Anti-Defamation League

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is a nonprofit civil rights organization headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1913, it works to combat antisemitism and all forms of bigotry through research, education, advocacy, and litigation. With 25 regional offices across the United States, an office in Israel, and staff in Europe, the ADL monitors extremist groups, provides anti-bias training, and pushes for policy changes. Its Center for Technology & Society, established in 2017, focuses on online hate and harassment.

The ADL's influence extends to shaping federal policy and law enforcement practices. It played a key role in the landmark Sines v. Kessler case, helping secure over $26 million in verdicts against white supremacists responsible for the 2017 Unite the Right rally. The organization has also advocated for legislation like the Stop Hiding Hate Act in New York, which requires social media companies to disclose their content moderation practices.

In fiscal year 2024, the ADL reported record revenue of $163 million, with contributions making up 99.7 percent of that total. The organization employs roughly 450 to 500 staff and maintains a significant lobbying presence in Washington, D.C. Its positions on Israel-related issues, including the view that some criticism of Israel crosses into antisemitism, have generated both influence and internal dissent. [编辑]

The ADL's mission, unchanged since its founding, is to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. The organization holds that combating one form of prejudice requires confronting all forms of bigotry. It pursues this through research, education, advocacy, and litigation, aiming to protect democratic values and build a society free from hate. [编辑]

ADL诞生于利奥·弗兰克案的阴影之下。1913年，亚特兰大犹太工厂经理弗兰克被错误定罪，涉嫌谋杀一名13岁女孩。在其死刑被减刑后，一群暴徒于1915年将他私刑处死。此案暴露了美国社会普遍存在的反犹太主义，促使律师西格蒙德·利文斯顿提议在圣约之子会旗下成立一个新组织。ADL的最初努力针对的是报纸、书籍和戏剧中对犹太人的诽谤性描绘。20世纪40年代，它启动了大规模的研究行动，以揭露美国的纳粹支持者和仇恨团体，并将发现与政府机构和媒体分享。

战后几十年，ADL扩展了其民权工作。1948年，它在McCollum诉教育委员会案中提交了法庭之友书状，反对公立学校中的宗教教育。时任全国主任的本杰明·爱泼斯坦于1963年与马丁·路德·金和罗伯特·肯尼迪一同参加了白宫会议。ADL还反对限制犹太学生大学录取的配额制度。2009年，它脱离圣约之子会并缩短了名称。在2015年接任的乔纳森·格林布拉特的领导下，该组织实现了现代化，增设了以科技为中心的中心，并于2022年收购了投资者网络JLens。ADL为针对2017年团结右翼集会组织者的诉讼提供了专业知识和财务支持，最终获得超过2600万美元的赔偿。[编辑]