December 2023 had the highest number of antisemitic incidents of any month last year, the Anti-Defamation League reported. The activist group JewBelong is attempting to make sure that doesn’t repeat itself this month.
To that end, as of Dec. 9, the nonprofit organization is placing billboards on main roads near four airports in the United States: Chicago O’Hare International Airport in Illinois, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona.
They will read: “If you think turbulence is scary, try wearing a Jewish star.” They are projected to reach around 19 million travelers this holiday season.
“The Jewish community is only 2% of the entire country so we need to work extra hard to break through to the wider American public,” said JewBelong co-founder Archie Gottesman. “Since so many people head to the airport during this season, what better way to get our message out there? It is outrageous that Jewish people are scared because of senseless growing antisemitism. Good Americans know this.”
JewBelong has run nearly 800 billboards across the United States, some of which have been vandalized, reaching more than 2 billion people, according to the organization.
