Alarming Number of Americans Justify Violence – Majority Still Largely Rejects Antisemitism
In the wake of the recent spate of violent incidents against Jewish Americans, the ADL Center for Antisemitism Research conducted a survey to assess the national mood toward antisemitism. The findings paint a complex portrait: most Americans strongly oppose antisemitism and want to see action taken against it, and yet many harbor extreme anti-Jewish views—including some who justify or excuse violence against Jews. Key findings include:
While almost 87% of adults would not want to work with someone who celebrated the attacks, 24% find the violence understandable, with 13% saying the attackers were justified.
68% of Americans believe phrases like “globalize the intifada” and “from the river to the sea” increase the risk of violence against Jews. Even among those who view Pro-Palestinian protests favorably, 54% believe those phrases increase the risk of violence against Jews.
Majorities of both Democrats (67%) and Republicans (58%) agreed that antisemitism is a serious problem. Substantial portions of both – Democrats at 25% and Republicans at 23% - also expressed concern about antisemitism within their own ranks. Indeed, 28% of Republicans and 30% of Democrats agreed with tropes such as Jews have too much influence in politics and media.
The nationally representative survey, conducted via the Ipsos Observer panel on 1000 American adults on June 10, 2025, found that a majority of Americans—across age, political leanings, and views on Israel—recognize antisemitism as a serious issue and reject violence against Jewish people. But the findings also show growing normalization of fringe views, a polarization of concern, and an increasing percentage of people who hold hateful beliefs that drive discrimination and violence against Jewish Americans.
Rising Awareness
ADL has long found that the recognition of antisemitism as a serious problem is key to reducing antisemitic attitudes and increasing support for Jewish communities. In this survey, 60% of Americans at least somewhat agreed that antisemitism is a serious problem. This recognition cuts across most groups. Majorities of both Democrats (67%) and Republicans (58%) agreed that antisemitism is a serious problem. That said, each party showed greater concern about antisemitism from the other side of the political spectrum with Republicans 3.6 times more likely to be concerned about antisemitism on the Left compared to the Right and Democrats 4.4 times more likely to be concerned about antisemitism on the Right versus the left. Still, substantial portions of both – Democrats at 25% and Republicans at 23% - also expressed concern about antisemitism within their own ranks. This suggests the existence of a robust, cross-partisan population that opposes antisemitism from wherever it comes from.
Majorities of respondents across generations also think anti-Jewish prejudice is a serious problem, though older Americans are more likely to agree with that statement. Among the Silent Generation, 80% agreed with said statement, compared to 65% of both Baby Boomers and Gen Xers. Slightly more than half of Millennials and Gen Z think anti-Jewish prejudice is a serious problem, with 52% and 55% agreement, respectively.
Though higher favorability toward Israel is associated with higher rates of agreement with the statement (74%), a significant majority of respondents who said their view of Israel is unfavorable agreed that anti-Jewish prejudice in the US is a serious problem (57%).
All of this marks a slight downward shift in concern since agreement that anti-Jewish prejudice in the U.S. is a serious problem.
In 2022, 53% of Americans agreed with this statement. In the weeks following October 7th, 2023, polled in November, 71% of Americans agreed. Currently, the number stands at 60%.
At the local level, 19% of Americans say they have seen antisemitism in their own communities, though notable differences emerge by group. Gen Z respondents, for example, were the most likely to agree that they see anti-Jewish prejudice in their community (33%), with agreement declining as age increases.20% of Millennials, 18% of Gen Xers, 10% of Baby Boomers, and 17% of the Silent Generation said the same. Similar proportions of Republicans and Democrats agreed (17% and 23%, respectively), and perceptions of antisemitism in the community seemed largely independent of favorability toward Israel: 25% of those who view Israel favorably agreed that local antisemitism is a serious issue compared to 20% of those who said they were unfavorable toward Israel.
Most Americans Reject Antisemitic Violence—But Large Minorites Rationalize It
When presented with information about three recent antisemitic attacks—including arson at Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence, a deadly shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum, and assaults and a murder at a rally supporting Israeli hostages—most Americans said the violence was wrong and unacceptable. Nearly nine out of every ten Americans (87%) said that this violence was not justified, with a similar number saying they were morally wrong (85%). More than three-quarters (77%) said that these incidents were antisemitic, and a similar majority (86%) considered these to be hate crimes.
Despite ideological or political disagreements, a vast majority of Americans reject antisemitic violence: for example, only 15% of Republicans said that the violence was justified, with a slightly fewer 11% Democrats saying the same. This gap is even narrower on agreement that these events were antisemitic, with 79% of Republicans and 77% of Democrats agreeing. Even among those who view Israel unfavorably, most rejected the recent violence. For example, 74% disagreed that the attacks were understandable—the same as those who view Israel favorably. Similarly, 87% of those who view Israel unfavorably said the violence was not justified—more than those who view Israel favorably (82%).
While the overwhelming share of Americans condemn the recent attacks, there are millions of people who excuse or endorse violence against Jews—an alarming sign of how anti-Jewish narratives are spreading. For example:
- 24% said the attacks were "understandable"
- 24% believed they were staged to gain sympathy for Israel
- 22% said the incidents were not antisemitic
- 15% said the violence was "necessary"
- 14% didn’t consider them hate crimes
- 13% said they were "justified"
Additionally, despite the overall rejections of antisemitic violence, significant numbers of Americans hold troubling beliefs about Jews:
- 34% believe American Jews are more loyal to Israel than to the U.S.
- 30% say Jews have too much influence in politics and media
- 27% believe Jews in America should answer for the actions of Israel
38% believe attacks against Jews would stop if Israel declared a ceasefire
These beliefs are especially dangerous because they justify holding Jewish Americans responsible for the actions of the State of Israel, effectively viewing them as collectively responsible for international politics—making them greater targets.
The picture is even starker when examined by age. Americans under 45 at least somewhat agree that Jewish Americans need to answer for the actions of the State of Israel at nearly double the rate of older Americans. Indeed, approximately 1 out of 3 Gen Z and Millennials compared to 1 out of 5 Boomer and Silents agree with this statement.
Importantly, even among those who saw the attacks as justified, 69% said they’d be uncomfortable if a friend or family member celebrated them, suggesting that despite the presence of troubling views toward the violence, social norms against such violence are strong.
Significant Concern about Protests and Protest Language
Protests around the Israel-Hamas war have been regular occurrences throughout the United States since October 7, 2023. Overall, nearly one-third (29%) of Americans view pro-Palestinian protesters favorably. However, there is significant political polarization in views toward the protest movement across groups—only 15% of Republicans hold favorable views, versus 45% of Democrats. Generational differences are even starker, with a striking 59% of Gen Z holding favorable views. Again, favorability decreases sharply with age, with only 29% of Millennials, 22% of Gen Xers, 16% of Baby Boomers, and 27% of the Silent Generation saying they view pro-Palestinian protesters favorably.
Americans are increasingly aware that some protest language, even if they may not view it as antisemitic per se, can carry anti-Jewish meanings and raise serious safety concerns. For example:
- 58% believe that when protesters use the term "Zionist," they mean Jewish people in general; while 42% disagree.
- 68% said slogans like “Globalize the Intifada” or “From the River to the Sea” increase the risk of violence against Jews; while only 32% disagree
- 58% think protesters should avoid phrases that attackers have used such as “Free Palestine;” while only 41% disagree.
Even among those who view the protest movement favorably, many acknowledge the risks:
- 54% agreed that such slogans increase violence risk
- 41% said protesters should avoid using this rhetoric
Regardless of views of the rhetoric used at these protests, a significant majority (69%) said demonstrators should denounce antisemitic violence, even while there is substantial confusion about key terms. 34% say they don’t know what “anti-Zionism” means, with some people taking it to mean opposition to Israel’s actions (27%), existence (36%), or Jewish residency in Israel (26%).
Public Supports Action Against Antisemitism
Despite differences in their views on some issues, most Americans clearly support meaningful action against anti-Jewish prejudice and violence.
- 82% support removing online hate speech that celebrates violence
- 77% want the government to do more to address antisemitism
- 74% support holding colleges accountable for anti-Israel harassment
- 64% support security funding for houses of worship
- 87% say they wouldn’t want to work with someone who celebrates attacks on Jews
Support for meaningful action is also largely bipartisan.
- 74% of Republicans and 81% of Democrats want more government action to combat antisemitism
- 64% of Republicans and 65% of Democrats support security funding for houses of worship
- 80% of Republicans and 86% of Democrats support removing online hate speech celebrating violence
- 89% of Republicans and 87% of Democrats would not want to work with someone who celebrated the attacks
This support holds even among those critical of Israel. For example, among those with unfavorable views of Israel:
- 78% support removing online hate speech
- 72% support government action
- 60% support increased synagogue security.
- 53% support addressing anti-Israel harassment as a form of antisemitism under conduct codes on college campuses
Conclusion
Most Americans reject antisemitism and want to take meaningful steps to stop it, but millions still hold extreme or conspiratorial beliefs—including some who justify violence against Jews.
These findings clearly underline strong bipartisan support for a range of federal, state and local interventions, even for one’s own political party. They also reveal a no longer latent and indeed troubling normalization of anti-Jewish attitudes. Together, these findings reveal a window of opportunity – where support is currently strong even if the trajectories are cause for concern.
Methodology
This survey was fielded among a nationally representative sample of 1000 Americans on June 10, 2025, via the Ipsos Observer Omnibus, a non-probability panel. Weights were applied to ensure that the sample matched proportions of key demographic groups among the broader population. ADL designed the survey questionnaire, which can be found here. Tables with weighted frequencies of key variables can be found here.