As the 1960's gave birth to the civil rights movement, ADL marched in the forefront of the fight for freedom, advocating for the individual's right to be judged by virtue of character and not by immutable characteristics. ADL actively worked for the passage of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, three of the most important pieces of legislation in the history of the civil rights movement.

Danger on the Right by ADL's Epstein and Forster

Feeding on understandable fears of Communism, a powerful radical right movement emerged which used divisive tactics and hurled baseless accusations. ADL was the first and only Jewish organization to expose the menace of the right wing with the breakthrough book Danger on the Right. Frequent, widely read ADL reports and publications revealed the dangerous ideas spread by intolerant groups such as the John Birch Society. When rampant anti-Catholicism emerged in the John F. Kennedy presidential campaign, ADL countered that bias as well.

In the aftermath of the Six Day War and the flood of anti-Zionist Arab propaganda, ADL made Israel a top priority. ADL fortified American public support for Israel by initiating "Dateline Israel," a series of radio broadcasts that gave Americans vivid images of Israel's human dimensions.

Bookmark created by joint efforts of Jewish and Christian organizations.

Following a rash of synagogue desecrations beginning in Germany and spreading to the United States, ADL saw that the lessons of history would not be learned unless they were taught. The League initiated programs in Holocaust education, preparing resource units on Nazi intolerance for schools around the country.

Anti-Semitic desecration

Initiating a unique sociological study, ADL commissioned a team of researchers at the University of California to investigate all aspects of anti-Semitism and prejudice in American life. The study ultimately yielded nine books, numerous other publications and countless articles and critiques. Documenting prejudice in children, the impact of the Eichmann trial on the American public, political extremism, and other topics, the research reinforced understanding of the link between religious teachings and anti-Semitism. More than three decades later, the results of the study generate editorials and articles. Subsequent to the findings of the first report, later published as a book, Christian Beliefs and Anti-Semitism, the Vatican Council adopted its statement on the Jews, repudiating Jewish guilt in the death of Jesus and denouncing "hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism directed against Jews at any time by any one."

ADL presented the University of California study at the landmark Vatican II Council and promoted the new era of dialogue between Christians and Jews by sponsoring interfaith conferences and educational programs to wrestle with issues that had long divided the faith communities in America.

ADL scored another momentous friend of the court victory when the Supreme Court deemed the recitation of prayers in public school settings unconstitutional in the 1962 case of Engel v. Vitale. ADL also expanded internationally with an exchange program in Germany.

Next: 1970-1980