It's been almost 80 years since World War II ended, but antisemitism is still as alive and ugly as ever, unfortunately. It has even erupted at the Paris Olympics, a celebration not only of the world's most elite athletes but also supposedly tolerance and inclusion.
On Saturday, during the Israeli men’s soccer team match against Paraguay, a group of antisemitic protesters holding Palestinian flags spewed hateful rhetoric, booed and chanted revolting slogans toward Israel's team.
Pro-Palestinian protesters shout Nazi slogan
The protesters held a sign that read "Genocide Olympics." As Israel's national anthem played before the game, protesters screamed "Heil Hitler" while doing a Nazi salute.
The brazen group was eventually kicked out of the stadium. French authorities have launched an investigation into what happened Saturday.
In a statement, Paris 2024 said it "is committed to combating all forms of discrimination, which are in every way contrary to the Olympic and Paralympic values. We would like to remind everyone that the Games are a time for harmony and tolerance."
It's good to know that French authorities are taking this incident seriously, but it's disappointing − maddening even − to see that it happened in the first place.
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Why is there an emphasis on "harmony and tolerance" only after a blatant display of hatred of Jews? Why does the Olympic organizers' statement mention "combating all forms of discrimination" when this incident was clearly a demonstration of bigotry against Jews?
Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime murdered more than 70,000 Jews living in France during World War II. In total, Nazis murdered approximately 6 million Jews.
Antisemitism surges after Oct. 7 attack
On Oct. 7, Hamas brutally attacked Israel, killing more than 1,200 people. Yet since that horrible day last fall, antisemitism has grown in the United States and around the world. Or, at least, people are more open about their hatred of Jews.
It has been stunning and disheartening to see the number of antisemitic protests that have occurred since Oct. 7. There is no place for bigotry toward Jewish people, and antisemites should hear that message loudly and consistently. As a global community intent on peace, we should communicate to antisemites that their hatred will not be tolerated.
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The Olympic Games, the same Games where in 1936 in Nazi Germany a Black American, Jesse Owens, won four gold medals, should have a zero tolerance policy for antisemitism. Hate groups intent on testing that value should know it's taken seriously.
It's time to end the soft, tolerant approach toward antisemitism. It must be explicitly condemned, so that the horrors that occurred in France and across Europe eight decades ago never happen again anywhere.
Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.