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Antisemitism? Really? The 33 Most Absurd Examples Listed in the ADL's New Database
We looked through the 6,000-plus incidents recorded in the ADL's antisemitism database and found dozens of examples that are debatable or weird, or dishonestly conflate anti-Zionism with antisemitism.
READ IN APP Jonathan Greenblatt speaks onstage during the ADL Never Is Now Summit on March 16, 2026. Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for ADL.
The Anti-Defamation League’s CEO, Jonathan Greenblatt, assured CNN that the organization used a “very rigorous methodology” as it compiled its database of antisemitic incidents that occurred last year – and that it draws a distinction between anti-Israel or pro-Palestine activities, and antisemitic behavior. A closer look at the database shows that is simply not true.
While the rise of antisemitism is of great concern – particularly in light of violence like the Bondi shooting in Australia and the Boulder, Colorado, firebombing attack – the ADL’s database is littered with examples showing how liberal it is in defining antisemitism. This matters in part because US politicians have long used ADL data to justify governmental attacks on free speech, and their unconditional support for Israel’s genocidal and apartheid regime.
The pro-Israel ADL writes that it “is careful to not conflate general criticism of Israel or anti-Israel activism with antisemitism. Legitimate political protest, support for Palestinian rights or expressions of opposition to Israeli policies are not included in the audit.”
Its approach to Israel-related expressions of speech, the ADL adds, “comports with the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s… working definition of antisemitism,” which deems it antisemitic to compare Israel’s behavior to Nazis, for example. (There is much controversy surrounding the IHRA definition in the human rights world.)
Our Zeteo team dug into the ADL’s database of 6,274 documented incidents of antisemitism in 2025 and found scores of incidents that appear to contradict much of its own guidance when it comes to conflating antisemitism with anti-Israel or pro-Palestine _expression_.
The database counts people chanting “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free” (a chant calling for Palestinian freedom from Israeli occupation) as antisemitism (never mind that “Greater Israel” supporters use a similar phrase to suggest Palestine belongs to Israel). Anti-Zionist messages are marked as antisemitic – despite the ADL’s assurance that such expressions would not be labeled as such. A flier that read “Love Jews Hate Zionism” was, astonishingly, counted as an antisemitic incident.
Meanwhile, many incidents are marked as “confidential,” or lack necessary context to independently assess their veracity. Some appear to be altercations or interactions between friends or family members.
“The ADL gives lip service to the idea that they distinguish between criticism of Israeli state policy and antisemitism, but even a cursory glance at their practices shows they do not mean it,” Dr. Jonah Rubin, manager of campus organizing for Jewish Voice for Peace, tells Zeteo. “They even label anti-Zionist Jewish groups, organizing as Jews, motivated by our Jewish traditions of justice to oppose genocide as somehow antisemitic.”
The ADL did not respond to a request for comment.
Here are just 33 pretty egregious examples of what the ADL is characterizing as definitively antisemitic (note: the incidents below are written exactly as they appear in the ADL’s database, and are listed in chronological order):
2/3/2025; San Diego, California – Graffiti that read: “End Zionism” was spray-painted on several buildings around the San Diego State University campus.
2/5/2025; Washington, DC – At an anti-Israel rally, protesters displayed a banner that read: “Ask what your country can do for Israel?” with imagery of the Statue of Liberty wrapped in a bloodied Israeli flag.
2/6/2025; Eugene, Oregon – Stickers were placed on a statue at the University of Oregon that read: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a slogan commonly used to call for an end to the Jewish state.
2/21/2025; Boston, Massachusetts – A sticker was placed at Emerson College that read: “Fuck Zionism.”
3/1/2025; Santa Clara, California – During a lesson about the Holocaust, a teacher played students a video that directly compared Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in Gaza to the Holocaust.
3/2/2025; Rochester, New York – A moderator of a local Facebook group posted a list of “Zionist” businesses to boycott.
3/24/2025; Albuquerque, New Mexico – At the University of New Mexico, individuals associated with Students for Justice in Palestine distributed stickers that read: “Zionism is Racism” and “Zionism is Genocide.”
4/10/2025; Glenview, Illinois – A student wore a sweatshirt at school that read: “From the river to the sea,” a slogan commonly used as a call to end the Jewish state.
4/15/2025; Los Angeles, California – A flier was posted at a Jewish institution that read: “A GENOCIDAL ISRAEL IS BAD FOR ALL JEWS” and that called for divestment.
4/29/2025; Buffalo, New York – A University at Buffalo student posted a message in a student association’s group chat calling to boycott a theater for showing a pro-Israel film, writing that the theater was showing “a racist film celebrating the settler pedophile state.”
5/12/2025; Seattle, Washington – A flier was placed on a lamp post that read: “Love Jews Hate Zionism.”
6/2/2025; San Francisco, California – Messages were left in chalk on a public sidewalk that read: “Zionism Racism.”
6/18/2025; Los Angeles, California – A speaker at a University of California, Los Angeles commencement ceremony said, “From the river to the sea” in her speech, a slogan commonly used to call for an end to the Jewish state.
6/21/2025; Baltimore, Maryland – A flier for a neighborhood block party displayed at a coffee shop contained a disclaimer that read: “Racism, homophobia, transphobia, and zionism [sic] will not be tolerated!”
7/20/2025; Alameda, California – A car was spotted on a public street with a license plate that read: “INT5ADA,” referencing “Intifada,” a slogan commonly used as a call for violence against Israel and the Jewish community.
7/25/2025; Tustin, California – A car was spotted on a public street with a license plate that read: “NTFADA,” referencing “Intifada,” a slogan commonly used as a call for violence against Israel and the Jewish community.
8/6/2025; San Francisco, California – A sticker was placed on an ATM that read: “Dykes Hate Zionists.”
8/8/2025; Somerville, Massachusetts – Graffiti was found near train tracks that read: “Gaza will live and Israel will fall.”
8/12/2025; Washington DC – An Israeli food cookbook delivered to a business had the word “Israeli” in title scratched out.
8/14/2025; Princeton, New Jersey – A stop sign was vandalized and read: “Stop Zionism.”
9/12/2025; Hatfield, Pennsylvania – A professional association released a webinar to members that included the claim: “Zionism is a form of racism.”
9/26/2025; New Haven, Connecticut – “Fuck Zionism” and “Fuck Israel” were written in chalk on the campus of Yale University.
10/7/2025; Manhattan, New York – At an anti-Israel rally organized by Behind Enemy Lines, a speaker said, “It is right to rebel against every form of oppression, Zionism, racism.”
10/7/2025; Tallahassee, Florida – At an anti-Israel rally organized by Students for a Democratic Society, protesters displayed signs that read: “Say no to Zionism.”
10/21/2025; Amherst, Massachusetts – The steps of a library at Hampshire College were vandalized with: “Judaism saves, Zionism kills.”
10/24/2025; San Antonio, Texas – At an anti-Israel rally organized by San Antonio for Justice in Palestine and the Democratic Socialists of America, protesters chanted, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a slogan commonly used to call for an end to the Jewish state. A speaker also said, “Israel is a laboratory for racism, disenfranchisement, disposition, extrajudicial violence, surveillance, [unintelligible] and torture.”
10/25/2025; Princeton, New Jersey – A traffic sign was vandalized to read: “Stop Zionism.”
11/9/2025; Oakland California – A sticker was placed in a public area that read: “Zionism is Racism Zionism is Genocide.”
11/12/2025; Jersey City, New Jersey – A sticker depicting an Israeli flag ripped to partially reveal a Nazi flag underneath was placed on the railing of a pier.
11/29/2025: Charleston, South Carolina – At an anti-Israel rally organized by Free Palestine CHS, protesters displayed messages that included: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a slogan commonly used to call for an end to the Jewish state.
12/4/2025; Ann Arbor, Michigan – Fliers were distributed at the University of Michigan that read: “Zionism out of SPH [School of Public Health].”
12/13/2025; Alexandria, Virginia – At an anti-Israel rally organized by groups including Jewish Voice for Peace and the Palestinian Youth Movement, protesters chanted, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a slogan commonly used to call for an end to the Jewish state.
12/31/2025: Boston, Massachusetts – At an anti-Israel rally organized by Northshore for Palestine, Jamaica Plane for Palestine, Allston-Brighton for Palestine and Concord for Palestine, protesters displayed signs with messages that included: “Zohranism yes, Zionism no.”
Zeteo’s Alexa Cohen, Kennedy Garmong, Melanie Riehl, and Stephen Wentzell contributed to this reporting.