With hate crimes on rise, Mayor Brainard defines anti-Semitism in Carmel order

With the war between Israel and Hamas raging in the Middle East and hate crimes against Jewish people rising domestically, outgoing Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard issued an order that defines anti-semitism.

The executive order signed last week answers a call for action from the American Jewish Committee to local governments to forcefully condemn prejudice, hate speech, violence and acts of aggression against Jewish people, Brainard said.

"It is important to take a strong stand against anti-semitism, hatred and discrimination of any kind in our City and I want everyone to know that we stand for freedom in Carmel and we embrace our Jewish residents and visitors," Brainard said in a news release. "We will not tolerate and will certainly condemn any acts of antisemitism in our City."

The definition is from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. It reads:

Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

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According to AJC, the FBI reported a 60% increase in reported hate crimes after Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, with most of that increase driven by crimes against Jewish people. Although Jews make up just 2.4% of the United States population, they are the victims of nearly 60% of religious-based hate crimes.

In Hamilton County, anti-semitism flared during campaigns for local elections held Nov. 7.

The weekend before the election, hate-spewing flyers seeking recruits for the Ku Klux Klan were dropped off at scores of homes in Carmel and Fishers.

In October, text messages were sent to voters that claimed Democrats supported a pro-Palestinian rally in downtown Indianapolis just after the outbreak of the Israeli-Hamas war.

The Hamilton County democrats denied they backed the rally and the GOP said it didn't send the texts.

And over the summer, the local Moms for Liberty chapter posted a Hitler quote in its newsletter, which they later explained was being taken out of context.

The group, which the hate watchdog Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled as an extremist organization, apologized but it became an issue in the Carmel mayor’s race when Democrat Miles Nelson criticized Republican Sue Finkam for failing to condemn the group, though she did criticize the newsletter quote.

Finkam easily beat Nelson in the election.

Brainard said the anti-Semitic statement reiterates the city’s stand against hatred. He noted that the city in 2015 passed an anti-discrimination ordinance that includes protections for sexual orientation and gender identity.

The law was in response to a Religious Freedom and Restoration Act passed by then Gov. Mike Pence that critics said would allow businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians based on religious beliefs.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana mayor signs anti-Semitism executive order before leaving office