Recently, the Anti-Defamation League spoke out against offensive, inappropriate and misleading allegations in two area publications.
ADL condemned racist language that appeared in an August 4, 2014 Letter to the Editor in the Vail Daily.
“Peter Bergh’s ugly and racist characterization of Muslims, using tired and hateful stereotypes, detracts from his greater point that the actions of terrorists and extremists must not be tolerated (Letters, August 4). It is unacceptable — and dilutes the import of properly identifying real terrorists — to claim that term is applicable to hundreds of millions of Muslims. Those who seek to overcome the influence of terrorists and extremists must do better than to rely on dehumanizing rhetoric,” wrote Mountain States Anti-Defamation League Regional Director Scott L. Levin in his own letter in response, published on August 8 by the Vail Daily. “When discussing terrorism, let’s be clear about its sources and its horrific toll on innocent civilians, without scapegoating an entire religion for the actions of a few.”
Full article: http://mountainstates.adl.org/news/adl-decries-racist-language-in-august-4-vail-daily-letter-to-the-editor/
In a Letter to the Editor of the Casper Star-Tribune, published on August 18, 2014, Mountain States ADL Regional Director Scott L. Levin criticized references to Adolph Hitler reportedly made by Charles Cloud in a debate amongst candidates to represent Wyoming’s House District 50.
“Comparisons to Hitler and Nazis trivialize the extent of their crimes against humanity, diminish the suffering of survivors, and offend those who understand the profound evil they represented. There is no comparison between contemporary American political issues and the actions of Hitler and his regime. Such comparisons are deeply offensive to those that understand the profound evil they represented, as well as to the survivors of the Holocaust. We urge all political candidates to engage in a civil discourse about their views and policy issues and to refrain from using references to Hitler and Nazis for political purposes,” wrote Levin.