The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has denied press credentials to Breitbart News’ Adelle Nazarian, who was assigned to cover the ADL’s “Summit on Anti-Semitism” at the Grand Hyatt in New York City on Thursday, November 17.
(Update: The ADL reversed its decision and granted Breitbart News credentials on Wednesday evening.)
Nazarian, who is Jewish, has covered antisemitism extensively in her assignments for Breitbart News, focusing on the recent wave of antisemitic incidents on college campuses across California.
In July, for example, Nazarian wrote an article titled, “Alarming Spike in Campus Antisemitism Linked to Hatred for Israel.”
Nazarian has also covered antisemitism more generally. Last September, in an article titled “Fighting Islamicisation and Antisemitism in America,” she wrote about the risks of anti-Jewish prejudice entering school curricula through textbooks.
In addition, Nazarian has also written about antisemitism and extremism abroad, and has traveled internationally to cover foreign affairs issues involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
Most recently, Nazarian covered the 2016 presidential campaign, traveling with the international press corps following Vice President-elect Mike Pence.
Nevertheless, the ADL denied credentials to Nazarian — a Jewish journalist with sterling credentials — for no apparent reason.
Nazarian provided the following correspondence with the ADL (email addresses redacted):
From:
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2016 12:15pm
To:
Subject: Media Credentials for Breitbart NewsDear Mr. Gutnick,
I am trying one last time to get credentials to this event.
I understand you said over the phone that we would not be allowed to attend tomorrow’s summit on anti-Semitism. However, I am writing to you to confirm that we would still like to attend. I also asked for an interview with Mr. Jonathan Greenblatt. You said no.
This is a further request.
Will you provide credentials to Breitbart News for tomorrow’s event?
Thank you,
Adelle Nazarian
Breitbart News
On Sunday, the ADL released a statement in response to the appointment of Breitbart News Executive Chairman Stephen K. Bannon to a key advisory position by President-elect Donald J. Trump. The statement reads, in part:
“It is a sad day when a man who presided over the premier website of the Alt Right, a loose-knit group of white nationalists and unabashed anti-Semites and racists – is slated to be a senior staff member in the ‘people’s house,’ said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “We call on President-elect Trump to appoint and nominate Americans committed to the well-being of all our country’s people and who exemplify the values of pluralism and tolerance that makes our country great.”
Breitbart News is not “the premier website of the Alt Right,” nor does it include “white nationalists and unabashed anti-Semites and racists.”
Joel B. Pollak, Senior Editor-at-Large and In-House Counsel for Breitbart News, who also holds a degree in Jewish Studies, called the ADL’s statement “defamatory, partisan, and contrary to the organization’s mission.”
He added: “The fight against real bigotry is undermined by false accusations.”
***Update***
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt says Nazarian was barred from Thursday’s event in “error” and that she has been credentialed.
.@AdelleNaz Hey, just heard abt this. Someone made an error. Look fwd to seeing u in AM; your credential will be waiting. Hope we can meet
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) November 17, 2016
Shortly after Greenblatt’s tweet, the ADL’s media person responded to Nazarian’s email. He wrote, “Adelle,
Sorry for the delay. Your credentials have been granted. See you tomorrow.”
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