US Jewish security organization opens command center to monitor antisemitism

Secure Community Network’s Chicago-based main monitoring room can be operational 24 hours a day, as it was during the Jewish holidays

By Ben Sales

You will receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

You will no longer receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

28 September 2021, 12:41 am 1

Edit

Ben Sales is a news editor at The Times of Israel

A view of the Secure Community Network's new command center in Chicago. (Courtesy of SCN via JTA)

JTA — The Secure Community Network, which coordinates security for Jewish institutions across the US, has opened a command center in Chicago to monitor antisemitic threats.

The center’s main room is a monitoring room with a 16-foot video screen that shows a map and tally of incident reports and potential threats across the country. It is staffed by some 10 people on a daily basis, but can be operational 24 hours a day, as it was over the High Holidays this month.

The opening of the center comes as statistics from watchdog groups show a rise in antisemitic incidents in recent years.

Michael Masters, CEO of the Secure Community Network, said in a statement that the command center “allows us to have a central location for the community, security officials and our partners, to include law enforcement, to report, coordinate and protect the Jewish Community.”