Montgomery County officials announced the allocation of $1.7 million in security grants to 95 places of worship and faith-based nonprofit organizations in an effort to prevent hate crimes.
“We are diverse. We are welcoming and refuse to let hate determine how our residents live,” declared County Executive Marc Elrich during an April 20 news conference.
Originally, county officials agreed to distribute $1.2 million in security grants, but a request from the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington in March convinced the county to add $500,00 more due to recent events in the Middle East and around the world.
“Tensions are elevating,” Elrich said.
The grants, which ranged from $2,500 to $15,000 each, were distributed to Jewish institutions along with Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Sikh and others.
Several dozen Jewish institutions were awarded funding through the original $1.2 million security grant allocation, including Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation, Bender JCC of Greater Washington, Berman Hebrew Academy, Bethesda Jewish Congregation, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County, Congregation Har Shalom, Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, Kehilat Pardes – The Rock Creek Synagogue, Torah School of Greater Washington, and Yeshiva of Greater Washington, as well as several local Chabads.
“This is how local governments should work: proactive, responsive and effective,” said JCRC of Greater Washington CEO Ron Halber.
“As I have often said, it is unfortunate that we need these resources, but we live in a world where hate towards others is on an upward trajectory. I would rather see these funds spent on critical social welfare needs, but the first responsibility of government is to protect its citizens. This program must continue and be well funded so long as it is necessary,” Halber said.
Pointing to the diversity of grant recipients, Halber said, “This program is wanted by all.”
The funds can be used to hire security personnel, train community members and purchase security equipment such as cameras, lights and fences. Organizations can connect their cameras directly to the county’s real-time intelligence center so that police can view events as they happen.
According to Halber, a security person “is the No. 1 deterrence” in stopping hate bias crimes.
Spending money for security is necessary “to protect people, because there are too many crazy people running around,” Elrich said.
In Montgomery County, “people of every single faith” are welcome, said County Council President Natali Fani-González. “This is one issue where our entire county council agreed.” She added, “We are all here together, because we understand having peace of mind in our county is important.”
According to Luke Hodgson, director of the county’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, “Race and religion continue to be the primary bias motivators.” Most religious bias acts involve antisemitism, and most racial bias acts are targeted at Blacks.
“Hate is not welcome here, and hate will not be tolerated here, and we will not be intimidated,” Hodgson said. “These hate crimes absolutely do not represent what Montgomery County is or what we stand for.”
During 2024, there were 483 bias incidents in the county, according to Montgomery County Police. Among the incidents, 291 were school-related and 192 were community-related. But Hodgson believes there are many more incidents, because not eveNry piece of graffiti, act of vandalism or arson, or racial or sexual slander is reported.
Security “is not optional. It’s essential,” said Mariam Khan, a board member at the Muslim Community Center. They will be using their grant to train security personnel and upgrade equipment “so we can continue to gather, learn and serve others.”
She thanked county officials for showing that “community matters, and everyone deserves to feel safe.”
Kerry Brodie, founder and executive director of Emma’s Torch, which teaches culinary skills to immigrants, said the money shows refugees who came from difficult situations that, “They are being met by the best of humanity.”
Karen Brown, a trustee at The People’s Community Baptist Church in Silver Spring, said the grant will be used for lighting and security cameras at a new children’s playground at a school that serves children from infants to kindergarten.
“We all have the right to be secure and feel secure,” added a representative of the Sikh community.
Allocating these funds means, “We are putting money where our mouth is,” said Fani-González. “People of every single faith are welcome here.”
Security grants were first distributed in 2022. Since the program was launched, about $6.5 million has been distributed. This year, 103 organizations applied for funding.
Suzanne Pollak is a freelance writer.
