The spike in hate crimes in 2020 follows a recent upward trend in bias incidents, and it was a 6% increase over the 7,287 bias-related offenses reported in 2019.
Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images
The Wolf administration awards security grants to organizations that could be targeted by hate crimes
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Gabriela Martínez/WITF
Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images
The spike in hate crimes in 2020 follows a recent upward trend in bias incidents, and it was a 6% increase over the 7,287 bias-related offenses reported in 2019.
The Wolf administration is giving $3.9 million to 93 nonprofits, community and religious organizations it says can be targeted by hate crimes.
Ninety-three groups in 25 counties received grants. They serve various denominations, as well as refugees and members of the LGBTQ community.
Chabad Lubavitch of Berks County, a religious center and synagogue in Reading, received $150,000.
Rabbi Yosef Lipsker says the money will be used to buy better security cameras and install larger fencing.
“It creates an environment of people feeling like we’re being looked after, and I think that that’s a very, very important message. I think it also sends a message to people that are looking to do things that are harmful,” Lipsker said.
Church World Service, which resettles recently arrived refugees in Lancaster County, received $97,000 dollars.
“Hate crimes against immigrants or those perceived to be immigrants have increased over the last five years,” said Rachel Helwig, Development and Communications Manager at Church World Service. “Many of the people we resettle in Lancaster have experienced trauma and violence in their home country and it is crucial to our mission to provide a sense of security for them and our staff.”
In Dauphin County, Planned Parenthood Keystone received $25,000. Samantha Bobila, director of communications for the health provider, said they noticed a rise in protesters showing up in front of clinics following the overturn of Roe v. Wade in late June.
The money is issued through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which was created as a response to the Tree of Life shooting in October 2018, in which 11 people were killed. Organizations can apply to receive between $5,000 and $150,000 to fund training, threat assessments, building upgrades and the purchase of security equipment.
The administration issues grants to programs that serve people, groups or institutions that fall under categories identified by the FBI as motivators for bias-related incidents and offenses. These categories include race, gender, gender identity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. According to the FBI, there were 172 hate crimes in 2021–the highest number since 2006.
“While it’s a shame this has been necessary, I’m proud to have secured nearly $20 million over the past three years to protect Pennsylvania’s diverse and vulnerable communities from hate-driven violence,” said Governor Tom Wolf.
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