The Austrian No Hate Speech Committee is calling for a nationwide day of action against anti-Semitic hate speech on May 5, 2021. The "Stop Anti-Semitism" day of action takes place on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance against Violence and Racism in memory of the victims of National Socialism on May 5 and is understood as a contribution to the Action Days Political Education 2021.
On this day, the members of the No Hate Speech Committee set a sign against anti-Semitic hate speech with digital actions under the hashtags #Gedenktag5Mai as well as #StopAntisemitismus and invite broad participation.
Anti-Semitism has risen in Austria in the past year. This is also related to the virulent rise of conspiracy myths, which go hand in hand with anti-Semitic attitudes.
No Hate Speech Committee
Anti-Semitic hate speech and racism against Jews are reported by members of the No Hate Speech Committee, and the anti-Semitism report published in April 2021 by the Israelitische Kultusgemeinde reporting office also records a negative record of 585 anti-Semitic incidents in 2020.
The figures of the anti-Semitism study conducted in December 2020 on behalf of the Austrian Parliament also show that many anti-Semitic stereotypes are still strongly prevalent. According to the study conducted by the Institute for Empirical Social Research IFES, one million people in Austria have a penchant for conspiracy myths. Among this group, anti-Semitic attitudes are significantly higher. The committee takes this worrying development as an opportunity to call for action against anti-Semitic hate speech.
Because hate speech is a danger to democracy. The aim is to show solidarity, strengthen human rights education and remembrance culture, and raise awareness of anti-Semitic hate speech.
No Hate Speech Committee
The National Council resolution of November 11, 1997 on the Day of Remembrance against Violence and Racism in Memory of the Victims of National Socialism also refers to the need to awaken and strengthen sensitivity to the various forms of violence. The No Hate Speech Committee is focusing on anti-Semitic hate postings and conspiracy narratives as part of the Day of Remembrance, in line with the National Strategy against Anti-Semitism recently adopted by the National Council.
The Austrian No Hate Speech Committee aims to raise awareness of the issue of hate speech online and to address causes and contexts in order to counteract the acceptance of hate speech and to fight racism, sexism and discrimination online.
