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.
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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”
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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…”
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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
KEY ADL SOCIAL STATEMENTS
- As fear surrounding #coronavirus increases, we have seen a disturbing rise in #racist incidents targeting Asian-Americans…
- Incredibly saddened that Josef Neumann, a victim of the Monsey stabbing attack, has passed away as a result of his injuries…
- COVID-19 targets us all. That is why we led a coalition of over 180 Jewish orgs calling on political leaders & all Americans to reject the singling out of Asian Americans, immigrants, Jews, or any other communities at this moment of crisis…
IN THE COMMUNITY
ADL VP to Receive FBI Award (Atlanta Jewish Times)
- In ADL webinar, US congresswomen describe anti-Semitism, racism due to COVID-19 (Cleveland Jewish News)
- Fear, Avoidance, Being Told To Go Back To Their Country: What It’s Like To Be Asian In Colorado In The Time Of Coronavirus (Colorado Public Radio)
ADL IN THE NEWS
- The Reason for an Israeli Curfew: Palestinian Terrorism (The New York Times – Kenneth Jacobson Letter to the Editor)
- Fears of Racism Rise Amid Global Coronavirus Pandemic (MSNBC’s Politics Nation with Rev. Al Sharpton – Jonathan Greenblatt interviewed)
- Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories are a Public Health Hazard (WIRED)