August 07, 2020
THE WEEK’S BIG 3
Twenty state attorneys general called on Facebook to better prevent messages of hate, bias and disinformation from spreading, and said the company needed to provide more help to users facing online abuse. The leader of a white supremacist group was arrested in Weatherford, Texas on Saturday after police said he and two other men placed stickers on county property. And the global Jewish community continues to face rising antisemitism due to the coronavirus pandemic, the ADL says.
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) Facebook Must Better Police Online Hate, State Attorneys General Say
“In a letter to the social media giant, the officials said they regularly encountered people facing online intimidation and harassment on Facebook. They outlined seven steps the company should take, including allowing third-party audits of hate content and offering real-time assistance to users.” The New York Times: READ MORE
+ Read the Attorney Generals’ letter
2) Leader of White Supremacist Group, 2 Others Arrested in Texas
“The Parker County Sheriff’s Department arrested the three men on Saturday after watching them place stickers on two different signs on the Parker County Courthouse lawn… One of Patriot Front’s most common tactics is to distribute racist and anti-Semitic propaganda in various communities, the Anti-Defamation League reported.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram: FULL STORY
+ White Supremacists Arrested in Weatherford – Spectrum News, TX
3) Antisemitism is ‘Front and Center’ in Reactions to Coronavirus Pandemic, ADL Says
During a recent webinar titled ‘Anti-Semitism: Combatting the Other Global Pandemic,’ hosted by the American Society of the University of Haifa, ADL Senior Vice President of International Affairs Dr. Sharon S. Nazarian said, ‘As a vulnerable minority Jews feel sensitive to the rise of conspiracy theories — particularly in non-democratic governments which use scapegoating of minorities, and especially Jews, to deflect from their own failures.’” Algemeiner: FULL STORY
+ ADL Resource: Coronavirus -- Antisemitism
+ ADL Resource: Coronavirus -- Anti-Immigration, Xenophobia and Homophobia
KEY ADL SOCIAL STATEMENTS
- Celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act by taking action…
- Michelle Malkin has proven herself to be an unrepentant bigot, repeatedly embracing antisemitic and anti-immigrant rhetoric and sharing conspiracies rooted in hate…
- 8 years ago, a white supremacist murdered six Sikh worshipers in their gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. This heinous attack still pains us to this day…
IN THE COMMUNITY
- Neighbors quickly rip down white supremacist stickers (ABC San Diego – Tammy Gillies interviewed)
- Westford Select Board condemns recent ‘acts of hate’ (Lowell Sun, MA)
- Fort Bend County’s COVID-19 Anti-Hate Resolution wins approval (Houston Chronicle)
ADL IN THE NEWS
- Recent celebrity anti-Semitic incidents underscore rise in attacks against Jewish Americans (CBS News – Jonathan Greenblatt interviewed)
- Study: Facebook Allows And Recommends White Supremacist, Anti-Semitic And QAnon Groups With Thousands Of Members (Forbes)
- Secret Service: Mass attackers, including Oregon District shooter, share traits (Dayton Daily News)