ADL IS FOCUSED ON FIGHTING ALL HATE
Re “Criticizing oppressive Zionism is legitimate, not antisemitic” (Dec. 6): We must call out the false claims made by Yazan and Omar Zahzah in their essay published in The San Diego Union-Tribune. The AntiDefamation League (ADL) does not conduct surveillance of Muslims.
The ADL’s professional expert staff monitors extremist groups via opensource forums across the ideological hate spectrum. When our staff has concerns about an actual or potential threat against a minority group, including the Muslim community, we provide resources, expertise and educational briefings to community stakeholders. As just one example, ADL’s Center on Extremism identified 212 of the roughly 800 individuals believed to have breached the Capitol during the riots on Jan. 6.
Additionally, the authors take issue with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition being included in a San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) resolution, claiming that the resolution will censor free speech. The IHRA definition is not meant to stifle legitimate political speech. Importantly, the IHRA definition calls out blatant hateful antisemitic rhetoric dressed up as political speech. Throughout its 108-year history, the ADL has strenuously defended the First Amendment.
The definition of Zionism provided by the authors is false and defamatory toward Jews. Zionism is a movement for the selfdetermination and statehood for the Jewish people in Israel, their ancestral homeland. The Zionist movement was born in the 19th century after millennia of anti-Jewish violence and hate, and advocates that Jews, like all oppressed peoples, have the right to security and self-determination. One can be both a Zionist and strong advocate for Palestinian rights.
ADL is a leading voice in San Diego and across the world fighting against all forms of hate. Our essential educational programming at SDUSD focuses on antibias against all communities and promotes diversity, inclusion, civility and acceptance.
is board chair of ADL