New York, NY, March 3, 2004 ... The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has written to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences to voice outrage over the recognition of Leni Riefenstahl in the "In Memoriam" scroll during the Oscar presentations. 

Riefenstahl was the infamous Nazi propaganda filmmaker who made her mark extolling Hitler's ideas in "Triumph of the Will." 

In a letter to Frank R. Pierson, President of the Academy, ADL called on the Academy to apologize to its viewers, including Holocaust survivors and World War II veterans who witnessed the Nazi atrocities firsthand.

"We, along with scores of viewers who contacted us, were outraged and offended by the Academy's recognition of Leni Riefenstahl in the "In Memoriam" scroll during the Oscar presentations," said the letter from Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director and a Holocaust survivor.  "Certainly the Academy must know that Ms. Riefenstahl made her mark as the propaganda filmmaker to Hitler, extolling his ideas in 'Triumph of the Will.'

"What could you have been thinking? We believe the Academy owes an apology to all its viewers and veterans who witnessed the Nazi atrocities firsthand."