In the wake of what has been happening at Pascack Valley regarding the graffiti that was recently uncovered by The Smoke Signal, it is apparent that PV’s situation is not a unique case. Anti-semitic and other hateful incidents have been on the rise across the United States in the past year.

According to newly released FBI data, the U.S. saw a 17 percent rise in hate crimes in 2017. This marks the third consecutive year in which the number of hate crimes has risen nationwide.

In recent days, a number of hate crimes have garnered national attention. On Oct. 27, a gunman opened fire at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, leaving 11 dead and four injured.

On Monday, Nov.11, a prom photo in which multiple Wisconsin high school students were shown giving a Nazi salute dominated social media circulation. Other students in the picture appeared to be giving a white power salute. The school district has since condemned the behavior and launched an investigation into the incident.

“I think we’re one of the most transparent schools out there, and we are not afraid to tell the community this is going on here,” PV Principal Tom DeMaio said. “If people want to believe that this is not going on at a lot of schools in this country, they’re mistaken.”