Here’s why you’re seeing those JewBelong billboards around Kansas City | Opinion

If you’ve driven through Kansas City lately, you may have seen our bright pink billboards asking a question that often stops people in their tracks: “Can a billboard end antisemitism? No. But you’re not a billboard.”

Antisemitism is on the rise in America — in classrooms, on social media, at protests, in the halls of government, and yes, even in the media. For years, the Jewish community has heard about increasing antisemitic incidents in the United States, but statistics can feel abstract, even hollow. Since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas launched the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust, antisemitism has become the fastest-growing form of hate in the United States. That rising hate is now affecting how Jews dress, whether we tuck in a Jewish star, whether we mention our identity in a job interview or at a party, and often, whether we feel safe.

The Jewish community makes up just 2% of the U.S. population. So no, we can’t fight antisemitism alone. That’s why we’re bringing our message outside the Jewish echo chamber, to your city. According to a 2021 study by Brandeis University, there are approximately 22,100 Jewish individuals in Greater Kansas City. That’s less than 1% of your population. No well-meaning city or neighborhood is immune, even when the Jewish population is small.

The tricky part is that antisemitism isn’t always obvious. Sure, sometimes it’s a swastika graffitied on a synagogue. More often, it’s a quiet stereotype, a hateful comment disguised as a joke or misinformation that spreads online. It creeps in when someone tells a Jewish coworker they’re “good with money” and thinks it’s a compliment. Or when a college classmate blames Zionists for the world’s problems. It shows up when a neighbor thinks or says, “This isn’t my issue,” or when a school shrugs off teaching students about antisemitism in the curriculum.

Hate doesn’t stay in neat little boxes. It hurts everyone. Hate often starts with the Jews, but it rarely ends there. History shows us what happens when good people stay silent.

This week, Jewish families around the world are celebrating Passover, a holiday that tells the story of our people’s journey from slavery to freedom. It’s a reminder that the fight for freedom and safety isn’t over. The fact that an arsonist targeted the home of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, an openly observant Jew, on the night he and his family were celebrating Passover makes that painfully clear.

You don’t need to be an expert on Jewish history or the Middle East to help. Being an ally can mean asking a school to include Jewish history, reporting hate online, or challenging a stereotype at the dinner table. These small acts matter. We need allies in this fight to stay safe and be treated fairly. We need people of all backgrounds, faiths and communities to say, “Enough.” Our billboard campaign is an invitation to start. Fighting antisemitism is not just a Jewish cause; it’s an American cause.

We know billboards won’t solve antisemitism. But they start conversations. They grab attention, make people think, and push the issue out of the shadows. When you see a billboard that says, “Standing against antisemitism is standing with America,” we hope you’ll stand with us.