ADL Releases New Tools to Support States, Municipalities and Voters in Countering Potential Election-Motivated Extremism

HOUSTON (October 22, 2020) – ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) has released a pair of new tools to support states, municipalities and voters in countering potential election-motivated extremism. The goal of these new tools is to ensure governments and law enforcement are prepared for possible incidents and voters can feel safe and secure going to the polls and afterwards.

“With so much at stake in this election, we cannot allow extremist groups to sow division and chaos before, on and after Election Day. There is no cause for panic, but there is cause for concern,” said Mark B. Toubin, ADL Southwest Regional Director. “These tools are designed to help state and local governments understand the threat of violent extremism and give voters a tool through which they can report any potential election-related hate crimes or disruptions involving extremists.”

State and Municipal Toolkit to Counter Election-Motivated Extremism

ADL’s guide “Countering Election-Motivated Violent Extremism in 2020 and Beyond” was developed in response to concerns from public officials about the potential for extremist groups to exploit the 2020 election should there be a contested election or narrow victory by either presidential candidate. The guide provides state and local governments with practical tools and concepts to help them prepare strategies to identify, prevent and counter violent extremism associated with the election.

While ADL is not aware of any immediate threats of extremist violence, the guide notes that “the potential for violent conflict associated with the election is high, both during voting and in the weeks and months following Election Day.” ADL’s network of 25 regional offices across the country is distributing it to governors, local mayors, local law enforcement administrators, state attorneys general and nonprofit coalition partners, among others.

The guide identifies potential threats from various violence prone extremist groups, including Proud Boys, Patriot Prayer, white supremacists and anti-government militias on the far right; and Antifa, anarchists and other groups on the far left.

First and foremost, ADL urges state and local leaders to use their bully pulpits to convey trust and legitimacy and emphasize that violence will not be tolerated. ADL is working with leaders nationwide to help tackle these challenges and is proud to be a critical source of information for state and local leaders tackling these challenges.

Some of the Top 7 recommendations for city and state leaders include:

Prioritizing criminal justice sector efforts to address violent extremism, and consider raising that priority between November 2020 and February 2021;
Increasing coordination and information sharing among local law enforcement and state agencies, which could include forming a task force to prevent and counter violent extremism;
Investing in community level resources to off-ramp individuals before they choose a violent path;
Diverting proximity of protests and counter-protests; and
Understand and be prepared to utilize relevant state and local laws to prevent conditions that can lead to violence and prosecute acts of violent extremism.

Reporting Election-Related Extremist Activities

In response to growing concerns that extremists could attempt to interfere at the polls in the next few weeks as Americans cast their ballots, ADL has established a new online incident reporting tool that enables voters to flag any potential hate crimes or disruptions involving extremists.

In addition to an online reporting form where the public can report possible hate crimes or extremism-related incidents quickly and confidentially, ADL has established a text short code to provide convenient access to the reporting form. Anyone can text “hatehelp” to 51555 to receive a link and additional information on how to report extremist activity or other manifestations of hate, such as antisemitic or racist graffiti.

ADL will process any incident reported and track potential extremist activity in real time. For voting issues that are not extremist related, ADL will direct voters to contact the national, nonpartisan Election Protection coalition at 1-866-OUR-VOTE.

Additionally, ADL experts will be on standby to assess situations to determine whether there’s a need to elevate reports to law enforcement, polling officials or other government authorities. Staff in ADL’s network of 25 regional offices across the country, who have direct contacts within government, law enforcement, and local community organizations working to prevent racism and hate, will also help assess and follow up on possible threats.

ADL is a leading anti-hate organization. Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of antisemitism and bigotry, its timeless mission is to protect the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. ADL is the first call when acts of antisemitism occur. A global leader in exposing extremism, delivering anti-bias education and fighting hate online, ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate. More at www.adl.org.

Posted in Press Releases.