Standing up to Jewish hatred

A lot of people, including Jaguars’ owner Shad Kahn, New England Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, the University of Florida and the University of Georgia spoke out clearly against the antisemitic message posted during the Gators/Bulldogs game last weekend. The message “Kanye was right about the jews [sic]” flashed on the outside of one of the end zones at TIAA Bank Field stadium.

The Universities of Florida and Georgia issued a joint statement condemning the hate speech at the stadium as well as in other areas around Jacksonville.

Mayor Curry stated, “I condemn these cowards and their cowardly messages.”

Kahn wrote on social media that he was “personally dismayed” by the antisemitic message, calling it “hurtful and wrong.”

“It has to stop,” he went on, I’m asking everyone to make it their mission to end the ignorance and hate. Let’s be better.”

Shalom Orlando CEO Keith Dvorchik spoke with Channel 6 News on Monday evening and stated that Kanye West’s followers on Twitter are far more than the entire world Jewish population. “So when he speaks out with hatred like that, he’s reaching more people than there are Jews in the entire world. He has an incredibly large platform to speak his hate.”

Kraft’s nonprofit Foundation to Combat Antisemitism ran a 30 second-ad during the first quarter of the Patriots-New York Jets game on Sunday that said: “Recently many of you have spoken up. We hear you today. We must hear you tomorrow. There are less than 8 million Jewish people in this country. Fewer than are watching this ad. They need you to add your voice.” #StandUptoJewishHate.

“I have committed tremendous resources toward this effort and am vowing to do more,” Kraft said in a statement. “I encourage others to join in these efforts. My hope is this commercial will continue to enhance the national conversation about the need to speak out against hatred of all types, and particularly to stand up to Jewish hate.”