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Local Jewish leaders working to educate others on anti-Semitism, crack down on hate speech

145 views · Published 2 November 2018 · 2:26 · Indexed 2 October 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2018 · News & Politics

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CINCINNATI (WKRC) - As the Jewish community heals after the terrible tragedy in Pittsburgh, there are new calls to curb hate speech. In the Cincinnati area, Jewish leaders are working to educate everyone on what exactly anti-Semitism is and how everyone can help crack down on hate speech.

Hate speech has no legal definition in the United States because of the First Amendment, and American citizens can’t be punished because of their views. However, communication experts say the First Amendment doesn’t guarantee a platform to advocate hate speech. The Jewish community is urging everyone to call out anything that attacks other people and incites violence.

The signs were there. Accused synagogue gunman Robert Bowers espoused anti-Semitism and hate speech online. Jackie Congedo with the Jewish Community Relations Council says everyone needs to call out anti-Semitism whenever you see it or hear it.

“Anti-Semitism can look like a lot of things. It can look like, tragically, what happened this past weekend in Pittsburgh. It can also exist in language; it can exist in insinuation,” said Congedo.

The Anti-Defamation League says there's been a 57-percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents -- the biggest increase since it started tracking them nearly 40 years ago.

“I think when speech rises to the level of anti-Semitism and hate speech that conveners of speech do have an obligation to look out for that, especially since we know it can incite violence,” said Congedo.

Jeffrey Blevins, a professor of journalism at the University of Cincinnati says the government is at a loss when it comes to hate speech. The government can’t really stop who’s spreading hate speech because of the First Amendment.

“When it comes to hate speech, we're left with ethical solutions. We're left with the private market to kind of deal with it, and I think that's what we're seeing with some of the things on social media, whether it's Twitter or Facebook,” said Blevins.

Twitter, for example, may get rid of its "like" button because it can be used to "like" hateful rhetoric.

Blevins says expect more moves like that.

“Those entities have First Amendment rights as well, and they have the right to not be associated with certain groups or certain platforms,” said Blevins.

Congedo is hoping social media platforms and everyone at home help curb hate speech.

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