Dear John,

I’m writing to you with a heavy heart following yesterday’s devastating shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. Like you, I’m feeling profound grief and shock that children were targeted in such a cruel, evil act.

Our thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones, those who are fighting for their lives, and the entire Minneapolis community — especially the Catholic community that is now bearing the unbearable. No family should ever have to endure such heartbreak. Every child must be safe in school. Every person must be safe in places of worship.

Our team is on the ground in Minneapolis and has reached out to offer our support to Minneapolis Archbishop Bernard Hebda and the Mayor of Minneapolis along with local law enforcement and other religious and community leaders.

The Center on Extremism published an article providing insights into the shooter’s deep fascination with mass killings and details that the weapons included an array of hateful references and messages targeting Christians, Jews, Black people, LGBTQ+ individuals, Muslims, Hispanics and others. We’ve also shared information with law enforcement about the symbols and phrases used by yesterday’s shooter.

In moments like this, when hatred seeks to divide and destroy, the power of allyship is vital.

I encourage you to consider reaching out to those around you who may be hurting — particularly those of the Catholic faith who may be feeling especially vulnerable right now. Consider attending a local memorial as one way to speak out against those who are using yesterday’s shooting to spread hate. The power of human connection and just showing up in the face of tragedy simply can't be understated.

May the memory of those we lost yesterday always be a blessing, and may their families find comfort in knowing that we grieve with them.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Greenblatt
CEO and National Director
ADL

Related links:

• Analysis on the Minneapolis Shooter
• Timeline on what can influence extremist school shooters

This Week’s Topline

Game Changers: Kevin Youkilis is Standing Up in Sports

What does it mean to stand up for who you are when the spotlight is on you? ADL welcomed three-time MLB All-Star Kevin Youkilis for a candid conversation about navigating Jewish identity in professional sports, confronting antisemitism and using your platform to advocate for change. He was joined by University of Michigan student and Maccabi USA athlete Morgan Zietz for this lively discussion. Here are some highlights:

Kevin discussed the realization that as a visibly successful member of a minority, he was a standard-bearer for others. He talked about making decisions on when to play and when to take a seat during holidays. He shared one of the most memorable moments in his Jewish life, which took place in a hotel in Colorado when he and friends spontaneously sang ‘Hava Nagila’ as they shared the joy of winning a World Series title. He also noted the rare times where he heard hateful remarks from the stands, and how he fielded clubhouse questions from teammates for whom he might have been one of few Jewish contacts.

Morgan talked about how “the antisemitism on campus has gotten completely out of hand,” and yet at the same time, how rewarding it has been to be part of the Jewish community, whether in sports or at the University of Michigan Hillel.

What’s News

American Association of University Professors: After the head of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) made anti-Israel media statements in a recent interview, ADL and the Academic Engagement Network (AEN) criticized AAUP President Todd Wolfson for veering the group “even further away from its mission.” ADL and the AEN called for the AAUP “to uphold its responsibility to the academic community by advancing education and protecting academic freedom — rather than isolating Jewish communities.”
👉 TAKE ACTION: Click here to send the AAUP a message. Join us in calling on the AAUP to uphold its responsibility to all of its members rather than taking sides and undermining the academic freedom it purports to defend.

Legislating Against Violent Extremism: Last week, Reps. Vindman (D-VA) and Bacon (R-NE) introduced the Violent Antisemitism Threat Assessment Act, a bill which ADL spearheaded that requires the U.S. Department of Defense to issue a report on the role antisemitism plays in violent extremist movements. Violent antisemitism is a growing global threat, fueled by extremist movements that use antisemitic hatred as a core part of their ideology. By demanding facts, analysis, and coordinated strategies, this bill equips the federal government to confront this danger head-on. ADL is grateful for the bipartisan leadership of Reps. Vindman and Bacon in standing with Jewish communities and working to hold extremists accountable.

MAKING PROGRESS WITH ADL

Reacting to Ugly Hate from a Beauty Influencer: When ADL and its affiliate JLens joined those voicing outrage at beauty influencer Huda Kattan’s recent video that promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories, including the false claim that Israel orchestrated the World Wars, 9/11 and other global tragedies, we called on major retailers to distance themselves from her beauty-product brand. We welcome Sephora's decision to remove Huda Beauty from its upcoming campaign launch. This shows that Sephora recognizes how serious Huda Kattan’s antisemitic conspiracy theories are. She still hasn’t apologized for spreading baseless, hateful claims. Read ADL’s latest statement.

Social Spotlights

@ADL

As our research showed earlier this year, antisemitism and anti-Israel bias on Wikipedia are a significant problem. We welcome @GOPoversight opening an investigation into this issue and thank @RepJamesComer for his leadership efforts to address this hate. News link.

@JGreenblattADL

CodePink's horrific PR stunt crosses the line of decency - a relatively low bar, even for them. Wearing Nazi concentration camp garments and abusing Holocaust memory for political theater are grotesque appropriations of trauma that disrespects all victims of the Shoah, including survivors and their descendants.

@ADL

We welcome Australia’s decision to expel the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran, whose terror arm, the IRGC, was exposed as directing at least two antisemitic attacks targeting a Melbourne synagogue and a Sydney kosher cafe last year. We welcome Canberra's intent to designate the IRGC as a terrorist entity and look forward to the Australian parliament’s swift amendment of the federal criminal code. News link.

@ADL’s Incident Tracker

The @ADL_tracker feed of news and developments in antisemitism activities.

Chicago police issue community alert after latest antisemitic stickers, graffiti found in Hyde Park. News link.

— August 28, 2025 Read the full post

We are saddened and outraged by the repeated vandalism at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. Acts of hate like this have no place in Greater Philadelphia or anywhere in the nation. We are grateful to law enforcement for their swift response and coordination, and we are committed to supporting the Weitzman as it moves through this painful moment. Full statement.

— August 26, 2025 Read the full post

No synagogue should ever be vandalized. Antisemitism is a global threat, and this incident in Chile is the latest reminder. Authorities must investigate, prevent, and deter these crimes. We stand resolute with our partners @comjudiachile. Read more.

— August 24, 2025 Read the full post

See more from ADL’s Incident Tracker.