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Extremist “Zoombombing” Hijacks Meetings; Swastika hits Sanders Campaign Office; Antisemitic Pastor Blames Jews for COVID-19

ADL Headlines newsletter

April 03, 2020

THE WEEK’S BIG 3

Internet trolls, including some white supremacists, are increasingly taking part in “Zoombombing” – hijacking meetings on the popular video communication app and posting inappropriate content, as well as white supremacist and antisemitic messages. An office for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in Florida was vandalized over the weekend with swastikas. Antisemitic pastor and broadcaster Rick Wiles said that the COVID-19 virus spreading to synagogues is a punishment from God to Jews for not following Jesus.

Read on for more on these headlines, news you can use to fight hate and the latest info about ADL from around the country.

  1. Zoom Calls Are Being Overwhelmed with Racist Slurs in “Zoombombing” Events

“Last week, a white supremacist interrupted a webinar for a Massachusetts Jewish student group. After joining the conference, hosted on the popular telework platform Zoom, the man pulled down his shirt collar and showed a tattooed swastika on his chest, according to the Anti-Defamation League, which tracks anti-Semitic incidents.” The Times of Israel: READ MORE

+ ADL Resource: What is “Zoombombing” and Who is Behind it?

+ ADL Resource: How to Prevent “Zoombombing”

  1. Antisemitic Vandalism at Florida Office for Bernie Sanders

“According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, a suspect approached the building in Lake Worth Beach on March 25 about midnight. The unidentified person was caught on video spray-painting a swastika and a message in black letters that read, ‘Voting didn’t stop us last time.’” Miami Herald: FULL STORY

+ Jonathan Greenblatt tweet: “This is absolutely vile…

  1. Antisemitic Broadcaster: COVID-19 Blamed on Jews for Not Following Jesus

“Anti-Semitic and conspiracy broadcaster and Christian pastor Rick Wiles said on Wednesday that the coronavirus outbreak is spreading to synagogues, and is a punishment from God because Jews don’t follow Jesus. Wiles also claimed that the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States ‘started’ earlier this month at the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, D.C.” JNS.org: FULL STORY

+ ADL Resource: TruNews and Rick Wiles – “End Times” Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism

+ Jonathan Greenblatt tweet: “… hatemongers will try to spread their vitriol even when they’re stuck at home…”

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