Says This is a “Teachable Moment for Resisting BDS Pressure Tactics" New York, NY, August 19, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed an apology from the Rototom Sunsplash reggae festival for having cancelled a concert by American Jewish singer Matisyahu, and commended the festival for re-inviting him to perform. ADL initially referred to the cancellation of Matisyahu’s show as a “clear case of anti-Semitic discrimination,” and noted it was illegal…

  La Liga Antidifamación (ADL) condenó hoy el festival de reggae Rototom Sunsplash en España por cancelar la actuación de Matisyahu, un músico estadounidense judío. Según el diario español El País, los organizadores del festival exigieron al cantante emitir una declaración a favor de un estado palestino y cancelaron su actuación prevista para el 22 de agosto, cuando no se proporcionó dicha…

New York, NY, August 17, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today condemned the Rototom Sunsplash reggae festival in Spain for cancelling a performance by Matisyahu, an American-Jewish musician. According to the Spanish newspaper El País, festival organizers demanded that Matisyahu issue a statement in favor of a Palestinian state and cancelled his scheduled August 22 appearance when no such statement was provided. “Was a Jewish musician singled out, based on his…

ADL Launches "50 States Against Hate," New Campaign for Tougher Hate Crimes Laws All Across the Country Atlanta, GA, August 17, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today announced the formation of a new campaign to improve legal response to hate crimes across the United States. 50 States Against Hate: An Initiative for Stronger Hate Crime Laws will work toward the passage of hate crime laws in the five states which do not have them – Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina…

New York, NY, August 16, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed deep sorrow at the passing of Julian Bond, a giant of the civil rights movement and lifelong champion of justice. Bond, one of the original founding members of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, and longtime leader of the NAACP, was 75. Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL National Director, issued the following statement from Atlanta, where he gave remarks earlier today at Ebenezer Baptist Church: The…

New York, NY, August 13, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed concern over threats and incendiary accusations being directed at Dan Shapiro, the United States Ambassador to Israel. According to reports, police and the U.S. Embassy have increased security for the Ambassador following the receipt of threatening letters over the past week.  The threats, by letter and posted on social media, were related to the U.S. position on the Iran agreement. The Ambassador…

Urges All Stakeholders to Prepare for Post Congressional Vote and Consider New Path, Whatever the Outcome New York, NY, August 13, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed continued deep reservations regarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran. Until the Administration acts in clear ways to address its deep concerns regarding the JCPOA, ADL has concluded that Congress should vote no on the deal. ADL urges all stakeholders – the Administration,…

New York, NY, August 12, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed the formation of an alternative private Jewish conversion court by a group of leading Orthodox Zionist rabbis in Israel. ADL called the court “an important initiative for Israel and the Jewish people.” The new court, known as Giyur Kehalacha (conversion according to Jewish law), is headed by Rabbi Nachum Rabinovitch, includes a number of leading Israeli rabbis including David Stav and Shlomo…

New York, NY, August 10, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today said it was outraged and appalled at remarks made by Rabbi Bentzi Gopstein, Director of Lehava, a far-right extremist organization in Israel, who was quoted saying that he favors the burning of churches and compared Christianity to idol worship. According to reports, Gopstein, who made the remarks during a symposium in Jerusalem on Jewish religious law on August 4, was asked: “Are you in favor of burning …

New York, NY, August 3, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed deep concern over the incitement targeting Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, following his condemnation of the terror attack in the West Bank village of Duma which resulted in the death of the Palestinian toddler Ali Dawabsheh. The President’s Facebook post on the matter, in which he expressed “shame” over the attack, received many hateful comments, including violent threats and…

Calls on Settlement Leaders to Do More to Stop ‘Price Tag’ Terrorism New York, NY, July 31, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today condemned the shocking terror attack apparently carried out by Israeli extremists in the Palestinian village of Duma, where Molotov cocktails were hurled at two houses, including that of the Dawabsheh family, resulting in the death of two-year-old Ali and in the severe wounding of his parents and brother. Hateful graffiti, including &ldquo…

Jerusalem, July 30, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed shock and horror at the stabbing of six people at today’s gay pride parade in Jerusalem. Israel’s political leadership from across the spectrum, including the prime minister, has widely condemned the attack.  Israeli media is reporting that the ultra-Orthodox man from Bnei Brak who was arrested at the scene is Yishai Shlissel, who stabbed participants at the same event in 2005 and had just recently…

Jerusalem, July 27, 2015… The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) welcomed the sentencing of two Israeli youths who had torched the Hand-in-Hand bi-lingual Hebrew-Arabic school in Jerusalem and spray painted it with hate graffiti in November 2014. The third defendant's trial is still in process. The two were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 24 to 30 months and were ordered to compensate the school in the sum of 10,000 NIS and 15,000 NIS. The two brothers, Shlomo and Nahman Twito from…

New York, NY, July 27, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today urged the blog publishing platform WordPress to remove ISIS propaganda from its website, after the League’s research found a repository of ISIS videos, statements and publications on the platform. WordPress has not responded to ADL’s flagging of the content, which included beheading and execution clips and articles encouraging individuals to travel, join and carry out attacks. ADL is also asking internet…

New York, NY, July 23, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today praised the introduction of the Equality Act, comprehensive federal anti-discrimination legislation that explicitly adds sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to federal anti-discrimination laws prohibiting discrimination in the areas of employment, public accommodation, credit, federal funding, education, jury service and housing. The introduction of the legislation follows the groundbreaking July 15…

New York, NY, July 22, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today commended the Department of Justice for bringing federal hate crime charges against Dylann Storm Roof for the horrific bias-motivated murder of nine parishioners during a prayer meeting at the historic Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17. Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL National Director, and Mark Moskowitz, ADL Southeast Regional Director, issued the following statement: We welcome the announcement…

New York, NY, July 20, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today sent a message to members of the House and Senate asking them to carefully review the proposed Iranian nuclear deal by probing the administration more deeply on the details. The League called on Congress to reject any deal if they do not get satisfactory answers to key questions that would “…decrease the likelihood Iran will become a nuclear weapons state.” In a letter sent to members of the House…

New York, NY, July 17, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed solidarity with the Jewish community of Argentina in commemoration of the 21st anniversary of the bombing of the AMIA-DAIA building in Buenos Aires on July 18, 1994, and paid tribute to the memory of the late AMIA prosecutor Alberto Nisman. ADL renewed the call for justice for the bombing victims and a thorough, transparent, and complete investigation of Mr. Nisman’s death. Barry Curtiss-Lusher, ADL…

Says it Falls Short of Preventing Regime from Becoming Nuclear Weapon State; Expects Thorough Congressional Review New York, NY, July 14, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed serious concern about shortcomings in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action announced by President Obama saying the agreement appears to “fall far short” of assuring that Iran will not become a nuclear weapon state. Barry Curtiss-Lusher, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL…

New York, NY, July 13, 2015 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed the “clear and public stand against anti-Semitism” by the South Korean companies Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries following the publication of anti-Jewish comments regarding their proposed merger. In a July 12 letter to ADL’s national director, Joo Hwa Yoon, CEO of Cheil Industries, and Chi Hun Choi, CEO of Samsung C&T, unequivocally condemned anti-Semitism. “We are a company…