SEC condemns antisemitic message projected on stadium during Georgia-Florida football game

The Southeastern Convention (SEC) condemned an antisemitic message that was projected onto the outside of TIAA Financial institution Discipline in Jacksonville, Florida, through the Georgia-Florida school soccer recreation on Saturday.

Why it issues: The antisemitic message authorised of Ye, the artist previously referred to as Kanye West, and his current hateful feedback in opposition to Jewish folks, in line with WJXT, a Jacksonville-based CNN-affiliate tv station.

• Extra antisemitic messages that additionally authorised of Ye’s feedback had been seen all through the town, together with above the Arlington Expressway and projected on the Wells Fargo Middle and an apartment building.
• Antisemitic incidents have been on the rise within the U.S., hitting an all-time excessive in 2021, the Anti-Defamation League stated earlier this 12 months.

What they’re saying: “We strongly condemn the antisemitic hate speech projected outdoors TIAA Financial institution Discipline in Jacksonville after the Florida-Georgia soccer recreation Saturday night time and the opposite antisemitic messages which have appeared in Jacksonville,” the College of Florida and the College of Georgia stated in an announcement with the SEC.

• “The College of Florida and the College of Georgia collectively denounce these and all acts of antisemitism and different types of hatred and intolerance. We’re proud to be residence to sturdy and thriving Jewish communities at UGA and UF and we stand collectively in opposition to hate,” they added.
• “I’m actually distressed on all this antisemitic rhetoric round Florida-Georgia. It is hurtful. And I imply, it is not the Jacksonville I do know and love and all of us must work collectively to utterly put an finish to it. So let’s cease it,” Shahid Khan — proprietor of the Jacksonville Jaguars, whose residence facility is TIAA Financial institution Discipline — stated, in line with WJXT.

The massive image: Rep. John Rutherford (R), whose district encompasses most of Jacksonville, condemned the messages, as did Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry (R).

• “These things is disgusting to me. I’ve by no means understood it, and it is disgusting to me,” Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) stated Sunday. “It is improper. We’ve got to push again in opposition to it.”
• A banner with a similar message additionally referencing Ye’s feedback was hung from an overpass above a busy Los Angeles freeway earlier this month by a hate group.

Go deeper: The organizations which have dropped Ye after antisemitic remarks