Incidents of vandalism or harassment aimed at Jews in Connecticut increased 35 percent last year, according to Anti-Defamation League’s annual report on anti-Semitic incidents.The report released Wednesday showed that 77 incidents were reported across Connecticut in 2006, up from 57 in 2005. The ADL audit found 36 incidents of vandalism and 41 incidents of harassment. The state ranks seventh in the nation in anti-Semitic incidents.

The report show that several trends continued to serve as a driving force behind anti-Semitic incidents in 2006, both nationally and in Connecticut. These included anti-Jewish harassment and intimidation in the schools, anti-Semitic activity on college campuses, and public activity by organized neo-Nazi and other hate groups.

Among the incidents reported last year was the discovery of more than one-hundred swastikas and other anti-Semitic slurs drawn on the inside walls of a middle school. The ADL said swastikas were painted on a prominent Holocaust memorial in West Hartford on two occasions in the space of three days.

(Source: Boston Globe)