U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced on Thursday that the department is observing an increase in reports of threats to Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities in the United States related to the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. In prepared remarks given at a press conference in Jacksonville, Florida, he stated, "The entire Department of Justice is vigilant in our efforts to monitor hate crimes and threats of violence or incidents related to it, with particular concern for threats to communities based on their beliefs."
Garland mentioned that last week he directed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. attorney's offices across the country to work with states and local law enforcement agencies to address the threats and urged federal prosecutors to engage with community leaders and religious figures. He plans to meet later on Thursday with law enforcement officials in Miami, which has one of the largest Jewish populations in the United States.
The FBI stated on Monday that it is investigating the fatal stabbing of six-year-old Muslim child Wadih al-Fayoumi in Illinois as a hate crime. Authorities have already charged the suspect in the crime and indicated that the child and his mother were targeted because they are Palestinian Americans.
