Pod Save America Hosts Call on Democrats to Cut All Israel Military Aid, No Longer Accept AIPAC Funding
Jews, Israelis Targeted in Austria Amid Surge in Antisemitic Incidents; Local Jewish Community Calls for Action
‘All of Our Strength’: Over 1,000 Pro-Israel Activists Gather in DC for Solidarity Conference
‘Devastated’: Wesley LePatner, Killed in Manhattan Mass Shooting, Was a Jewish Communal, Philanthropic Leader
Sen. Angus King Vows to No Longer Vote for Israel Military Aid Until Gaza Conditions Improve
Europe Won’t Pressure Israel to ‘Commit Suicide’ Amid Gaza Backlash, Palestinian State Push, Says Israeli FM
Israel’s National Soccer Coach Attacked in Athens Before Soccer Fans Chant ‘F–K Israel, Free Palestine’ at Match
New York Judge Sentences Neo-Nazi to 5 Years for Livestreaming Bomb Threats Against Jewish Hospitals
US Pressures Lebanon to Issue Cabinet Decision to Disarm Hezbollah Before Talks Continue
UK Plans to Recognize Palestinian State in September Unless Israel Meets Conditions, Starmer Says
ADL: Extremists are Using Coronavirus Outbreak to Stoke Hatred Against Jews
Error: Contact form not found.
by JNS.org
Supporters of medical workers hold a flash mob protest to back their strike to demand Hong Kong closing its border with China to reduce the coronavirus spreading, in Hong Kong, China, February 3, 2020. Photo: REUTERS/Tyrone Siu.
JNS.org – Neo-Nazi and white supremacists are using fears of the deadly coronavirus to stoke hated against Jews and spread conspiracy theories on social-media platforms, according to a new report released by the Anti-Defamation League.
“Following a well-worn pattern of capitalizing on major news stories to advance their bigotry and antisemitism, extremists have latched onto fears surrounding the coronavirus story to promote conspiracy theories and even ‘boogaloo,’ ” referring to the extremists’ code word for violence, the ADL report said.
According to the ADL, “extremist-friendly” platforms such as Telegram, 4chan and Gab have been filled with messages posted by racists.
“Extremists hope the virus kills Jews, but they are also using its emergence to advance their anti-Semitic theories that Jews are responsible for creating the virus, spreading it to increase their control over a decimated population, or they are profiting off it,” the ADL said.
Additionally, more widely used and mainstream social-media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Reddit have also seen concerning messages being spread by extremists.
The report said that on these platforms, “posters are calling coverage of the coronavirus a hoax and a distraction designed to frighten the public, while others are arguing that the virus’s impact is far worse than authorities want people to think.”
As of Friday, the World Health Organization reported 31,211 confirmed cases globally, with the vast majority in China and at least 637 deaths.
“The relatively small [number of] cases outside China gives us a window of opportunity to prevent this outbreak from becoming broader global crisis,” said WHO’s Director General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during a press conference on Friday. “Our greatest concern is about the potential for spreading countries with weaker health system and lack the capacity to detect or diagnose the virus.”
