The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) wrote in a letter to Emory University that the mock eviction notices that were found on student dormitory rooms on April 3 are “disturbing.”
Allison Padilla-Goodman, the regional director of ADL Southeast, wrote in the letter that the notices are “designed to silence and intimidate pro-Israel advocates on campuses around the country rather than promote meaningful dialogue.”
“While students have a right to express their views on campus, targeting students in their residence halls is an unsettling intrusion,” Padilla-Goodman wrote.
She added, “The anti-Israel activists who passed out these notices are creating tension, intimidating and isolating students, and fostering a hostile atmosphere on campus.”
The ADL also takes “strong exception to the false and incendiary assertions made in that incidents of eviction or demolition are ‘part of Israel’s ongoing attempts to ethnically cleanse the region of its Arab inhabitant’” as described in the posted notices,” Padilla-Goodman stated.
“Efforts like these only seek to delegitimize Israel and prevent opportunities for meaningful dialogue on campus,” Padilla-Goodman wrote. “As we have seen this strategy occur across America, the ADL has developed resources for university administrators, officials, and students for understanding and responding to intergroup challenges, bias, and anti-Israel issues.”
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted that the notices were “jarring.”
So jarring: Jewish students at Emory woke up to 'eviction notices' next to the mezuzahs on their doors.
Glad @ADLSoutheast is already engaged with @EmoryUniversity to help prevent such offensive and intimidating stunts from occurring again.https://t.co/w5JFpRt83I
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) April 4, 2019
The American Jewish Committee similarly tweeted, “For those who claim anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism, look no further than this grotesque anti-Israel campaign at Emory University. AJC Atlanta is working closely with Emory faculty, students, and administrators to ensure no one feels unsafe on campus.”
For those who claim antizionism is not antisemitism, look no further than this grotesque anti-Israel campaign at Emory University. AJC Atlanta is working closely with Emory faculty, students, and administrators to ensure no one feels unsafe on campus. https://t.co/S7uEl297kK
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) April 4, 2019
When asked by the Journal for comment on the ADL’s letter, an Emory spokesperson responded by pointing to the university’s statement that the notices were removed because they violated university guidelines and that there was no evidence that any particular students were targeted.
Emory Students for Justice in Palestine is reportedly responsible for the notices.
