RESPONDING TO ANTISEMITISM

In the wake of war in Israel, antisemitism has been fully unleashed — on campus, on the streets, and online — surging by nearly 360% since October 7.

We’ve put together this resource page so you can be educated and prepared, understanding how to respond if you experience incidents of antisemitism.*

What should you do if you experience an antisemitic incident?

1. REPORT — So that the incident can be counted

2. TAKE ACTION — To stop the action and hold bad actors accountable

Were you the victim of a hate crime?

What is a
hate crime?

A hate crime is a criminal act that is motivated by bias against a race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc. In short, a hate crime is a traditional crime (such as assault, arson) with an added element of bias or hate. Many law enforcement agencies have special hate crime units, including the FBI and the NYPD.

What actions should you take?

Report the crime to local law enforcement. If it's an emergency, call 911.
Report to organizations collecting data, such as:
Seek out additional security services for your Jewish Institution through the Community Security Initiative. You can complete the CSI assessment/service request to see if your institution qualifies.
- Some examples of qualifying institutions include: JCCs, museums, camps, offices, schools, and synagogues

Find more information about reporting antisemitic crimes here, prepared by StandWithUs, an organization dedicated to Israel education and fighting antisemitism.

What is
hate speech?

Hateful and offensive speech is not a crime. The First Amendment protects hate speech unless it crosses the line to true threats, harassment, or incitement of imminent illegal activity. In a private, non-government setting, hate speech may be subject to limits and regulation by the private entity.

What can you do about hate speech?

In the public sphere, if the speech rises to harassment, threats, or worse, it could be a hate crime and should be reported as above.

In the private sector, check the rules of the organization.

If the speech is on social media platforms, check the platform guidelines for protection of users from harassment and hate speech: report tweets, YouTube videos, Instagram, and Facebook posts that spread hate.
If on campus or in the workplace, check to see if the organization’s rules have been violated by the speech and follow the organization’s guidelines for filing complaints.
If you experience or witness an incident of antisemitism, extremism, bias, or bigotry, even if not a crime, report it to ADL.

What can you do if you are a student on a college campus who has experienced an antisemitic incident?

Check your school’s code of conduct. You may have recourse through the school’s disciplinary process.
Report campus hate to this ADL/Hillel International portal.
Consider your rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964:
- Title VI protects students from discrimination at federally funded schools, including discrimination rooted in antisemitism. Antisemitic harassment on campus violates Title VI when it creates a “hostile environment.” A hostile environment is created when the harassment is so “severe, pervasive, or persistent” as to interfere with a student’s ability to participate in campus life or when the harassment is not adequately addressed by the school.
If you believe your rights under Title VI have been violated, you can (1) file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights — Email: ocr@ed.gov; 202.453.6100 or 800.421.3481, or (2) potentially file a lawsuit against the school. For legal assistance, reach out to the Brandeis Center/ADL/Hillel International help line: CALL@legal-protection.org. For more information on Title VI from Brandeis Center, click here.

What can you do if you have been discriminated against in the workplace, in housing, or at a public accommodation because you are Jewish?

Unlawful discrimination is unfair treatment in the workplace, public accommodations (restaurants, hotels, or other businesses), housing, or federally funded schools or universities because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, or age.

Workplace: In a workplace setting, you may be protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
- Title VII protects employees from employment discrimination based on religion or national origin. Discrimination includes workplace harassment, which may occur when an employee is subjected to unwelcome remarks or conduct based on their religion/national origin. Harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile or offensive work environment. An employer also may not retaliate against an employee who complains of antisemitism.
If you believe your rights under Title VII have been violated, contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Public Accommodations: U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
Housing: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; NYC Housing Preservation & Development

Find more additional resources here from the ADL.

*This guide is intended as an educational tool, and we are pleased to provide it for informational purposes. However, UJA-Federation neither warrants nor represents that this document will provide all relevant or current information concerning the topics covered, or that the information provided will apply to or be appropriate for every situation. UJA-Federation urges each reader, where necessary, to consult with appropriate experts and professionals to review their own specific circumstances.