ORLANDO, Fla. — An investigation is underway into who’s responsible for antisemitic graffiti at Dr. Philips High School.

What You Need To Know

  • According to the Anti-Defamation League Florida had 59 antisemitic incidents in 2022

  • Seven antisemitic incidents occurred on Florida school campuses in 2022

  • Florida ranked fourth in the U.S. in 2021 with most antisemitic incidents

It’s just the latest of several similar acts across Central Florida, according to the Anti-Defamation League of Florida.

On New Year’s Eve, antisemitic messages were found on the side of a building in Downtown Orlando. The following week, antisemitic propaganda was found in a residential area.

According to the Anti-Defamation League tracker of incidents, Florida had 59 in 2022. The number of incidents in Florida doubled from 2021 to 2022. Nearly one in every six incidents that happened last year took place here in Central Florida.

The incident at Dr. Phillips High is just yet another example of a growing concern of antisemitism in Central Florida.

For over 20 years, Rabbi Yosef Konikov has called Central Florida home. His Chabad of South Orlando is neighbors to Dr. Phillips high school. Sadly, he admits he has seen the continuous uptick in antisemitism.

“It has become a state where people are more comfortable to do these things,” Rabbi Konikov says inside his Chabad. “It was surprising that people could be standing outside the Chabad on loud speakers yelling, cursing, and spewing hate, I never dreamt I would see that in our community.”

That happened two summers ago.

According to the ADL, seven incidents took place on school campuses last year. Rabbi David Kay who is the chair of the Interfaith Council, believes school districts can do a better job educating students to help prevent antisemitism and hate to others.

“School districts need to really have the freedom to be able to embrace the diversity of their student body,” Rabbi Kay begins to explain. “To celebrate that in ways not that pushes any particular culture or background, or worldview, but exposes the students to diversity that is right there around them.”

Dr. Phillips principal Dr. Jackie Ramsey sent a voice message to families saying law enforcement is investigating and the person or persons caught could face a potential arrest, suspension, or expulsion.

“Kids should be scared enough and be afraid that if they do things like this, they may end up hurting themselves for years to come,” Konikov says.

Both Rabbi Konikov and Kay believe most of the antisemitic incidents involving juveniles is from ignorance. They hope parents can help be educators on this topic.

“It’s very possible that they don’t understand what it means,” Konikov said. “Thats why it’s a reflection of the parents, it’s not only a reflection of the children.”

The incident at Dr. Phillips is now under investigation by the Orlando Police Department.

The league’s annual report for 2022 has not been released yet, but in the year 2021, Florida ranked fourth in the country with the most anti-Semitic incidents.