ADL 2019 Year In Review - External

2Y0E1A9R IN
REVIEW

PHILADELPHIA
Serving Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey & Delaware

Our Mission:
To stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice
and fair treatment to all.

Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of antisemitism and bigotry, ADL’s timeless mission is to stop
the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.
In 2019, ADL continued to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. A global leader in exposing
extremism, delivering anti-bias education and fighting hate online, ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or
individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate.

CONTENTS

Message from the Regional Office.................................. 3
Fighting Hate................................................................... 4
Law Enforcement............................................................ 6
Education....................................................................... 8
Advocacy and Outreach ............................................... 12
Leadership and Growth................................................. 14

2 / ADL Fighting Hate for Good

MESSAGE FROM THE REGIONAL OFFICE

ADL’s research and our work on the ground confirm that the fight against hate is the fight of our time.
And ADL continues to lead the way, locally, nationally and globally. Our work is hard, and we must be
unrelenting in the face of hatred, bigotry and prejudice. The tireless effort and support of our board, staff
and volunteers lay the foundation for success where there is no other option.

In 2019, as we confronted hate in communities across our region and across the nation, ADL answered the
call of students, families, community members and law enforcement looking for partners, assistance and
resources. Our work and reach across eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware continue
to grow. We know our work on education, coalition-building and cultivating strong partnerships will be the
key to overcoming bias, bigotry and hate.

We know there will continue to be challenges, tragedies and triumphs. We will be here, as we have for 106
years, dedicated to our vital mission “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice
and fair treatment to all.” We deeply appreciate your support and commitment to ADL’s work. Thank you.

Sincerely,

EDWARD S. BLUMENTHAL

Regional Board Chair

SHIRA J. GOODMAN

Regional Director

visit philadelphia.adl.org for more information / 3

FIGHTING HATE

Photo: An example of a threatening social media post by a Lehighton extremist

4 / ADL Fighting Hate for Good

ADL tracked a concerning spike in antisemitic incidents locally and nationally in Fighting Hate
2019, including:

109 antisemitic incidents in Pennsylvania, a 22% increase over the previous year and the
Commonwealth’s second-highest total on record;
345 antisemitic incidents in New Jersey, second most in the nation and the most ever recorded
in the state;
6 antisemitic incidents in Delaware, three times the state’s historic average.

On an anonymous social media Photo courtesy of Philly.com White supremacist propaganda
profile, an individual from (YouTube/Screenshot) hit an all-time high in the region
Lehighton claimed credit for an and across the country in 2019.
act of antisemitic vandalism and A national controversy erupted In a sign that extremists are
posted numerous antisemitic, after a video featuring Muslim growing more emboldened,
racist and anti-Muslim threats. youths at a Philadelphia mosque ADL tracked an 85% increase
ADL alerted law enforcement singing songs that glorified in white supremacist fliering
and assisted investigators in violence against Jews and and stickering in Pennsylvania
identifying the perpetrator. Once Israel went viral. ADL responded and a 250% increase in New
in custody, the man admitted immediately by denouncing Jersey. ADL Philadelphia shared
to the vandalism and threats, the incident, supporting law our cutting-edge research and
and was arrested on charges of enforcement’s investigation, recommendations with law
ethnic intimidation and criminal urging oversight and enforcement, elected officials,
mischief. condemnation from government the media and the wider
officials, reaching out to Muslim community, and we continue
partners and providing security to vigilantly fight this growing
and educational resources to manifestation of hate.
Jewish institutions in the region.

visit philadelphia.adl.org for more information / 5

LAW
ENFORCEMENT

6 / ADL Fighting Hate for Good

Law Enforcement

Regional Trainings and Programs

Law enforcement turns to ADL more than any other non-governmental organization. Over the past
decade, ADL has trained over 150,000 law enforcement officers on extremism, terrorism, hate crimes
and implicit bias, and has assisted in thousands of extremist-related investigations nationwide.

Our lifesaving work with law enforcement continued in eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware in
2019, including:

Training 1,000 law enforcement professionals Sending four senior law enforcement leaders to
across the region on the latest extremist threats and Washington, DC to participate in ADL’s prestigious
trends, including extremist murders, cyberhate, hate Advanced Training School;
crimes, misogyny and more;
Training over 250 law enforcement recruits and
Providing nearly 30 “assists” to local law officers, including 40 command-level staff from
enforcement investigating and prosecuting dozens of regional colleges and universities, in
extremist-related cases; ADL’s acclaimed Law Enforcement and Society
program at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in
Washington, DC.

visit philadelphia.adl.org for more information / 7

EDUCATION

8 / ADL Fighting Hate for Good

Education By The Numbers

2,405 346 422 Education

STUDENTS, TEACHERS, MIDDLE, HIGH AND CATHOLIC SCHOOL
COMMUNITY MEMBERS COLLEGE STUDENTS EDUCATORS,
AND COLLEGE
ADMINISTRATORS were trained to become including 24 in 2019,
ambassadors against representing 185 Catholic
participated in workshops antisemitism through ADL’s schools have participated
that provided tools to Words to Action program. in our annual Bearing
challenge bias and bigotry, Witness program, bringing
and understand and our impact to nearly
address bullying and cyber- 63,300 students.
bullying. Tens of thousands
of students were impacted
throughout the region.

171 NEARLY 253 OVERSTUDENTS FROM
50025 NO PLACE FOR HATE
SCHOOLS AND 350 SCHOOLS STUDENTS AND
COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS ATTENDEES FROM participated in ADL’s Annual EDUCATORS FROM
35 SCHOOLS 50 SCHOOLS
were designated as No Spring Essay Contest,
Place for Hate®, impacting attended the No Place
over 250,000 students. for Hate Designation sponsored by TD Bank. in the region came together
Celebration.
at ADL’s 13th Annual Youth

Leadership Conference.

visit philadelphia.adl.org for more information / 9

No Place for Hate®

171 schools and community organizations were designated as No Place for Hate. ADL’s No Place for Hate initiative is
a school climate improvement framework that provides Pre-K–12 schools with an organizing framework for combating
bias, bullying and hatred, leading to long-term solutions for creating and maintaining a positive and equitable climate.
No Place for Hate schools receive their designation in the following ways:

Building inclusive and safe communities in which respect and equity are the goals and where all students can thrive;
Empowering students, faculty, administration and family members to take a stand against bias and bullying by
incorporating new and existing programs under one powerful message;
Sending a clear, unified message that all students have a place where they belong.

Designation Celebration

Our celebration was held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on May
29th. Nearly 350 attendees from 35 schools across the region attended the
event and were recognized for earning their No Place for Hate designation
for the 2018–2019 school year. Ariell Johnson, owner of Amalgam Comics
& Coffeehouse, the first black-woman-owned comic book store on the
East Coast, was also honored at the event with the Jerry Clark Making A
Difference Award. Ariell was selected for this year’s award because of her
shop’s unique role in celebrating diversity and creating a welcoming and
inclusive space in the community.

Essay Contest

253 students from 25 No Place for Hate schools participated in ADL’s Annual Spring Essay Contest, sponsored by TD
Bank. Students in grades 5-8 were asked to respond to the prompt: Imagine that someone your age from a country
with a completely different language, religion and culture moves into your neighborhood and joins your class at school.
What would you do to make that person feel welcome? The winners were honored at a VIP Breakfast at the
Designation Celebration.

10 / ADL Fighting Hate for Good

Youth Conference Education

Judy Shepard Over 500 students and educators from 50 schools in the region
came together at ADL’s 13th Annual Youth Leadership Conference:
Exploring Diversity, Challenging Hate on November 12th at the
Pennsylvania Convention Center. The conference brought together
hundreds of students and educators from high schools around
the region to learn about issues of diversity and discrimination.
Students and staff used the resources they acquired at the conference to
challenge bias and bullying in their schools.

The conference featured Judy Shepard, Founder of the Matthew Shepard
Foundation. Mrs. Shepard shared the story of her son Matthew’s life and
death. She spoke to the students about their obligation to stand up in
the face of bias and bigotry. “The keynote speaker was so inspiring and
motivational to keep on living, to not give up, and to keep on going on
stopping the hate.” —high school student conference attendee

Read for Respect

On March 1st, ADL Board and Associate Board members, GLI members,
volunteers and staff participated in Read for Respect at The Gesu School in
Philadelphia. ADL members read Chrysanthemum to classrooms in grades
1–2 and Each Kindness to classrooms in grades 3–4. The stories were
followed by short discussions and an art project touching on celebrating
diversity and being an ally.

visit philadelphia.adl.org for more information / 11

ADVOCACY AND
OUTREACH

Photo: ADL Board Chair Alan Gubernick with leadership of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association for Nonviolence.

12 / ADL Fighting Hate for Good

Advocacy and Outreach Advocacy/
Outreach
• ADL welcomed a significant decision by the U.S. Court • ADL was honored to receive a proclamation

of Appeals for the Third Circuit in favor of the City of from the Camden County Freeholders

Philadelphia after it was sued by a faith-based recognizing our contributions to fighting hate in

agency for its policy barring adoption agencies from Camden County.

discriminating against same-sex couples.

(Update: ADL is disappointed that the Supreme Court • Regional Board Chair Alan Gubernick was

agreed to hear the Fulton case on appeal.) invited to deliver the keynote address on behalf

• ADL welcomed the unanimous decision by the U.S. of the Black-Jewish Alliance of the ADL at the

Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upholding 37th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Association

Boyertown Area School District’s inclusive school policy. for Nonviolence Awards and Benefit Luncheon.

ADL filed an amicus brief on behalf of a broad coalition • In partnership with Jewish Federation of Greater

of national and local civil rights organizations to protect Philadelphia/JCRC, ADL led a delegation of

the rights of transgender students. community leaders to advocate in Harrisburg.

• ADL filed an amicus brief in Fields v. Speaker of the Issues discussed included: Comprehensive Hate Crimes
Pennsylvania House of Representatives opposing a Legislation, The Student Religious Liberties Act, LGBTQ
discriminatory prayer policy in the PA State Legislature. Civil Liberties, Religious Garb in Public Schools.

The brief was joined by a broad coalition of civil rights • ADL leadership met with NJ Governor Phil Murphy;

and religious organizations. ADL was deeply Congresswomen Lisa Rochester Blunt, Madeleine

disappointed by the Third Circuit ruling upholding this Dean, Chrissy Houlihan, Mary Gay Scanlon, and Susan

policy. We will continue to fight for equal treatment of Wild; Congressmen Andy Kim and Donald Norcross; PA

all beliefs and non-belief under the law. State Representatives Todd Stevens and Jason Dawkins;

and PA State Senators Bob Mensch and Sharif Street to

discuss legislative issues of concern to ADL.

• Outgoing ADL Philadelphia Regional Director Nancy

Baron-Baer spoke alongside lawmakers and several

religious and community organizations at a news

conference to mark the formal introduction of a new

legislative package to address hate crimes in

Pennsylvania and increase penalties for those convicted

of a hate crime.

left: Jason Levine accepting proclamation from Camden County Freeholders

right: Representatives from The Catholic Conference, ADL, The Islamic visit philadelphia.adl.org for more information / 13
Center of Pittsburgh, and JCRC’s of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia stood
with Representative Dan Frankel, as he introduced bills to strengthen hate
crimes legislation in Pennsylvania

LEADERSHIP
AND GROWTH

Photo: (L–R) Nancy Baron-Baer, Ed Blumenthal, Alan Gubernick, Rachel Wilner

14 / ADL Fighting Hate for Good

The Good Fight Leadership
and Growth
At The Good Fight, ADL celebrated 75 years of fighting hate in Greater Philadelphia and also the retirement
of Regional Director Nancy K. Baron-Baer. More than $650,000 was raised, directly supporting ADL’s work
to combat all forms of bigotry through education, advocacy, law enforcement training and other initiatives.
Over 350 guests were in attendance, including some of the region’s top executives, community leaders and
elected officials.

George Selim, ADL Senior Vice President of Programs (L–R) Richard J. Green– Chairman & CEO of Firstrust Bank and
Trustee, The Daniel B. and Florence E. Green Foundation, and
Walk Against Hate® Steven H. Collis– Chairman, President & CEO of
AmerisourceBergen Corporation

We walk for justice. We walk for diversity. We walk for each other. We Walk Against Hate.

At ADL’s Walk Against Hate®, our differences bring us together.

Each year, in cities across the country, thousands of people of all
backgrounds and beliefs march arm in arm toward a more welcoming
and respectful future. Kids and parents, business leaders and
community members—with each step we demonstrate our support
for equality and inclusion. Founded in 2011 in Philadelphia, the Walk
Against Hate has expanded nationwide. Over the last decade, 15,000
people walking against hate have raised over $3,000,000 to help to
advance ADL’s mission: “to secure justice and fair treatment to all.”



WalkAgainstHate.org/Philly

visit philadelphia.adl.org for more information / 15

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