NPR: As threats against Jews, Arabs and Muslims rise, Justice Department looks to help

At a hate crimes conference early this month, Attorney General Merrick Garland said that he has seen in his daily security briefings the spike in threats against Jewish, Arab and Muslim communities in the U.S. since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

“I recognize the fear, frustration and isolation that many of you have felt over the past few weeks,” Garland said. “I want to reiterate a core principle of this Justice Department: No person and no community in this country should have to live in fear of hate-fueled violence.”

But in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and the Israeli military’s assault on Gaza, many American Jews, Arabs and Muslims are living in fear as they face a wave of hate-fueled threats and violence.

The Justice Department is taking steps to protect — and reassure — those communities. Garland has directed U.S. attorneys and the FBI to work closely with state and local law enforcement to keep these communities safe, and to determine what additional support they need.

Last week, he hosted a 90-minute meeting with Jewish leaders in his wood-paneled conference room at the Justice Department. FBI Director Christopher Wray sat at Garland’s side.

“I think it was a very heartfelt meeting at a time when the community has been moving through very difficult circumstances,” said Michael Masters, the national director and CEO of the Secure Community Network, a safety organization for American Jewish groups.

“I can tell you, sitting in the conference room of the attorney general of the United States of American with the director of the FBI and their senior leadership, this community, at that moment, before and since, has not felt alone,” Masters said.

He added that from Oct. 7 through the end of last month, SCN has reported close to 150 tips or incidents or threats to the FBI.

“The feedback and communication has been incredible,” Masters said. “We know from our interactions with the 56 field offices in the FBI, their responsiveness and proactiveness — the same with the U.S. Attorneys offices around the country — is a direct result of the messages that they are getting from the attorney general and the FBI director to be proactive and engaged.”

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