The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County is proud to participate in the Palm Beach County Hate Crimes Task Force, a collaborative initiative bringing together law enforcement, government agencies and community organizations to confront hate and help protect every person’s right to live and express their identity and faith without fear.

Federation Vice President of Public Affairs Brandey Edelson recently attended a task force meeting at the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office. The meeting was led by Assistant State Attorney Freddie Menard, who serves as lead of the Hate Crimes Unit and chair of the task force.

The discussion focused on prevention, education, reporting, victim support and coordinated responses to hate crimes throughout Palm Beach County. Task force members also began preparing for United Against Hate Week, taking place October 18–24, which will bring partners together to raise awareness, encourage reporting and strengthen community-wide efforts to confront hate.

The task force was established by the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office under the leadership of State Attorney Alexcia Cox in response to the rise in antisemitism, attacks against the LGBTQ+ community and racial hatred across Florida. It works in coordination with the office’s dedicated Hate Crimes Unit, law enforcement agencies and more than a dozen community partners.

Together, task force members are working to improve public awareness and reporting, expand specialized training for law enforcement, connect victims with critical resources and ensure suspected hate crimes are properly identified, investigated and prosecuted.

For Federation, this work reflects a core commitment to protecting Jewish life while standing against all forms of hatred and prejudice. Religious expression cannot flourish when individuals feel compelled to hide visible signs of their faith, avoid communal spaces or remain silent about their identity out of concern for their safety.

Through advocacy, relationship-building and collaboration with public officials and law enforcement, Federation works to ensure that antisemitism and other forms of hate are addressed with urgency, credibility and coordinated action. Participation in the Hate Crimes Task Force strengthens those efforts by bringing Jewish community concerns directly into broader conversations about public safety, justice and community resilience.