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Top ADL civil rights lay leader quits, accusing group of being ‘useful idiot’ for Trump

JL;DR SUMMARY Joe Berman, a former key leader at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), has publicly resigned, criticizing the organization for aligning too closely with the Trump administration and narrowing its focus exclusively to antisemitism at the expense of broader civil rights advocacy. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Anti Defamation LeagueJewish CommunityTrump AdministrationResignationCivil RightsJonathan GreenblattJewish AdvocacyJoe BermanAdl Focus

Places mentioned

Washington, D.C., Washington DC, United States
"The shocking rise of antisemitic violence in recent years from Pittsburgh to Poway, from Boulder to Washington, D.C."
Boulder, Colorado, United States
"The shocking rise of antisemitic violence in recent years from Pittsburgh to Poway, from Boulder to Washington, D.C."
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
"The shocking rise of antisemitic violence in recent years from Pittsburgh to Poway, from Boulder to Washington, D.C."
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
"Berman, who also served from 2020 to 2023 as the chairman of the ADLs New England regional board."
Poway, California, United States
"The shocking rise of antisemitic violence in recent years from Pittsburgh to Poway, from Boulder to Washington, D.C."
Pennsylvania, United States
"The Forward in June reported an equally scathing resignation letter by Steven Ludwig, a member of the Philadelphia regional board."
New York, United States
"Melanie Robbins, who worked in the New York and New Jersey regional offices from 2016 to 2019, eventually rising to deputy director, recalled what she characterized as a milestone in Greenblatts shift."
New Jersey, United States
"Melanie Robbins, who worked in the New York and New Jersey regional offices from 2016 to 2019, eventually rising to deputy director, recalled what she characterized as a milestone in Greenblatts shift."
Minnesota, United States
"More recently, the ADL has raised eyebrows by not commenting on topics that would have drawn its censure in the past, including, notably, Trumps recent attacks on Somalis in Minnesota."

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Retrieved 2025-12-13 05:30:56 UTC
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