Before the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany, the International Olympics Committee, aware of the rising tensions, pressured the German government and received assurances that the Nazi regime would not use the Games to promote their ideologies.
A few Jewish athletes and Jewish groups called on the United States to boycott, and while some other groups discussed the topic, ultimately, the U.S. decided to attend the Games.
The world was beginning to take notice of the Nazi regime’s human rights abuses but was still unclear on how severe their crimes would become.
As we approach the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, the international community is faced with a similar choice.
This time is different. The Chinese Communist Party’s crimes against the Uyghur people have been widely documented. Several international powers – including the U.S. – have declared their actions against the Uyghur people genocide.
That is why Jewish World Watch is a leading member of the recently formed Berlin-Beijing Coalition, an interfaith group fighting to diplomatically boycott the Beijing 2022 Olympics and to educate how the Olympics has historically been a tool to spread positive propaganda.
If you haven’t yet signed our petition calling on U.S. leaders to diplomatically boycott the games, I encourage you to do so today.