ADL Responds to COVID Fed Bias and Bigotry

ADL has been actively responding to bias and bigotry related to the current health crisis. Our experts on extremism and online hate are monitoring and reporting on trends in virus-related anti-Semitism and xenophobia, and ADL has spoken out against harassment and blaming of particular ethnic groups for the spread of COVID-19. We have been tracking efforts of extremists and others to exploit the moment by interrupting public online meetings with offensive images and messages, and conversations between our national staff and Zoom about this problem has resulted in new security measures rolled out by the company. ADL has also provided a series of webinars, dialogues, and interactive conversations titled “Fighting Hate from Home,” on a wide range of issues related to the current health crisis to help the general public to stay informed and make an impact even in these difficult times. We have also been highlighting the disproportionately negative impact of the crisis on marginalized, under-resourced, and immigrant communities. We remain in touch with schools, law enforcement, community organizations, and civil rights groups to enable them to continue experiencing much of our programming via online platforms.