In the past few weeks, there has been a significant surge in antisemitism in Los Angeles and across the US. According to the ADL, antisemitic incidents in LA are on pace to surpass last year’s record high. Now is the time for the Los Angeles City Council to take a stand in support of the Jewish community by adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
Recently, Kanye West went on an antisemitic tirade against Jewish people across several platforms, which inspired the white supremacist Goyim Defense League to hang a banner over the 405 that said “Kanye is Right About the Jews” and give Nazi salutes. Antisemitic flyers have been found throughout SoCal in the past several months. The Los Angeles Holocaust Museum has been inundated by online antisemitic attacks. And one of the most prominent antisemitic attacks in LA occurred last year when a Jewish man was stabbed outside of a sushi restaurant by people chanting “death to Jews” and “free Palestine” and asking who was Jewish.
Antisemitism has to be defined to be eradicated. The IHRA definition of antisemitism has been adopted by countless organizations, both Jewish and non-Jewish, and is the only universally recognized definition by governments all over the world, including Arab and Muslim majority nations, the US Department of State, and 28 US states plus the District of Columbia. It’s also been adopted at the county/city level in 53 places, including the City of Beverly Hills, CA and most recently West Hollywood. It’s time for Los Angeles to join the ranks.
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