ADL History

2010s

Concerned with a sharp resurgence of antisemitism, ADL convenes in 2016 the inaugural “Never Is Now,” a first-of-its-kind summit focused on contemporary antisemitism and innovative strategies to address it. It is now the world’s largest annual summit on antisemitism and hate.

In August 2017, hundreds of white nationalists and their supporters converge in Charlottesville, VA, for the Unite the Right rally, the largest public gathering of white supremacists in a decade. Following the event, Heather Heyer is killed when a white supremacist drives his car into a group of counter protesters, and multiple people are injured. In the days leading up to Unite the Right, the ADL Center on Extremism provides intelligence to law enforcement about extremists’ plans to attend, and monitors events at the rally and throughout its deadly aftermath.

In October 2017, ADL provides expertise and financial support for the federal lawsuit on behalf of nine individuals injured in the Unite the Right rally. In 2021, the Sines v. Kessler plaintiffs win verdicts totaling more than $26 million against the white supremacist defendants.

CEO Jonathan Greenblatt announces in 2017 the founding of the ADL Center for Technology & Society to combat the growing threat posed by hate online. It is established to monitor, track, analyze and mitigate hate speech and harassment in online spaces.

ADL forms the Sports Leadership Council with professional athletes and sports industry leaders to promote positive social change and combat hate, bullying and discrimination. Initial members of the council include NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and sports icon Billie Jean King.

ADL hosts its inaugural Social Cohesion Summit in 2018 in Tel Aviv, aimed at bringing together representatives from all segments of Israeli life to envision the society they want to see in 30 years. The annual summit is an extension of our decades-long work to bring together diverse Israeli communities.