Update: The Columbus police officer responsible for the videos resigned from the police force effective September 22, 2007.

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Cleveland, Ohio, August 28, 2007 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today condemned racist and anti-Semitic videos allegedly produced and posted to the Web site of an off-duty police officer from Columbus, Ohio.  The videos, posted to a site allegedly created by Columbus Police Officer Susan Purtee and her sister, Barbara Gordon-Bell of Florida, contain virulently racist and anti-Semitic expressions.

"We were deeply disturbed by the message of these videos, which is anti-Semitism, racism and hate," said Shari Kochman, ADL's Ohio Regional Director.  "It is frightening that such hateful views would be held by a member of the Columbus force.  We commend both Mayor Michael Coleman for acknowledging this as unacceptable conduct for a police officer and the Chief of Police for ordering an administrative investigation into the matter."

With titles such as "The Jews," "Ebonics" and "Cubans, Miami's Vice," the videos contain statements from the two women alleging that Jews backed busing, desegregation and civil rights so that they would have opportunities to make money.

In one video, titled "The Jew," a woman identified as Purtee is shown telling viewers that "as long as you're a Jew, you still have that feeling that everybody else is beneath you…the purpose of the Old Testament was to say that Jews are going to be the rulers of the world."  During the video, Gordon-Bell holds up a sign that says, "JEWS ARE THE PROBLEM."

In the video "The Jews, Part II," the women say that Jews are destroying America.  Other videos featuring the women contain racist and stereotypical remarks about African-Americans.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.