December 22, 2019
THE WEEK'S BIG 3
The United States Military Academy is investigating whether cadets and midshipmen intentionally flashed a white supremacist hand sign on national television prior to the Army vs Navy football game. A Pennsylvania man has been charged with vandalism and commercial burglary, with a penalty enhancement for a hate crime, after allegedly desecrating a synagogue in Beverly Hills. And ADL’s Center on Extremism has uncovered more disturbing information about the Jersey City attackers and their hatred for Jews and law enforcement.
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) Military Probing Use of Possible White Power Hand Gesture During Army-Navy Football Game
“During a pregame broadcast both West Point and Naval Academy students were caught displaying the ‘OK’ hand symbol to the camera behind ESPN host Reece Davis. According to the Anti-Defamation League, the sign was co-opted by members of the online message board 4chan and is on the organization’s list of official hate symbols…” Forbes: Read More
+ ADL Resource: Okay Hand Gesture
+ WATCH: Jonathan Greenblatt on CBS This Morning
2) Suspect Arrested in Vandalism of Beverly Hills Synagogue
“Several rooms inside the building were ransacked and several Jewish relics were damaged… Police added that no markings or other signs of anti-Semitism were left by the suspect who captured on security footage but it would still be investigated as a hate crime…’” ABC Los Angeles: Learn More
+ READ: ADL Statement on Nessah Synagogue Vandalism
+ Jonathan Greenblatt tweet: “These images are truly painful to look at…”
3) Jersey City Shooter Called Jews ‘Nazis’ in Social Media Posts
“The ADL on Tuesday said it had uncovered a Facebook page that it says belonged to David Anderson, one of the two shooters who killed two Jews and a non-Jewish worker at the JC Kosher Supermarket, as well as a police officer at a nearby cemetery. Anderson on Facebook referred to Jews as ‘Nazis’ and ‘Ashke-Nazis’ and shared images of Jewish people along with the New Testament verse, ‘I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the Synagogue of Satan…’” JTA: Full Story
+ ADL Resource: Center on Extremism Uncovers More Disturbing Details of Jersey City Shooter’s Extremist Ideology
+ ADL Resource: Top Moments of Hate of 2019
KEY ADL SOCIAL STATEMENTS
- My heart breaks for the family and friends of a fallen hero, Jersey City Police Detective Joseph Seals…
- The leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei praising a noted #Holocaust denier, whose book is banned from France, is not surprising…
- With #HateCrimes against immigrants rising, we applaud @RepMarkTakano for introducing legislation to protect immigrants…
IN THE COMMUNITY
- Jersey City Mayor Calls for Board of Education Trustee’s Resignation Over Calling Jews ‘Brutes’ (Jewish Journal)
- Trump’s executive order provides an important backstop against anti-Semitism (The Boston Globe -- Robert Trestan letter to the editor)
- The Bridge Unity in Action Celebration Leads Path Towards United Community (Kings County Politics, NY)
ADL IN THE NEWS
- Anti-Defamation League CEO Skewers Fox News for Spewing Anti-Semitic Tropes (Huffington Post)
- White Supremacy in the Classroom (Inside Higher Ed)
- Rise in Anti-Semitic Incidents Goes Beyond Recent Violent Attacks (The Wall Street Journal)