(The Center Square) — Churches, synagogues and mosques in New York state could be getting more federal money to bolster their defenses against possible attacks and hate crimes amid a rise in threats against Jewish and Muslim communities fueled by the Israel-Hamas war.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program is making another $400 million available for houses of worship to apply for funds to hire security, install cameras and other steps to harden their infrastructure against attacks, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Sunday.
“We’re going to keep funding so that no synagogue or other religious institution is going to have to live in the fear that they now live with,” Schumer, a New York Democrat, said in a statement.
The increased funding for security upgrades follows a surge of high-profile attacks on the Jewish community, which have raised security concerns among religious leaders and civil rights groups who have noted a surge in reports of bias and hate crimes.