Security efforts heightened as antisemitic threats rise following the October 7 attack on Israel.
On Monday, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) intensified its patrols as the Jewish community gathered to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Police departments nationwide have also stepped up security measures around Jewish and Muslim institutions in response to ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the Jewish High Holidays.
“This one feels different,” said LAPD Captain Steve Lurie, referring to the community’s heightened anxiety. “The community feels vulnerable. They’re scared, they’re still mourning the losses of a year ago today.” Lurie emphasized the importance of the LAPD’s presence not just for security, but to offer emotional support to a community still grappling with the impact of last year’s violence.
In the Pico-Robertson neighborhood, officers on horseback and foot patrols were a visible part of the LAPD’s increased presence. Business owners in the area, surprised by the heightened security, welcomed it as a much-needed reassurance.
“It’s been a rough year for this community,” said Dan Messinger, owner of Bibi’s Bakery and Café. With many local residents having ties to Israel, the atmosphere has been tense. “As far as safety, people are concerned. They see protests in other parts of the city… There’s sometimes graffiti.” Despite the uneasy reality, Messinger expressed relief, saying the police presence makes people feel more secure.
Since the October 7 attack, antisemitic incidents in the U.S. have surged. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported over 10,000 antisemitic threats and incidents in the past year—up sharply from 3,325 the previous year. This marks the highest number of recorded incidents in a 12-month period since the ADL began tracking in 1979.
“Last year was unlike anything we’ve seen in modern history,” said Jeffrey Abrams, ADL Los Angeles Regional Director. He acknowledged the profound impact on the Jewish community, though he underscored their resilience, noting that the community has overcome challenges throughout history and remains strong today.
As pro-Palestinian protests were scheduled across Los Angeles, the sense of vulnerability persisted. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt pointed to the unrelenting pressure facing Jewish Americans, stating that they “haven’t had a single moment of respite” since the attack, confronting an overwhelming number of threats and calls for violence against Jews.
Meanwhile, incidents of hate crimes targeting Muslims and Arabs have also escalated across the U.S. In 2023, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) recorded 8,061 reports of anti-Muslim bias—the highest in the organization’s 28-year history.
