of speech.
There are many laws about verbal harassment.