Philadelphia, PA , February 26, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (“ADL”) today condemned anti-Semitic comments reportedly made by attendees of a community meeting in Point Breeze earlier this week. According to multiple sources and news reports, members of the Concerned Citizens of Point Breeze community organization told Jewish presenters and audience members, “Go back to Lakewood,” “You Jews are taking up the neighborhood,” and “Why don’t you go back to Israel?” The comments allegedly continued for well over an hour before the meeting was terminated by the meeting organizer, South Philadelphia HOMES Inc.
“We categorically condemn the anti-Semitic statements made at the Point Breeze community meeting,” said Nancy K. Baron-Baer, Regional Director. “While we understand that the issues raised at community meetings may be contentious, there is absolutely no excuse for hate speech. Anti-Semitism has no place in productive public discourse. Such bigoted sentiment causes Jews to feel hurt, afraid and excluded – and affects not just the immediate neighborhood, but also the entire community.
“We call on Concerned Citizens of Point Breeze to publicly renounce and apologize for these statements, and make a renewed commitment to respectful discourse at future meetings. We also call upon South Philadelphia HOMES Inc. to reevaluate their policies to ensure that future meetings remain civil and that hate speech is condemned publicly and immediately. We hope this incident reminds the entire city that we cannot tolerate hate in any form, and that every citizen has a role to play in standing up against bigotry.”
ADL sent letters to both Concerned Citizens of Point Breeze and South Philadelphia HOMES Inc., to outline these concerns and offer information and training on anti-Semitism.
ADL was founded 103 years ago with a dual mission, “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” The League is a leader in monitoring and combating all forms of hate at local, national and global levels, through advocacy, education and work with law enforcement.
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is dedicated to fighting anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry.