White Supremacist Propaganda Hits All-Time High in 2020, ADL Report Finds

White supremacist propaganda distribution surged across the United States in 2020, with a total of 5,125 cases of racist, antisemitic and other hateful messages reported by ADL. Last year marked the highest level of incidents reported since ADL began tracking such data – an average of about 14 incidents per day and nearly double the 2,724 cases reported in 2019.

ADL’s Center on Extremism (COE) tracked the distribution of racist, antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ fliers, stickers, posters and banners by various members of far-right and white supremacist groups. The annual report found that at least 30 known white supremacist groups were behind hate propaganda efforts, affecting 49 states in 2020. 

The Washington, D.C. Region made up about 12.4 percent of the incidents in 2020 with three of the states in the top 10 – Virginia ranked 7th, North Carolina ranked 9th and Maryland ranked 10th.
 

ADL Washington, D.C. in the Local News

With the release of ADL's White Supremacist Propaganda Report, ADL Washington, D.C. staff have been busy keeping the public informed as we look ahead into 2021. Check out the links below to view news coverage of our work in our local communities:

• White supremacist propaganda in Virginia doubled in 2020, data shows -  (ABC13News)
• Maryland, Virginia in top ten of white supremacist propaganda cases in 2020, amid national surge - (WUSA9 CBS)

Speak Up Against Anti-Asian Hate

Members of the House of Representatives have introduced H. Res. 151, led by Representative Grace Meng and H. Res. 153, led by Representative Michelle Steel, condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment related to COVID-19. ADL urges Congress to speak out against bias and hate and support Asian and Asian-American communities by adopting these measures.
 

Extremism in the U.S. Military: Problems and Solutions

Extremist movements pose many problems to society, from spreading hate and intolerance to engaging in significant and deadly violence.  It is particularly problematic when adherents of extreme causes are able to persist in key institutions dedicated to protecting the people of the United States, institutions such as emergency response units, law enforcement and the military.
 

ADL Survey Finds Israeli Society is Increasingly Divided, with a Record 81 Percent Saying the Rifts are Widening

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Challenging Anti-Asian Bias and Acting as an Ally

Amidst the increase in anti-Asian rhetoric, bullying in schools, racist incidents, scapegoating and hate crimes impacting Asian and Asian American people, this is an important opportunity to have conversations with young people about the history of violence and injustice. In addition, this time also provides an opening to engage students in learning more about the history and background of the AAPI community and how to act as an ally when you see, witness or experience bias and injustice.

The following resources for students, schools, classrooms and families can help to open those conversations.
 

Enhancing Holocaust Instruction: 5 Tips to Prioritize Questions in the Classroom

Good questions are essential to sound pedagogy and solid teaching. At Echoes & Reflections, our pedagogy guides us to encourage inquiry-based learning; the best way to do this is to inspire students to create their own questions and drive their own learning. Click here for five tips to do just that.
 

Webinar: Is it Fake News? Identity and Address the Continuum of Disinformation and Other "False" News

Amid the 24-hour news cycle, with people getting their news on TV, online, via social media and from friends and others, there is a lot of "false news," and it spreads quickly. The purpose of this session is for educators to explore false news, understand the different types of false news, the impact it has and how they can assist students in identifying the difference between real and false news. In this session, participants will reflect on where people get their news, understand the bias that exists in all news and consider the continuum of false news - from satirical news to fake news to disinformation. Examples of each, including those that spread bias, will be discussed and participants will learn strategies for spotting fake news. 
 
Join ADL's Director of Curriculum and Training, Jinnie Spiegler, and Share My Lesson on Thursday, March 25th at 3:00 p.m. ET to explore these topics and learn more.
 

Missed a Webinar? Check Out ADL’s YouTube Channel for all of ADL’s Recorded Webinars!

At a time when we can all feel isolated, we need to pull together now more than ever to stand up against antisemitism and extremism. 

ADL offers a monthly webinar as part of its series, Fighting Hate from Home, to help unite and inform our community.

Yesterday, ADL's Fighting Hate from Home webinar was on "A Broken System: Immigration and the American Dream," where ADL welcomed Lydia Guzman, LULAC’s National Immigration Chair, Clarissa Martinez de Castro, Deputy VP for Policy and Advocacy of Unidos US and Ali Noorani, President/CEO of the National Immigration Forum to join ADL VP of Government Relations, Advocacy and Community Engagement Max Sevillia and CEO Jonathan Greenblatt for an important conversation about immigration.

Is Your Synagogue Part of ADL’s Signature Synagogue Program? 

ADL Washington, D.C.'s Regional Signature Synagogue Program is an important way to engage our community and ignite a congregation-wide commitment to raising awareness of and speaking out against antisemitism and hate. This program creates a unifying initiative for community education and engagement. Participants in the Signature Synagogue Program will have special direct access to ADL's programs, resources and learning opportunities. This is an ongoing year-long program where each synagogue will receive recognition of participation and granted a certificate of completion. 

For more information, contact ADL Washington, D.C.