CLEVELAND, Ohio — Whether it’s caustic language online or racial slurs splashed across places of worship, last year was a “very active year” for hate among individuals, groups and movements, said Oren Segal with the Anti-Defamation League.
“A lot of public discussion, certainly in the past several months, has focused on buzzwords such as alt-right and white supremacists, especially the concepts of how they’ve [perpetrators] been emboldened by the presidential campaign this past year,” said Segal, who directs the league’s Center on Extremism.
Oren Segal, director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism
Segal will be in Beachwood on Thursday to discuss “The Current Landscape of Hate and Extremism in the U.S.” at the Cleveland region of the Anti-Defamation League annual meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at The Temple-Tifereth Israel. Reservations are mandatory.
In a telephone interview from ADL’s headquarters in New York, Segal said he’ll present an overview of the increase in social acrimony and ways to address it.
“Education is always the key,” said Segal, who has been with the ADL for 17 years, the entire time in positions that focus on extremism of all types. “It’s critical that people understand the issues, where they are playing out, and how these issues should be addressed.”
Segal said he will also discuss the ADL’s work with the technology industry to come up with solutions so that extremists don’t exploit its services.
“I’m also going to talk about our work with law enforcement who are on the front line of protecting communities,” he said.
He’ll address why it’s important for targeted groups to band together.
“One of the really important things for the ADL is that we stand with those communities that are targeted,” said Segal, noting that although this is an ADL event, he speaks to all types of religious and social groups around the country and the world.
“When people work together they are more powerful. We can’t let people feel isolated when they are victims of hate, whether online or in the real world.”
He said hate-related incidences aren’t going away on their own.
“That’s why it’s important for people to understand the issues, to speak out, and make sure that those in public positions, whether it’s community leaders, elected officials and even those in the highest office, are responding and pushing back on hate whenever it shows up,” Segal said.
Tickets to the meeting are $20, which includes dessert reception with dietary laws observed. Reservations are required. For more information, email AGray@adl.org or call 216-536-6783.
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