The Jewish Week article, “Jewish Groups Walk Tightrope On Racial Tensions” (July 15), understated the concern of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) about the ADL’s promotion of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. 

The article said that ZOA criticized ADL’s “past relationship with Black Lives Matter members.” In fact, the ADL currently continues to promote the #BlackLivesMatter movement in the ADL’s website’s misleading “lesson plans,” “curriculum resources” and “family discussion guides.” 

ADL’s “What is Happening in Ferguson, MO” lesson plan encourages high school students to join protests and other activism protesting the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson — the very same protests that demand an end to Israel’s existence. Meanwhile, ADL’s “educational materials” totally ignore the anti-Semitism that permeates the #BlackLivesMatter movement. 

Moreover, #BlackLivesMatter leaders promote anti-Semitism; it is not only #BLM “members,” as The Jewish Week stated. #BlackLivesMatter co-founder Patrisse Cullors, along with over 1,000 #BLM and black “social justice” activists, signed the vicious anti-Semitic, anti-Israel manifesto called the “2015 Black Solidarity Statement with Palestine,” falsely accusing Israel of “ethnic cleansing,” “brutal” conduct, conducting a “Gaza massacre,” “apartheid,” “theft,” and “one-sided slaughter” and “wholeheartedly endorsing” anti-Israel anti-Semitic boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS). 

If ADL is serious about combatting anti-Semitism, it must discontinue promoting the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

President, Zionist Organization of America

This article was published by Jewish Week and may be found here.