ADL Responds to Los Angeles Times Opinion Article "A rising wave of anti-Semitism?"

Date: September 29, 2009

The following letter was sent to the Los Angeles Times:

September 16, 2009
To the Editor: 

Contrary to what David Lehrer may think, there is a difference between objectively recounting a surge in hateful rhetoric and violence, and crying wolf ("A rising wave of anti-Semitism?" Sept. 16). 

The Anti-Defamation League has been monitoring and reporting on the actions of the extreme right in this country for many decades.  We observe patterns and trends.  In the past several months, against the backdrop of the election of President Obama, the financial crisis, and exceedingly xenophobic rhetoric on immigration, we have seen a pattern of increased violence and violent rhetoric, much as we saw a decade ago in the months preceding the Oklahoma City bombing. 

This year, there have already been a dozen murders linked to extremists, including an attack on a military facility in Little Rock, an ambush of cops in Pittsburgh, and an assault on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.  There has also been a proliferation of anti-Semitic and extremist hate on social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook and a new edginess on certain prominent cable and radio talk shows.      

Several days ago, on the mall in Washington, thousands gathered to raise increasingly shrill voices against the President and his policies.  In the crowd, there were numerous images comparing President Obama to Hitler and carrying slogans like "We came unarmed (this time);" "Stop Liberal Fascism;" and "It's 1939 Germany all over again."

No one is claiming the sky is falling, but it would be irresponsible to ignore the new wave of hate that is spreading across this country.  It is not limited to a handful of bigots and racists today.  Unfortunately, it is beginning to infect the mainstream.  Our history should teach us that we ignore such trends at our peril.     

Amanda Susskind
Regional Director
Anti-Defamation League
Los Angeles