Wednesday marked four months since the October 7 terrorist attack, which has increased antisemitism worldwide. The Anti-Defamation League reported 3,291 antisemitic incidents in the three-month span of October 7, 2023 to January 7, 2024, which is almost as many total incidents in all of 2022. Just in January 2024, the Combat Antisemitism Movement recorded 468 antisemitic incidents worldwide, a 171% increase when compared to January 2023. 

 

With antisemitism continuing to increase in 2024, many social media users are emphasizing the ongoing importance of speaking up in the face of hate instead of staying silent. Some users are posting #NeverAgain and emphasizing that staying silent about antisemitism enabled the Holocaust in Nazi Germany, so speaking up can help in the fight against hatred.

 

Hashtags like #NeverForget and #BringThemHome are prevalent in discussions about the aftermath of the October 7 tragedy and the 136 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Users are encouraging each other to continue talking about the hostages and to keep the October 7 victims’ memories alive.

The 2024 Grammy Awards took place Sunday in Los Angeles and several figures spoke out about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, garnering considerable attention on social media. Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox shouted “artists for ceasefire" during her performance of the show’s “In Memoriam” segment that honors musicians who passed away in the past year. Lennox received backlash online for making a political statement during the awards ceremony, and some questioned why she did not mention the Israeli hostages. 

 

CEO of the Recording Academy Harvey Mason Jr. expressed that music brings people together and recognized the tragedy of the Supernova Music Festival massacre. Many social media users thanked him for remembering the victims of the massacre, while some claimed the Grammys were spreading “Israel propaganda” and condemned Mason for not mentioning the plight of Palestinians in his speech. 

Singer Montana Tucker received attention online for wearing a gown with a large yellow ribbon to show support for the 136 hostages being held captive in Gaza. Users applauded her for continuously supporting the Jewish community.  

The United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) has received increased attention over the past several weeks following a United Nations (UN) announcement that the UN will be investigating allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 terrorist attacks on southern Israel. Since the announcement, several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have pulled their funding from the organization. Conversations about UNRWA online have increased by over 1,000% since the announcement, with many users celebrating the actions of the U.S. and the U.K. while sharing more information about the alleged involvement of UNRWA’s staff with the terrorist organization Hamas. Anti-Israel users denounced the investigation, claiming it is a smear tactic by Israel following the ruling from the International Court of Justice. 

UNRWA was a notable topic of conversation as news came out this week that the organization has made the shortlist for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. Users online criticized the nomination and questioned the decision in light of the investigation into the organization's involvement with Hamas and the October 7 attacks.

 

Mainstream media was a topic of discussion for anti-Israel activists this past week because of a viral post on X accusing the media of protecting Israel from war crime accusations. Many users agreed in response, and other discussions claimed that the media are promoting propaganda for Israel while ignoring the Palestinian cause. 

Users posted that “Zionists” control the media, a belief reminiscent of the conspiracy theory that Jews control governments, banks, and media. This antisemitic trope, which has been especially weaponized during the ongoing war, continues to promote harmful rhetoric against the Jewish community.

 

Former Bristol University sociology professor David Miller won a case claiming that he was discriminated against amid removal from his role at the university in 2021. Miller was fired for comments he made calling Jewish students “pawns” of Israel. The court ruled that Miller’s comments were protected under the Equality Act, and defined anti-Zionism as a philosophical belief and, therefore, required protection in the workplace.

 

David Miller posted online in celebration of his win using the hashtag #DismantleZionism, which received strong support. Many social media users shared the story to argue that anti-Zionism is not antisemitism. Other users are reposting Miller’s old content, including his belief in the antisemitic trope of Jewish power. 

 

The ruling set a legal precedent that antisemitism is protected speech in the U.K., yet has impacted social media discussions worldwide.

 

 

We are very excited to air our first-ever Super Bowl ad this Sunday, February 11th, featuring Draft Speechwriter for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Dr. Clarence B. Jones. 

 

Check out this six-second teaser of our ad and the moment when FCAS Founder, Robert Kraft, informed Dr. Jones of the Super Bowl ad.

 

Be sure to tune in to the Super Bowl to see this impactful commercial and spread the message to #StandUpToJewishHate and all hate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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