As a watchdog agency, the League keeps track of the actions and words of men and women
who threaten American democracy. ADL exercises its free-speech rights to expose extremists
for what they are. Consistent with constitutional rights and cognizant of the myriad of
perspectives in a pluralistic society, the League investigates dangerous hatemongers
longer -- and more thoroughly -- than any other organization.
NATION OF ISLAM
Throughout 1997, Nation of Islam (NOI) leader Louis Farrakhan continued his efforts to
obtain mainstream acceptance and respect, despite his refusal to disavow his past
anti-Semitic and other bigoted remarks. Mr. Farrakhan demonstrates an artful ability to
craft his public persona to a wide variety of circumstances and a talent for galvanizing
crowds with provocative, impassioned oratory.
In July 1997, Mr. Farrakhan began a "National Revival Tour," which culminated
in his "Day of Atonement" on the second anniversary of his Million Man March.
ADL strongly objected to the NOI leader comparing his Day of Atonement with Yom Kippur;
and the League was indefatigable in providing material on Mr. Farrakhan's anti-Semitism
and other extremist beliefs to media outlets and public figures in the 51 cities he
visited on his tour. The highly hyped "Day of Atonement" essentially fizzled
out.
RACISM IN THE MILITARY
ADL welcomed the guilty verdict of a former U.S. Army paratrooper in the racist murder
of two African Americans while he was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, in 1995. During the
1997 trial, ADL Fact Finding experts gave the media background information on extremism in
the military and on the neo-Nazi movement.
ADL also conducted its A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Institute diversity- training seminar at
Fort Bragg for Army Equal Employment Opportunity Officers stationed at bases around the
country, including Kentucky, Colorado and Texas. The League and the U.S. Department of
Defense plan to work together in the future to purge the military of racist and extremist
sentiments and behavior.
DENVER SKINHEADS
In the fall of 1997, an outburst of skinhead-related flare-ups took place in Denver.
Among the incidents: local skinheads were arrested for murdering a police officer and a
West African man. The media -- in Denver and elsewhere -- turned to ADL for information.
Moreover, the Fact Finding Department at ADL National Headquarters helped the ADL Mountain
States Regional Office research the background of the skinheads arrested for the two local
murders.
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IN PHILADELPHIA
When faced with the prospect of disturbances between African Americans and whites in
Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighborhood, Philadelphia Mayor Edward Rendell invited Mr.
Farrakhan to address a unity rally. The League's Eastern Pennsylvania/Delaware Regional
Office -- along with other Jewish agencies -- told the Mayor in a strongly worded
"open letter" in the Sunday edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer, "You
don't invite an arsonist to help put out a fire and you don't stand with an unrepentant
bigot to fight bigotry." |
RESOURCES
Vigilante Justice: Militias and "Common Law Courts"
Wage War Against the Government. Prepared by the Fact Finding Department and
published within days of the week-long standoff between law enforcement authorities and
the leader of the Republic of Texas. Describes the racism and anti-Semitism of many of the
militias; includes ADL's Model Anti-Paramilitary Statute and Model Anti-"Common Law
Courts" Statute.
Don Black: Repackaging Extremism for the Computer Age. Report
on the computer consultant and on-line hatemonger whose Web site, Stormfront, is a
computerized hate service spreading anti-Semitism and racism.
Elohim City. Background on the anti-Semitic
"Identity" church movement's settlement on the Oklahoma-Arkansas border that was
reportedly linked to Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.
Eustace Mullins: Conspiracy Theories as a Career. Report
on anti-Semitic conspiracy theories of this author/ lecturer.
