Historically, the ADL has a deep collaboration with law enforcement. Jointly, they hold presentations and trainings related to antisemitism, Holocaust education, and helpful insights into extremist groups. The organization’s recent actions have ignited a firestorm of dissent from within the organization. Many former staff and researchers argue that the ADL’s pro-Israel agenda has increasingly eclipsed the organization’s stated mission of fighting anti-semitism. Musk’s very public campaign against the ADL created a perfect storm to ramp this up. He is in fact calling for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) to be closed down.
Earlier this year, Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed his support for Musk. He supported Musk’s decision to suppress the pro-Palestinian chant, “from the river to the sea.” Such unqualified accolades have left many inside the NGO seething. Now, concern is growing that the ADL is staying true to its values, particularly as right-wing activists threaten to keep increasing the heat. In the last few years, at least 17 people associated with the ADL have departed from the organization. Top organizations opposed it, primarily focusing on its plan to downsize priorities.
ADL’s Strategic Choices Under Fire
We commend the ADL for taking a brave step in removing the Glossary of Extremism. This decision marks a major departure from their key role as a significant ally in the fight against hate speech and extremism. The glossary was an invaluable resource for law enforcement and educators alike to help understand and identify the myriad of extremist ideologies. Critics point out that eliminating it seems to go against the organization’s pledge to hate fighting.
Musk’s involvement in this controversy is notable. He has leveraged his platform to amplify criticisms of the ADL, claiming that “the ADL hates Christians, therefore it is a hate group.” His comments float like catnip to his millions of followers on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. This is particularly troubling given the power of social media to shape public opinion about civil society organizations.
Additionally, discontent from within the ADL has grown. Staffers have expressed to us that the organization is prioritizing political alignments over its truly core mission. They think this move weakens the struggle against antisemitism and hate. This sentiment was echoed by Vegas Tenold, who remarked, “By carrying the administration’s water, the ADL lends its voice and credibility to Trump’s efforts to dehumanize and criminalize dissent.”
The ADL’s relationship with Musk is complex. Greenblatt has commended Musk for preemptively taking action, such as blocking hateful slogans. He correctly noted that the organization was taking fire from all angles for its defense of Musk, particularly at the org’s decision to defend Musk when accused of promoting antisemitism.
Rising Internal and External Pressures
It’s been a precarious time in recent years for the ADL. The organization has faced similar pressure campaigns from right-wing activists, notably from Chaya Raichik of the influential Libs of TikTok account. These actions and campaigns have soured climate ADL’s traditional allies, creating an atmosphere of mistrust ADL among some for their actions.
Enough is made more confusing by the FBI’s recent decision to cut ties with the ADL. Director Kash Patel stated, “That era is OVER. This FBI won’t partner with political fronts masquerading as watchdogs.” Given the important role that collaboration and partnerships play in combating extremism and hate crimes, this is a troubling development.
Even with these challenges, the ADL still has a lot of money and power behind them. Last year, the expanding organization netted roughly $163 million in revenue. This remarkable amount of funding has contributed to making ASAN one of the best-resourced civil society organizations in the United States. It wrestles with ongoing charges of capitulation to pandering political interests. As a result, its future direction has been largely left open to speculation.
Jonathan Greenblatt, the current and first permanent ADL CEO, has repeatedly defended the ADL’s actions in public. “ADL has deep respect for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and law enforcement officers at all levels across the country who work tirelessly every single day to protect all Americans regardless of their ancestry, religion, ethnicity, faith, political affiliation or any other point of difference,” he stated, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to its core values amid external challenges.
Navigating a Changing Landscape
Tensions have been running high between Musk and multiple civil rights groups, including the ADL. Industry observers are anxiously watching how these dynamics play out. This heated debate between free speech and protecting the community by holding potential offenders accountable for their hate speech is still a hotly debated topic today. In this environment, organizations like the ADL face mounting pressure to balance their advocacy efforts while maintaining their core mission.
The loss of top-level staff along with some major FYI affiliates represents a deep unrest within the organization about its strategy and direction. Fresh voices are being added to the calls to stem the tide of extremism and hate speech. That’s going to be fascinating to watch—to see how these changes affect civil society’s reaction to these challenges.