Talk Of Antisemitic 'Day of Hate' Has Livingston, NYC-Area Officials Beefing Up Security

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Officials in the New York metropolitan area — including in Livingston — have warned the public that antisemitic incidents may rise this Saturday amid rumors on the internet of a possible "Day of Hate."

Mayor Michael Vieira of Livingston, N.J., which has a sizeable Jewish population, said Thursday that he and the Town Council were responding to "information we have received related to news articles and social media posts referencing this Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023 as a National Day of Hate."

He said, "Ever cautious, the Livingston police have informed all temples and synagogues of this possible threat and the Livingston police has planned to increase its presence for all Saturday services. The LPD will continue to actively monitor the situation and we ask residents to stay vigilant and contact law enforcement, if needed."

Officials have given mixed messages about the extent of the threat, but said they're erring on the side of caution.

Queens, N.Y. Councilman Jim Gennaro first said on Thursday that NYPD officials told him a warning about the event had been fabricated, but he later updated his response.

"My office can now confirm that the memo regarding the 'Day of Hate' is, in fact, real," he wrote. "It appears as though the previously released flyer was a leaked draft, and therefore, was determined to be unsubstantiated at the time. While this is an unfortunate development, know that my office remains committed to ensuring our community remains safe. Per my request, there will still be additional patrol and police presence near synagogues in the district this Saturday."

Other groups said that they had knowledge of smaller hate groups preparing for the day.

A Jewish nonprofit said that a "tiny" neo-Nazi group in the Midwest, and various supremacist groups, have said they will participate in the day, but the activity will be limited to fliers, small protests, and graffiti.

The group and others have pointed to a rise in antisemitic incidents around the country.

In Essex County alone, three incidents in the last four months underscore this: The theft of a Livingston school bus in January by a man who allegedly left a journal full of antisemitic writing; a Molotov cocktail that was thrown at a Bloomfield synagogue later that month, and the FBI arrest of a man in November who'd threatened synagogues in North Jersey.

"Antisemitism not only affects Jewish people, individually or collectively, but, as a belief based on hate and prejudice, it attacks all societies," said Livingston Mayor Vieira this month.

The Anti-Defamation League of New England responded to the threats by encouraging "a day of peace" instead.

READ MORE: 'Hate Does Not Belong' Says Livingston After School Bus Theft