Founded in 1913, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is the nation’s premier civil rights/human relations organization. They have a distinguished history of reminding the world just how tenuous civil rights are and they mobilize people to engage in reasonable discourse as together they find solutions to serve their diverse society.

A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with supporters and partners throughout the United States and around the world, ADL is rooted in Jewish values. They speak up for those whose voices are not always heard. Their network of more than two dozen regional offices nationwide and an office in Jerusalem are on the ground, organizing and galvanizing grassroots support around the most pressing issues of the day.

They are activists, educators and experts. They fight anti-Semitism and all forms of hate. They advocate for a safe and secure democratic Jewish State of Israel and combat efforts to delegitimize it. They help shape laws locally and nationally, and develop groundbreaking model legislation. They work with students to respect inclusion and to challenge bias and bullying. They train law enforcement officers about extremism, terrorism and hate crimes.

They never give up trying to build a better world inspired by our democratic sense of unity:  "There is no them – only us."

ADL is local, national and global. The work encompasses schools to government agencies, small communities to the State of Israel, anti-terrorist to cyberhate task forces, local government to the halls of Congress.

A leader in the development of materials, programs and services, ADL builds bridges of communication, understanding and respect among diverse groups, carrying out its mission through a network of 30 Regional and Satellite Offices in the United States and abroad.

History

ADL was born at a time when American Jews—both new immigrants and generations-long members of the society—were experiencing deep-seated bigotry. Culture turned a blind eye to what today would be called hate crimes. It was time to become proactive.

Reflecting a Jewish tradition and the ADL value of inclusion, they chose a dual mission of securing justice not only for Jews but for all people. It was time to stand up for every American living in jeopardy and fear. Courage nurtured the young organization. Resolve and challenges gave it strength and resiliency.

Mission

To stop the defamation of the Jewish people, and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.