Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced Tuesday that the state is offering $1 million in additional funding for faith-based organizations and other non-profits to help protect against hate crimes.
Organizations that serve protected classes and religious institutions are eligible for funding to hire security personal.
The grant money is part of the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth and Victim Services.
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—in Maryland we do not, and we will never, tolerate hatred. Not toward Muslims. Not toward Jews. Not toward Christians. Not toward anyone,” Moore said when announcing the additional funding
“Safety is my number one priority as governor and my administration remains steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that all Marylanders feel safe in their homes and in their communities.”
Eligible organizations may seek up to $40,000 in competitive grant funding.
“To the faith communities across the state who feel increasingly concerned for their safety, Governor Moore and I see you, we hear you, and we will always fight for the safety of all Marylanders,” said Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller. “We are committed to rooting out violence and hate, including by providing faith-based and nonprofit institutions with the resources they need to ensure the safety of their members and congregations.”
The money comes following the war in the Middle East, which has spurred a dramatic increase in hate crimes and hate incidents against both Jewish and Muslim communities in the United States.
The Anti-Defamation League recorded a 316% year-over-year increase in antisemitic incidents between Oct. 7 and Nov. 7. During a similar time period, the Council on American Islamic-Relations saw a 216% spike in requests for help and reports of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bias incidents.
The additional funding supports a series of initiatives to prevent hate crimes, including $6.3 million to protect against hate crimes and to enhance local police recruitment and retention efforts through the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services.
The Moore Administration also announced $15.9 million for 118 faith-based and nonprofit organizations to protect against hate crimes through the United States Department of Homeland Security 2023 Nonprofit Security Grant Program.
Organizations interested in applying for the Emergency Assistance to Secure Against Hate Crimes grant funding may do so at www.goccp.maryland.gov/grants.
Funding requests close Jan. 10, 2024.
