The county has opened applications for its security grant program for faith organizations and nonprofits.
The announcement comes Wednesday amid recent attacks in Israel.
“I can’t even think of other things that equate with what happened in Israeli communities,” County Executive Marc Elrich said. “It’s just horrifying, and it mystifies me how people can do some of the things that were done.”
He said “there is obvious concern” that hostilities could impact religious communities in Montgomery County.
Elrich said he will also request “some additional funds for immediate access to some of our religious institutions who are feeling at-risk in this moment from possible attacks.”
“We want to make sure that we act prospectively rather than reflexively, and try to ensure that people are safe and secure wherever they are in Montgomery County.”
Elrich said no organization has mentioned a specific threat, but said that people are concerned that past incidents in the Middle East triggered increased hate violence, “and I think there is an uncomfortable anticipation that we could be visited with this again.”
He noted a rise in crimes against specific communities even before the recent attacks, since the start of the pandemic. He mentioned Asian American groups experiencing attacks, antisemitic messaging in schools and neighborhoods, vandalism of historic Black churches, and Islamophobia.
Groups can request up to $20,000 through the grant program. There will be an information session Wednesday, Oct. 18.
The deadline to apply is Friday, Nov. 10, according to Elrich. The application is online.
A total of $900,000 is available through the program. The county council approved the funding as part of the county’s operating budget that went into effect July, per a release.
The county has previously offered the security grants program.
