February 26, 2021
THE WEEK’S BIG 3
NBC has removed an episode from the series “Nurses” off its digital platforms and future airings following backlash over an offensive storyline that invoked antisemitic stereotypes against Hassidic Jews. ADL’s CEO is among the critics blasting a joke on last weekend's "Saturday Night Live" as antisemitic. Nearly 5,000 National Guard troops are expected to stay in Washington for at least another three weeks amid concerns over potential violence from QAnon adherents, some of whom believe former President Donald Trump will be inaugurated on March 4.
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) NBC Removes ‘Nurses’ Episode From Digital Platforms Following Backlash Over Orthodox Jewish Storyline
“The episode of the Canadian sitcom, which aired Feb. 9, contains a scene in which a young Orthodox Jewish man named Israel is hospitalized for a shattered leg. A doctor informs Israel and his father, who insists that ‘the Creator’ will heal him, that Israel will require a bone graft, meaning part of a cadaver’s leg would be surgically inserted into his leg.” Variety: FULL STORY
+ Press Release: ADL Calls on NBC to Pull "Nurses" Episode Featuring Antisemitic Stereotypes
2) Critics Slam SNL 'Weekend Update' Joke as Antisemitic
“The joke about Israel's vaccination program aired during the program's ‘Weekend Update’ segment and was made by anchor Michael Che, according to The Washington Post. ‘Israel is reporting that they vaccinated half of their population,’ Che said, ‘and I’m going to guess it’s the Jewish half.’” The Hill: READ MORE
+ READ: ADL Statement Regarding Recent Joke Made on SNL's "Weekend Update"
3) QAnon Believers Think Trump Will be Inaugurated Again on March 4
“They have tried to rationalize Biden becoming president in increasingly outrageous ways, claiming that Biden and Trump are working together and even that Trump and Biden somehow switched bodies. And they are now looking to March 4 as the next big watershed moment for their movement — the date that they believe Trump will once again be inaugurated.” Vox: LEARN MORE
+ ADL Resource: Extremists Face Arrests, Uncertain Future Following January 6 Insurrection
+ ADL Resource: QAnon -- A Glossary
KEY ADL SOCIAL STATEMENTS
- @TuckerCarlson has one of the most-watched cable news shows in the country and to use that hour-long platform to spread this type of blatant disinformation is a dangerous and irresponsible disservice to his country, his network @FoxNews and his viewers…
- Reducing Jews to their connection to Israel, labeling them Nazis, fascists, etc. is a common tactic for SJP. They did the same at UIUC campus just last year. It’s ugly and wrong and @TuftsUniversity cannot ignore this type of #antisemitic harassment…
- We welcome @SecBlinken’s affirmation of the US' commitment to fighting systemic anti-Israel bias in the UN Human Rights Council. The international body must end its incessant obsession with criticizing Israel…
IN THE COMMUNITY
- New head of S.F. diversity agency: All hands on deck in fight for Jews of color (The Jewish News of Northern California)
- The California ethnic studies antisemitism firestorm is far from over (Forward – Seth Brysk op-ed)
- Clark County School District investigates 'take my BREATH away' poster with George Floyd image (ABC Las Vegas – Jolie Brislin interviewed)
ADL IN THE NEWS
- Oath Keepers leader presses for bail (CNN – Oren Segal interviewed)
- ADL demands apology from former IDF MAG over ‘disgusting’ tweet to Ilhan Omar (The Times of Israel)
- We must join forces to ensure the protection of American Jews (Forward – Jonathan Greenblatt and Michael Masters joint op-ed)