Hate Rallies: Recalibrate to Fight Hate
Since October 7th, it feels like the world has shifted. Antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiments aren’t new, but lately, they feel more visible, more empowered, and more organized. It’s as if these dark ideologies, which may have always been under the surface, are now spilling into our streets and our screens with alarming frequency. Two recent experiences brought this starkly to life for me, leaving me feeling both sickened and deeply aware of the urgent need for new approaches to combat this surge in hate.
Tonight, while grabbing pizza in downtown White Plains, NY, I drove past a large Palestinian flag held high in the city square. Curious, I stopped to see what was happening and found a group promoting BDS, each one wearing signs and radiating a sense of purpose. These were young adults, standing in the cold on a Saturday night at 9 p.m., seemingly intent on stirring division and anger. They were organized and unafraid, looking ready to engage with anyone who might challenge them. I overheard one person, with an accent, say ominously, “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Those words hit me. What’s next for them? What are they planning? How have they mastered this level of mobilization, and how are we supposed to counter it?
A few weeks earlier, I had a similar encounter that made the problem impossible to ignore. I was on my way to a Rangers game in Manhattan, excited for a night at Madison Square Garden after too long away from hockey. As I walked by Macy’s, though, I suddenly found myself in the middle of a large demonstration. Hundreds of people were chanting “Intifada,” waving signs that read “From the river to the sea,” and praising groups like Hezbollah. A woman, directing the crowd with a megaphone, shouted, “We are highly organized. Follow the group leader to 42nd Street.” Hearing her say this out loud, I realized just how methodical and efficient they were at spreading their message. This experience shook me—it was surreal to witness firsthand how structured and strategic these hate-driven protests have become.
These moments underscored for me that we need a new mindset to counter this growing wave of hostility. We need to be just as organized, if not more so. Our communities have counter-protest tactics, but it’s clear we need a more comprehensive, real-time response system that lets us report, organize, and mobilize quickly and effectively. Community organizing and technology can make a powerful difference. Imagine if we had an app—a kind of alert signal—where people could rally support across communities whenever a protest promoting hate is happening. We’d have a way to mobilize quickly, bringing together leaders with empowering signs, messages, and voices to promote understanding and unity.
The last time we saw this kind of unified grassroots response was during the Soviet Jewry movement. We need to rekindle that spirit because if we don’t, we’ll continue to feel powerless in the face of this organized hatred. By tapping into the energy of those who want to stand up and do something, we can bring real, lasting change. We can begin fighting back in a coordinated, powerful way that refuses to allow hate to overshadow hope.