For ADL, another mission. Group will combat anti-immigrant bias

[Ian David]

By Yvonne Abraham, Globe Staff | March 17, 2007

The Anti-Defamation League of New England, saying that hostility toward immigrants represents a growing form of intolerance, is making the fight against anti-immigrant sentiment a significant focus of the 60-year-old organization.

Leaders of the ADL, which is known primarily for its efforts to combat anti-Semitism, say they are alarmed at the animus toward immigrants that seems to be surfacing as the debate over securing the country's borders intensifies.

Andrew Tarsy, regional director of the ADL of New England, said recent events in immigrant communities around Boston demonstrate the urgency for more activism.

"We fight against bigotry in all forms," Tarsy said. "It has become clear both in the extremist world and even in the mainstream that the conversation about immigrants is laced with bigotry."

The efforts will take several forms: events to reach out directly to immigrants; advocacy on state and local immigrant issues; monitoring hate activity in communities; and meeting with police chiefs to alert them to possible tensions in their communities over immigrants.

On Thursday, the ADL will host its first immigrant-themed Passover Seder titled "Nation of Immigrants." The dinner for 800, including hundreds of immigrants, will highlight Passover traditions that celebrate the exodus of Jewish people from slavery in Egypt and feature readings of stories of immigration throughout the dinner.

The readings will include passages from the Book of Exodus and Mexican labor activist Cesar Chavez.

<snip>

Building coalitions between Jews and Latinos is not without challenges, however. A 2005 ADL survey found that 35 percent of Latinos born outside the United States hold "hard core anti-Semitic beliefs," while 19 percent of Latinos born in the United States fall into the same category.

More:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/03/17/for_adl_another_mission/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+City%2FRegion+News

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. Bravo for them!