What It Took For America to Take Antisemitism Seriously

After Kanye West’s latest disgusting, antisemitic display, it appears that Hollywood and celebrities around the world have finally discovered what we at the ACLJ have known about and fought against for decades – in fact, for some of us, our whole lives.
Last week Kanye West, a controversial entertainer who briefly ran for President in 2020, appeared on a podcast where he spewed poisonous, antisemitic rhetoric. Of course Kanye essentially fell back on the old trope that Jewish people run the entertainment business, and claimed they were intentionally affecting his career. Then West weirdly bragged that he can say racist things and not even a billion-dollar athleticwear company can break their deal with him, literally stating: “I can say antisemitic things, and Adidas can’t drop me. Now what?”
And then this past weekend, a group of neo-Nazis hung banners over a Los Angeles freeway that read “Kanye Is Right About the Jews” while members of the group gave Nazi salutes.
We’ve been speaking out against antisemitism around the world, and even at American universities and in the halls of our own government. And finally, the celebrities seem to have received their long overdue wake-up call to fight antisemitism and support their Jewish friends and family members.
Members of Congress – including “Squad” members Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib – have been stoking the flames of antisemitism for years, making it seem okay to their constituents. We’ve demanded they be censured, but Speaker of the House Pelosi seems to fear them more than she feared President Trump.
The white supremacists who hung those banners should be investigated. But it’s time to reconsider Kanye West. His words inspired these neo-Nazis to feel comfortable to proclaim their hatred in public. But sorry celebrities, you’ve been condoning antisemitism for years, even supporting openly antisemitic politicians. You’ve done much more harm to Jewish people than a handful of neo-Nazis on an overpass. And this latest “woke” issue won’t wash the red off of your own hands until you put it into lasting action.
Today’s full Sekulow broadcast includes more in-depth analysis of this latest offensive Kanye outburst, and the antisemitic actions it has inspired. We’re also joined by ACLJ Senior Advisor Ric Grenell.