First Billboards are in Two Locations in South Florida March 8 - April 9
(Boca Raton, FL — March 8, 2023) —The Center for Combating Antisemitism (CCA), a division of StandWithUs (SWU), along with multiple partner organizations, launched a billboard campaign calling attention to the rise of antisemitism across the U.S. and around the world. Together, we are urging others of conscience to join the Together Against Antisemitism campaign.
The first Together Against Antisemitism billboards will be up from March 8 through April 9. One is located on Atlantic Avenue in Del Ray, Florida, one mile west of Military Trail. The other is located on Biscayne Boulevard in North Miami, near 114th Street. The eye-catching billboard states Together Against Antisemitism and directs people to learn more at www.standuptohatred.com.
“The aim of the Together Against Antisemitism campaign is to bring together organizations and individuals who recognize the evils of antisemitism and are willing to publicly stand with the Jewish community, condemn anti-Jewish bigotry, and take steps to combat antisemitism in its many forms,” explained Carly Gammill, Director of the CCA.
Sara Gold Rafel, Executive Director of StandWithUs Southeast, stated, “The initial campaign is unfortunately in south Florida because, in the last few months, antisemitic incidents on campuses and communities have risen to unacceptable levels. The billboards are one of many ways we are responding to this onslaught of hate and supporting the right of Jews to proudly express all aspects of their ethnic and religious identity. Members of the Jewish community deserve to be free of discrimination or harassment whether they are celebrating holidays, openly wearing Jewish symbols, expressing their connection to Israel, attending religious services, or simply going about their daily lives.”
Florida is not the only state plagued with evidence of the rise of anti-Jewish bigotry. White supremacist groups have been spreading hateful messages targeting the Jewish community throughout the country. They have peppered Jewish and other neighborhoods with leaflets promoting ancient anti-Jewish stereotypes, including in Beverly Hills and Pasadena in Los Angeles and in Palm Beach and Boca Raton. They've hung large banners with antisemitic messages from the overpasses of major highways in several states and cities from Southern California to Jacksonville, Florida. Jews have been viciously attacked in major cities from New York to Los Angeles and from Chicago to Austin, Texas. During January and February, 2023 alone, the StandWithUs Southeast campus team reported at least 20 antisemitic incidents occurring on 12 universities, including "Ye is Right" tables being set up directly on the campus, sweatshirts emblazoned with "Anti-Zionist Social Club, and Nazi imagery such as swastikas."
On February 22, a group of anti-Jewish bigots affiliated with the “Goyim Defense League” and their leader Jon Minadeo Jr. stood outside a Jewish synagogue in Orlando, Florida, and shouted at congregants as they were leaving. Their antisemitic messages were vitriolic and abusive, clearly attempting to intimidate the Jewish community. Another Neo-Nazi group declared a “Day of Hate” on February 25, once again hoping to isolate and bully American Jews.
States Sara, "Rather than succeeding in instilling fear, however, these incidents have only strengthened the resolve of Jewish communities and our allies. Antisemitism is a societal disease that speaks not to any truth about Jewish identity but rather to the warped, conspiracy-based thinking of bigoted individuals who use age-old tropes and tactics, like scapegoating, to target the Jewish people. Carly adds, "Unfortunately, despite their blatantly false nature, when such messages are repeated often enough, they open up the possibility that they could gain a foothold within the mainstream culture."
Roz Rothstein, CEO and Co-Founder of StandWithUs, said, “This is not a time for us to be bystanders. Hate is destructive, divisive, and potentially dangerous. We are obligated to point a finger at bigotry and draw clear red lines within civil society about what we will simply never tolerate. We are grateful to our allies who stand with us against such outrageous antisemitic rhetoric and actions.” Sara adds, "Students in SWU's campus and high school leadership programs are not tolerating these kinds of actions. We are so proud of how they are standing tall against hate and antisemitism with proactive and creative solutions."
Further information about the Together Against Antisemitism campaign, including an opportunity to add your name or organization to the list of those who are standing together in support of the Jewish community and access to resources about antisemitism and tools to combat it, can be found online at www.standuptohatred.com.
About StandWithUs
StandWithUs (SWU) is an international, nonprofit, and non-partisan Israel education organization that works to inspire and educate people of all ages about Israel, as well as challenge misinformation and fight against antisemitism.
Through university fellowships, high school internships, middle school curricula, conferences, materials, social media, educational films, and missions to Israel, StandWithUs supports people around the world who want to educate their schools and communities about Israel.
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Los Angeles, the organization has chapters and programs throughout the U.S., Israel, the UK, Canada, South Africa, Brazil, and the Netherlands.
For the last eleven years, StandWithUs has consistently received the highest possible ratings from Charity Navigator and GuideStar, two charity watchdog groups that assess hundreds of thousands of charities in the United States.
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