SEC, Florida, Georgia respond to antisemitic message in Jacksonville

SEC, Florida, Georgia respond to antisemitic message in Jacksonville

The SEC, Florida and Georgia all released statements Sunday morning condemning antisemitic signs on TIAA Bank Field and other areas of Jacksonville, Fla. around Saturday night’s game between the Gators and Bulldogs.

“The Southeastern Conference joins the University of Georgia and the University of Florida in condemning the antisemitic hate speech projected outside TIAA Bank Field and other antisemitic hate speech in Jacksonville on Saturday. We take pride in the diversity of our campus communities and join the Universities of Georgia and Florida as we stand against hate.”

A message reading “Kanye was right about the Jews” was projected onto the back of a scoreboard at TIAA Bank Field after the game, in reference to musician Kanye West’s recent antisemitic and threatening comments on social media. The same message was projected onto the 11 East Forsyth historic structure in downtown Jacksonville on Saturday.

“We strongly condemn the anti-Semitic [sic] hate speech projected outside TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville after the Florida-Georgia football game Saturday night and the other anti-Semitic messages that have appeared in Jacksonville,” the statement read. “The University of Florida and the University of Georgia together denounce these and all acts of anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred and intolerance. We are proud to be home to strong and thriving Jewish communities at UGA and UF, and we stand together against hate.”

Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.