April 09, 2021
THE WEEK’S BIG 3
Cameron Shea, a 25-year-old leader of the neo-Nazi extremist group Atomwaffen, pleaded guilty to threatening journalists and activists with Nazi posters and menacing messages. Coronavirus lockdowns last year shifted some antisemitic hatred online, where conspiracy theories blaming Jews for the pandemic’s medical and economic devastation abounded, researchers reported. The Arkansas Senate on Wednesday approved a stripped-down hate crimes bill derided by longtime supporters of such legislation, including ADL, who agree the measure is too vague and would provide "insufficient" coverage for a state that's one of only four nationwide without such a law.
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) Neo-Nazi Atomwaffen Leader Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime for Mailing Poster of Molotov-Wielding Grim Reaper to ADL Staffer
“Shea had been charged with a hate crime for interfering with federally protected practice of religion as well as conspiracy to interfere with protected religious practice and mailing threatening communications. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and will be sentenced in June.” The Daily Beast: FULL STORY
+ ADL Resource: Atomwaffen Division (AWD)/ National Socialist Order (NSO)
2) Report: Pandemic Amped Up Antisemitism, Forced it Online
“The findings, which came in an annual report by Tel Aviv University’s researchers on anti-Semitism, show that the social isolation of the pandemic kept Jews away from those who wish to harm them. Online, the scene was much different, researchers reported — a potential warning sign that as pandemic restrictions ease, hateful conduct toward Jews could intensify as it has during some of humanity’s other historic struggles.” Associated Press: READ MORE
+ ADL Resource: 2021 Survey on Jewish Americans’ Experiences with Antisemitism
3) Arkansas Senate Approves Hate Crime Bill Advocates Decry as "Sham"
“Arkansas' measure has been heavily criticized by longtime supporters of hate crimes laws, including the Anti-Defamation League, for not outlining specific categories and for not covering lower-level crimes. The group has said it won't consider Arkansas as having a hate crimes law if the measure is enacted. The group has called it a ‘sham’ legislation under which ‘virtually any violent crime based on a person's association or belief would be covered, including crimes targeting white supremacists or neo-Nazis.’” CBS News: LEARN MORE
+ ADL South Central: Letter to Arkansas Senate Judiciary Chair in Opposition of Senate Bill 622
KEY ADL SOCIAL STATEMENTS
- No amount of time can eliminate the pain caused by the Holocaust. My colleague Ken Jacobson writes on how all these years later, we recognize #YomHaShoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, not just to remember the past, but to create a better future…
- To help ensure our communities have access to the facts, we have joined @FordFund and 10 multicultural organizations to provide trusted information about the COVID-19 vaccine…
- We welcome the resumption of humanitarian, economic, development and security assistance to the Palestinian people. This critical aid will improve lives while hopefully helping advance progress between Israel and the Palestinians…
IN THE COMMUNITY
- Pennsylvania, New Jersey see record increase in hate propaganda, attacks (ABC Philadelphia – Shira Goodman interviewed)
- Federal judge to hear Boston exam school admission case Tuesday (Boston Globe)
- Ohio politicians condemned for pandemic comparisons to Nazi Germany (CBS Toledo)
ADL IN THE NEWS
- Google Has a Secret Blocklist that Hides YouTube Hate Videos from Advertisers—But It’s Full of Holes (The Markup)
- Today we commemorate the Holocaust (The Arab News – David Weinberg op-ed)
- U.S. Jewish Organizations Decry 'Despicable' anti-Arab Remarks From Netanyahu Ally (Haaretz)