ADL Caves to Demands by Elon Musk and Prominent Rightwing Accounts

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/oct/01/anti-defamation-league-removes-extremism-research

The Anti-Defamation League, one of the most prominent Jewish advocacy and anti-hate organizations in the US, removed over a thousand pages of extremism research from its site on Tuesday night following online backlash from rightwing influencers and Elon Musk.

The ADL’s now-deleted “glossary of extremism” contained over a thousand entries that gave background information on groups and ideologies connected to racist, antisemitic and otherwise hateful incidents. Its pages on neo-Nazi groups, militias and antisemitic conspiracies now redirect to the landing page for its extremism research.

Musk and prominent rightwing accounts on X had targeted the ADL in recent days over the glossary, which included an entry on slain far right activist Charlie Kirk’s organization, Turning Point USA. Musk also attacked the group for its page on Christian Identity, responding to posts on X that falsely conflated that extremist movement with Christians as a whole. In reality, the term refers to a movement which believes in a racial holy war against Jews and other minorities.

Nick Robins-Early wrote this article for the Guardian.

(A vanishing species, an American with courage standing up for what he believes.)

Seeing this kind of cowardice and moral bankruptcy is painful.

This is a case of massive organizational failure. What are they supposed to be doing if not discouraging defamation? Should they change their name? How about “On Rare Occasions We Oppose Lies and Misleading Information?” I have to admit this isn’t very catchy. But since they gave up on that anti-defamation stuff, what’s left?

Since the rise of Donald Trump, we have seen more and more of this institutional cowardice and a complete lack of a moral and ethical backbone. Universities, Businesses, Law Firms and Media Companies rushing to pay money and give up their principles for a little safety and a little relief.

We see it again and again. The bully shows up, demands the lunch money, and he gets it. What happened to American courage and honor?

I really don’t get it. Wasn’t the ADL supposed to call out these people instead of cravenly surrendering?

How do they live without honor, decency or courage?

It must be a bleak existence to surrender up your basic principles in the face of the every people you were supposed to be keeping an eye on.

Every true American should be sickened by this pitiful display. What cowards!

James Alan Pilant