FSWC Releases New Study on Antisemitism in the Time of Coronavirus

April 24, 2020

Statement

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Toronto (April 24, 2020)  - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) released today a new report titled Hate in the Time of Coronavirus: Five Themes of Antisemitic Discourse On Social Media.

The report profiles the explosion of antisemitism that has overwhelmed social media as the coronavirus has spread across the world. It explores in particular five themes in the antisemitic discourse that have emerged online in the wake of the pandemic – Jews as the real virus, Jews as manufacturers of the virus, Jews as murderers of Arabs, Jews as profiteers from the virus and Jews as deserving of suffering.

“This pandemic has provided new opportunities for hateful voices to promote lies, mistrust and vitriol towards the Jewish community,” said Avi Benlolo, President and CEO of FSWC. “As the world stands together in battling the coronavirus, we must also stand united in rejecting the virus of hatred so that it does not continue to spread.”

Hate in the Time of Coronavirus: Five Themes of Antisemitic Discourse On Social Media can be viewed and downloaded here.

Avi Benlolo's National Post article from March 28th, The coronavirus pandemic is bringing with it a new level of anti-Semitism, can be found here.