why was the adl started

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) was started in 1913 primarily to fight antisemitism and other forms of bigotry and discrimination. Its founding was directly inspired by the wrongful conviction and subsequent lynching of Leo Frank, a Jewish factory manager in Atlanta, which highlighted the dangers of antisemitism and injustice. The ADL's original mandate was to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all marginalized groups. Over time, the ADL expanded its work to include combating hate crimes, promoting Holocaust education, and advocating for civil rights more broadly, always with a focus on fighting prejudice and protecting vulnerable communities.