10/06/2023
Jewish Cleveland Stands Up to Jewish Hate in America
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Combating the hatred confronting the Jewish people has long been a top priority of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. Whether it be helping to enhance local security to ensure Jewish Cleveland remains open and welcoming, providing educational programs that empower community members to stand up to anti-Jewish / anti-Israel rhetoric, or forging strong, supportive relationships across Greater Cleveland, Federation has been a driving force in the ongoing fight against antisemitism.
In 2023, Jews only make up 2.4% of the American population yet are the victims of 55% of religious-based hate crimes. To further mobilize support for the Jewish community, the Cleveland Federation joined a broad coalition of partner organizations, including the League of Women Voters, Urban League, National Governors Association, the Anti-Defamation League, Hillel International, and many others to raise awareness for the growing hatred facing the Jewish community and urge supporters to stand up to Jewish hate.
Known as the #StandUpToJewishHate campaign, this national effort – which was spearheaded by the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism and utilized the blue square emoji🟦as the symbol of support – made its debut on March 27, 2023 with an integrated roll-out across NBC’s most popular shows including on The Voice, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and TODAY, as well as through the efforts of numerous social media influencers, including Tom Brady, Sarah Paulson, and Jon Bon Jovi.
The Cleveland Federation brought this effort to Northeast Ohio with a social media campaign that encouraged Greater Clevelanders of all faiths to share the blue square emoji and sign up to join Federation’s efforts to combat Jew hate. Animated videos, images, and story commercials were posted on Federation’s Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter pages to raise awareness. These posts garnered 50,900 impressions and reached more than 36,800 people. In particular, the video below has gone viral on Jewish Cleveland’s Instagram page with more than 28,000 views and 3,300 reactions to date:
Additional efforts included bringing visibility to the campaign through broadcast and print media, as well as the distribution of blue square pins to community members and elected officials at events such as Federation’s Public Officials Breakfast.
To further reinforce the messaging with Clevelanders across the city’s east side, west side and throughout Cuyahoga County, Federation ran three “blue square” billboards in high traffic, high visibility locations for 12 weeks this fall.
Our community’s support makes these efforts possible. Because of you and your steadfast commitment, we can help keep our community safe from rising antisemitism and Jew hate, as well as bring awareness across our entire Cleveland community. Thank you for being HERE FOR GOOD.
