ADL: White Supremacist Propaganda Incidents Reached All-Time High in 2022, Pennsylvania Incidents Remain High

  • April 19, 2023

ADL: White Supremacist Propaganda Incidents Reached All-Time High in 2022, Pennsylvania Incidents Remain High

ADL recorded a 38 percent increase in incidents from the previous year, with a total of 6,751 cases reported in 2022.

 

White supremacist propaganda distribution reached a historic level across the United States in 2022, with a total 6,751 cases of racist, antisemitic and other hateful messages reported by ADL (Anti-Defamation League). This is the highest number of white supremacist propaganda incidents ADL has ever recorded.

Regionally, ADL recorded 349 incidents in Pennsylvania, a 23 percent decrease from the 473 incidents in 2021. Pennsylvania ranks fifth in the country for the number of white supremacist propaganda incidents. Delaware saw an increase from the 59 incidents in 2021, recording 68 incidents in 2022. New Jersey saw a decrease, recording 73 incidents in 2022, compared to 198 in 2021.

“Incidents of white supremacist propaganda distribution in the region remain unacceptably high,” said ADL Philadelphia Regional Director Andrew Goretsky. “Everyone must come together to reject hate and extremism and work towards creating a better community that does not exclude, marginalize, or target any person. ADL Philadelphia remains committed to working with all communities in the region to unite against hatred.”

ADL’s Center on Extremism tracks the distribution of racist, antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ fliers, stickers, posters, banners and stenciled graffiti by various members of far right and white supremacist groups.

Three white supremacist groups – Patriot Front, Goyim Defense League (GDL) and White Lives Matter (WLM) – were responsible for 93 percent of activity across the country.

Texas-based Patriot Front was responsible for the vast majority – 80 percent – of propaganda distributions in 2022. The group distributed propaganda in every state except Alaska and Hawaii but was most active (from most to least active) in Massachusetts, Texas, Michigan, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Utah.

The Goyim Defense League (GDL), an antisemitic network that has significant crossover with other white supremacist groups and movements, was responsible for at least 492 propaganda incidents in 2022, representing roughly seven percent of the total propaganda nationwide and 58 percent of the year’s antisemitic propaganda incidents. This is a significant increase from the 74 GDL propaganda incidents recorded in 2021.The massive uptick in antisemitic propaganda overall was largely due to GDL’s growth over the course of the year.

“The sheer volume of white supremacist propaganda distributions we are documenting around the country is alarming and dangerous,” said Oren Segal, Vice President of ADL Center on Extremism. “Hardly a day goes by without communities being targeted by these coordinated, hateful actions, which are designed to sow anxiety and create fear. These actions are also being documented by the extremists themselves in order to signal back to their communities online, which provides an on-ramp to further engagement with white supremacy and hate. We need a whole-of-society approach to combat this activity, including elected officials, community leaders, and people of good faith coming together and condemning this activity forcefully.”

 

Key findings from ADL’s 2022 report include:

  • Propaganda was reported in 2022 in every U.S. state except Hawaii, with the highest levels of activity (from most to least active) in Texas, Massachusetts, Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Utah, Florida, Connecticut and Georgia. ADL’s H.E.A.T. Map provides a visual representation of the propaganda efforts by geographic location.

 

  • White supremacist groups increasingly used banners, often draped over highway overpasses, to publicize their hate. ADL recorded at least 252 banner drops, a 38 percent increase from the 183 counted in 2021.

 

  • ADL documented 167 white supremacist events, a 55 percent increase from the 108 recorded in 2021. Events took place in 33 states, with the most activity (from most to least active) in Massachusetts, California, Ohio and Florida. The White Lives Matter network was responsible for 43 percent of these events.

 

  • ADL recorded 219 incidents of white supremacist propaganda distribution on campuses, a 6 percent decrease from 2021 and the lowest number since ADL began tracking in 2017. While the majority of these incidents occurred on college or university campuses, at least 11 incidents were reported on K-12 campuses.

 

  • On-campus propaganda was recorded in 39 states, with the highest levels of activity (from most to least active) in Texas, Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan.

 

For region-specific data and additional information on the incidents, visit ADL’s H.E.A.T Map. To speak with an expert or for more information, contact Santos Ramos at sramos@adl.org or Shellie Burgman at sburgman@adl.org.

ADL is a leading anti-hate organization. Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of antisemitism and bigotry, its timeless mission is to protect the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. ADL is the first call when acts of antisemitism occur. A global leader in exposing extremism, delivering anti-bias education and fighting hate online, ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate. More at www.adl.org.

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