New York, NY, November 5, 2008 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said the American people's election of Barack Obama to be the 44th President was "historic" and "a triumph against racism in our society today."

Glen S. Lewy, ADL National Chair and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

The American people's choice of Barack Obama to be the 44th President of the United States demonstrates how far we have come as a nation and should be seen as a triumph against racism in our society today, though not its elimination.

We congratulate President-Elect Obama and Vice President-Elect Biden on their victory.

The Obama Administration will have many urgent issues on its agenda, including, internationally, the Iranian nuclear threat, the Israel-Palestinian peace process, and terrorism, and domestically, maintaining the separation of church and state.  We stand ready to work with them and wish them all the best.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.