As some know, the ADL is being blamed for all the woes of Twitter/X. While we know the attack was started by Groypers (a melange of online culture, neo-Nazi sentiment, and bad faith) and picked up by Elon Musk via the hashtag #DropTheADL (oops, sorry! #BanTheADL ) as an excuse for his business failings, there are some objections and questions that non-antisemites have about the ADL being on Twitter, or the organization in general.
Not to worry, non-antisemites, I have answers to all of your questions and concerns. This will also, hopefully, save other Jews who already know these answers some time and energy.
Why is the ADL on Twitter at all? It's a forum for Nazis and other bigots!
This is obviously true, and a good question.
The answer is that they shouldn't be. They empower the Nazis by their presence, legitimizing Twitter/X. They should take this opportunity (the efforts of virulent antisemites to be kick them off the platform and stop pointing out individual instances of antisemitism, racism, anti-LGBTQ bigotry) to leave Twitter and let the platform continue without them.
Jewish organizations, and all minorities (Jews, Black people, LGBTQ+, etc...), should be leaving, or risk us mistakenly (or not) concluding that they are intentionally providing cover for Twitter's virulent bigotry. After all, there is only so long they can sit at the Nazi bar before we have to accept that's where they want to be.
Those who don't leave, and choose to stay after this, will be telling us all precisely what Bad Jews they are.
The ADL often undermines the fight against antisemitism by pushing the lie that antizionism is antisemitism. Why should we support an organization that works for a racist country?
Now, this is more nuanced.
The complaint is obviously a real problem. Many Zionists have a tendency to use real antisemitism (like this, pushed by the Groypers) to defend Israel and people who are pro-Israel, sometimes just because the person is Jewish. Worse, they use their political and media influence to keep Israeli crimes from being even mentioned by anybody. So, if we defend them, there is a risk of us ironically empowering the White Supremacists by legitimizing the ADL itself.
While the problem is more nuanced, the solution is easy. Focus on the real problems here: Elon Musk, Twitter, Groypers, the GOP, White Supremacists, and the like. Make it clear that you aren't defending the ADL for their bigotry, that you don't support them, and that they represent a similar danger to the country and to Good Jews in the United States.
Remember that not all Jews support the ADL. While the bigots are using them as a stand-in for all Jews (including the Good Jews alongside those for whom it is warranted), you should not perpetuate that bigotry yourself. The ADL (like AIPAC) might use their connection to the real Jewish community as a weapon against their opponents, but emphasize that they are wrong.
You don't have to defend the Zionists to recognize that Elon and the White Nationalists are being bigots, and call them out.
Jews, and Jewish organizations, are obviously not above questioning any more than any normal person or group is. Non-antisemites might have legitimate concerns and questions about how to approach sensitive and complex subjects like this, how to tell when it crosses the line into antisemitism, and how to react so they don't accidentally support Bad Jews who will hurt the Jewish community.
I hope I was able to help the non-antisemites who had these reasonable concerns about the ADL and this situation so that they can continue to be a good ally.
If I missed any questions or concerns, send me a message and I'll be happy to provide an answer for you!