Glen Cove, NY - The Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County (HMTC) is happy to announce our unwavering support for Suffolk County's latest initiative to track and combat antisemitism.

At a press conference, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone announced a new initiative to combat the rising incidents of antisemitism through their 311 call center.  The 311 Call Center agents have been trained to document details made by callers that will be shared with the Suffolk County Police Department so that further action can be taken.  Bellone also explained that for incidents of immediate danger, people should continue to call 911.

In 2022, there were a total of 3,697 reported antisemitic incidents, up 36% from 2021 according to data released today by the Anti-Defamation League in March.  And according to the American Jewish Committee, 84% of Jewish Americans don't report antisemitic incidents because they don't think they'll be taken seriously or that actions against them will be taken.

The Suffolk County Deputy Executive, Jon Kaiman, who visited HMTC last week for an event, announced this initiative of this anonymous reporting program designed to promote safety and comfort in the community. The program, available through the county's 311 hotline, allows residents to report incidents such as verbal slurs, vandalism, and disturbing flyers without fear of retaliation. With the call center open seven days a week and each call kept confidential among the 15 operators, residents can feel secure and empowered to report any incidents they witness.

At HMTC, our ongoing work is in educating our community about the Holocaust and promoting tolerance to help prevent such atrocities from happening again. We urge superintendents and principals to continue to facilitate Holocaust and tolerance education at Long Island's premier resource for such learning. Our museum and educational programs provide a comprehensive and engaging experience that will help students understand the impact of hate and prejudice, and inspire them to take action for a better world. We urge education leadership on Long Island to join us in our commitment to creating a more tolerant and accepting society through education.