What is “#DropTheADLfromSchools?”
“DropTheADLfromSchools” is an attempt to boycott ADL and its award-winning education programs. It is led by a fringe group of activists who are vehemently opposed to ADL’s longstanding support of Israel and who dislike the fact that we call out antisemitism no matter the source, including antisemitism coming from anti-Israel activists and groups. The campaign has gained very little traction in the years since it was first formed.
In this case, they’re opposed to ADL’s anti-bias programs, but that curricula reflects diverse experiences and perspectives to help students understand differences and create more equitable learning environments.
What Should I do if “DropTheADL” starts a campaign to have programs removed from my child’s school?
- First and foremost, know the facts! ADL is a reputable, mainstream organization that has been doing education work for decades; DropTheADL basically appeared overnight when conflict heated up in the Middle East. Their campaign is a single-issue focused effort, and once you get to the heart of their campaign it is inherently understood as a single-issue, politically driven attempt to ostracize mainstream Jews in this country.
- Educate yourself! Read through this explainer and read their campaign materials. Take note of how Israel, Zionism and Palestinian solidarity come up repeatedly. This is NOT a campaign interested in the welfare of our students! They are interested in one issue only: A complicated conflict over 5,000 miles away.
- Remember, this is an already discredited and failed campaign. Know that these activists have tried and failed this tactic repeatedly, including in 2025 at the National Education Association, whose board voted to reject an organized attempt to boycott ADL’s education programs.
- Listen to the first-hand accounts from hundreds of educators across the country who have vocally rejected these attempted boycotts because they found ADL’s educational programs in schools to be extremely effective in mitigating bias and hatred.
- Finally, do not feel intimidated by these aggressive anti-Israel activists! If you need assistance in pushing back against their falsehoods, please reach out to your local ADL regional office. We are happy to share facts and information about our work, and we have nothing to hide.
Why would anyone want to boycott ADL? ADL is a leading anti-hate organization.
We realize it sounds absurd, but yes, there are individuals and activists who dislike ADL because we expose and condemn antisemitism!
The activists behind DropTheADL are motivated by a deep-seated animus toward Israel and anyone who advocates for the basic right of that country to exist as a Jewish state. They suggest, falsely and bizarrely, that ADL’s historic mission since 1913 – “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to support justice and fair treatment to all” – is actually a cover to promote hatred, and they insist that because ADL advocates for the safety and security of Jews, we are therefore “anti” other groups. Our consistent and compelling record shows otherwise.
There’s also history here. For centuries, Jewish communities around the world have faced ostracization and boycotts because of antisemitism and the “othering” of Jews. This remains as true today as it did a century ago. Sadly, there are still individuals and groups whose views are strongly influenced by their hatred of Jews and the Jewish state.
Does ADL’s work support disenfranchised groups?
These critics suggest ADL has recently stepped back from our mission to protect others. But the fact is that ADL remains fully committed to our historic mission even as we prioritize fighting antisemitism first at a time when it has reached historic levels. We firmly believe that America is better for everyone when all people are treated fairly and equally.
Why do these groups take issue with ADL’s support for the safety of the state of Israel?
These activists would have you believe, without any facts or evidence, that ADL’s support for the safety and security of the Jewish people means we are somehow involved in a racist or sinister agenda. Nothing could be further from the truth.
But it is part of the tactics of these groups to use false information and lies to distort the actual public record. Another tactic you may have heard of BDS. BDS stands for boycott, divestment and sanctions. The BDS movement’s tactics are aimed at delegitimizing Israel through the diplomatic, financial, professional, academic and cultural isolation of Israel, Israeli individuals and Israeli institutions.
A central feature of BDS is anti-normalization, which includes rejecting engagement with Israelis, pro-Israel Jews, or Jewish organizations.
“DropTheADL” is an example of one of these dishonest campaigns, calling to boycott ADL and cancel our education programs. But it hasn’t worked. ADL remains the most prominent organization in the U.S. fighting for the safety and security of the Jewish people, and our reputation continues to outshine the efforts of our critics to attempt to silence us.
Why is this campaign so insidious?
It is based on falsehoods and myths fueled by the internet and social media and relies on social media’s fuzzy presentation of facts vs. falsehoods to spread harmful untruths.
Peel back the layers of their rhetoric and you will glean the truth: Many “DropTheADL” proponents simply refuse to acknowledge the historic rise of antisemitism in this country, or they claim the numbers are inflated. They will seek at every opportunity to discredit actual data on hate crimes against Jews and will even attempt to rationalize antisemitic attacks against our community, such as the horrific firebombing of Jews at a peaceful march in Boulder, Colorado, as legitimate forms of protest.
This is simply unconscionable at every level.
What does "DropTheADL" suggest about ADL's education programs?
ADL’s anti-bias programs in schools are just that: Anti-bias education programs. They are not political and do not promote an agenda in favor of one ethnic group or to the detriment of another. They address antisemitism and all forms of hate against all groups and provide a roadmap for bias prevention among children and adults. Bottom line: There’s nothing nefarious here. These programs are based on an educational model that has won plaudits around the country and globally for their efficacy.
ADL has long supported a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, and we hope to see a safe and secure Palestinian state living alongside a safe and secure Israeli state. Many organizers of “DropTheADL,” conversely, only support a one-state solution, prioritizing Palestinian rights over the rights and safety of Israelis; some have even openly supported Palestinian terrorist organizations, such as Hamas, whose goal is the complete eradication of Israel. This should give every educator and reasonable person pause.
How many schools does ADL reach nationwide through its education programs?
In 2025 alone, ADL Education programs reached more than three million students through educational programs delivered in person and online, and more than 2,000 schools registered for “No Place for Hate,” committing to safe and inclusive school communities.
More than 23,000 educators engaged with ADL Education through flexible digital and online learning experiences. In spite of efforts to boycott, the number of students learning from ADL is growing, not shrinking, every day.
Once again, the DropTheADL campaign must be viewed through the lens of the organizers’ fundamental bias against, and obsession with, the state of Israel and Palestinian rights. Read between the lines of their rhetoric and the real story is plain as day.
For more information:
For more information and to learn more about ADLs education programs like No Place for Hate, please see: