The National Association of Jewish Legislators (NAJL) unequivocally condemns the recent publication of the Mapping Project, an interactive map created by an anonymous organization associated with the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The map, which draws a literal web suggesting a conspiracy between 400+ Jewish and non-Jewish organizations, media outlets, and others, was curated with the express purpose of “dismantling” Boston’s Jewish community and its institutions. The release of such an item has stoked fear throughout the Boston Jewish community and put other Jewish communities on high alert. At a time when antisemitic incidents have reached historic highs, according to Anti-Defamation League data, this mapping effort must be recognized for the dangerous antisemitic act it is.
As an organization representing Jewish state legislators across the United States, we are gravely concerned that this map will incentivize the creation of similar “Mapping Projects” across the country. Additionally, we are apprehensive that the information released through the Mapping Project, and other potential maps like it, may be weaponized and used by fringe hate groups and others to vilify and attack innocent civilians. While the project largely called out Jewish institutions, it focused on other non-Jewish institutions as well.
NAJL is working with key stakeholders and lawmakers across the state of Massachusetts to address the publication of this map and potential ramifications. In addition, we urge our colleagues on the state and federal levels to take effective action, to ensure that the Jewish people, its institutions, and schools are not targeted in New England or elsewhere in the United States. Antisemitism and the targeting of Jews on the basis of millenia-old antisemitic themes of power and control has no place here, or anywhere.