Throughout 2000, ADL was once again the first line of defense against bigotry and extremism. The League monitored and exposed groups and individuals that promoted hate, extremism, anti-Semitism and racism, preventing them from gaining a foothold in our society. And it fought against hate crimes and all forms of discrimination through litigation, legislation, coalition-building and educational programs.

In the battle against hate crime, ADL won a major victory ­ thanks in large part to the grass-roots efforts of the League's New York Regional Office ­ when New York, after more than a decade, passed a hate crime statute. Georgia also adopted a new hate crime law, and California added a requirement that elementary and secondary schools must report hate crimes. Forty-three of the 50 states now have hate crime laws on the books ­ most of them based on model legislation drafted by ADL in 1981.

The League made efforts to ensure that these laws were successfully implemented. ADL prepared laminated cards ­ distributed to 7,000 law enforcement officials in more than 185 Massachusetts communities, and other police forces nationwide ­ which listed factors to consider when determining whether a crime under investigation can be classified as a hate crime. ADL's Western States and Washington Area Counsel worked with the American Prosecutors Research Institute on their curriculum for hate crimes training. The Civil Rights Division also provided law enforcement training on hate crimes in various states around the country, and helped obtain substantial funding from the California state legislature's 2000-2001 budget for a "Stop the Hate" program in that state.

Another ADL innovation in 2000 was Hate on Display: Extremist Symbols, Logos and Tattoos, an ADL publication that was later adapted as an interactive page on the League's Web site. Hate on Display is a comprehensive listing and explanation of the signs, logos and other iconography used by extremist hate groups. It is an invaluable tool for law enforcement, educators, and ordinary citizens who encounter hate symbols.

ADL took the struggle against bigotry to rural areas and small towns in America this past year, ensuring that even isolated communities had the materials and "foot soldiers" they needed in the fight. In addition to our activities in Santa Fe, TX, the League helped community leaders when the Atlanta-based Southeast Regional Office brought "Confronting Anti-Semitism" and "Religion in the Public Schools" programs and workshops to the towns of Dalton and Albany in Georgia, and Dothan and Tuscaloosa in Alabama.

Civil Rights produced the 20th annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents ­ a comprehensive account of assaults, vandalism, and other occurrences of anti-Semitism in the United States in the past year ­ as well as the following reports:

WASHINGTON, DC

More than 7,000 law enforcement professionals ­ including all members of the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department and new agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ­ toured the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. They learned about the role of the German police in carrying out Nazi policies that denied Jews their rights as German citizens, and ultimately as human beings.

Officers and ADL representatives discussed Holocaust-related issues relevant to police work, such as protection of individual rights, hate crimes and extremism, and the dangers of mutual stereotyping by police and the communities they serve ­ emphasizing that police accountability is one of the most important differences between Nazi Germany and America today. "The program provided an immeasurable lesson for myself and fellow recruits," said one participant, "which will follow us throughout our careers."

ADL's District of Columbia/Maryland/Virginia/North Carolina Regional Office developed the program, "Law Enforcement and Society," in partnership with the Holocaust Museum.

ST. LOUIS

After the Ku Klux Klan, as part of Missouri's adopt-a-highway program, sponsored a stretch of Interstate Highway 55 for litter cleanup, ADL's Missouri/Southern Illinois Regional Office led the effort to have the road renamed Rosa Parks Highway, after the legendary civil rights activist. A bill making the name change official was passed by the Missouri state legislature and signed by Gov. Mel Carnahan before his tragic death in a plane crash. ADL joined a gathering of political and religious leaders, including then-U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater, at a dedication ceremony for the highway.

HOUSTON

ADL's Southwest Regional Office, based in Houston, launched a "No Place for Hate" program in Santa Fe, TX. A Jewish middle school student had been threatened and assaulted, allegedly by fellow students, and community tensions were rising in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision banning school-sponsored prayer at local football games. ADL organized the "Santa Fe is No Place for Hate" campaign, with posters signed by local officials and townspeople displayed around the town. ADL also provided hate crimes training for educators and law enforcement officers, and anti-bias programs for city and school officials.  

RUBELLE SCHAFLER ADL CENTER FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Through the newly created Rubelle Schafler ADL Center for Community Outreach, ADL will work to ensure the safety and security of Jewish communities in remote areas of the U.S. where ADL does not have permanent regional offices. The Center for Community Outreach will enhance ADL efforts across rural and small-town America where the Jewish community needs ADL expertise in countering anti-Semitism and bigotry, defending religious freedom and civil rights, and implementing educational programs.

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