Thread by @StandWithUs

1. Dave #Chappelle is a comedian who has offended just about everyone. He can make whatever jokes he wants.
That said, we're an education organization and Chappelle's appearance on @nbcsnl offers a teachable moment.
Thread:

2. He makes fun of fake or forced statements against #antisemitism. Those really are unhelpful and unnecessary. During this time of rising bigotry against #Jews, we need real love, support, and understanding.

3. #Chappelle is right that Black Americans should not be blamed for #antisemitism as a whole. And at the same time, individual leaders or members of the community should always be called out if they promote hate against #Jews. The same standards should apply to everyone.

4. #Chappelle said, "If they're black, then it's a gang. If they're Italian, it's the mob. But if they're #Jewish, it's a coincidence and you should never speak about it!"

Here's where he's wrong:

5. There have, in fact, been major Hollywood productions that focus on or talk about #Jewish organized crime. Once Upon a Time in America is one of many examples.

6. Calling out individuals or even groups of #Jewish people when they do bad things is not the problem. It's blaming "the Jews" as a whole. It's the conspiracy theory that Jews all have the same agenda, when in reality they disagree with each other on almost everything.

7. Despite 1,900 years of oppression, #Jewish communities are thriving, and there are Jewish leaders in many different fields in America. That is inspiring and something to be proud of.

8. However, there were many very successful Jews in Germany as well. Then the #Nazis took power, spread anti-#Jewish conspiracy theories, and committed a genocide. While we do not expect that to happen in America, history has taught us to never take anything for granted.

9. #Chappelle raises concerns about free speech and says he hopes "they" (meaning "the #Jews") don't take anything away from him. We're not going to take anything away, but we will use our free speech rights to respond to harmful ideas with good ones.

10. We have seen that hateful and ignorant words can lead to violence, especially when good people don't use their own voices to push back. It's on all of us to be part of the solution.