Florida and Georgia condemn antisemitic message projected onto TIAA Bank Field exterior after game

Florida and Georgia issued a joint statement on Sunday morning condemning an antisemitic message that was projected onto the exterior of TIAA Bank Field after the Bulldogs’ 42-20 win over the Gators.

The message positively referenced Kanye West’s antisemitic remarks earlier this month. The statement from the school not only denounced what was projected onto the stadium but “other antisemitic messages” in the city of Jacksonville.

“We strongly condemn the antisemitic hate speech projected outside TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville after the Florida-Georgia football game Saturday night and the other antisemitic messages that have appeared in Jacksonville," the schools said in a statement. "The University of Florida and the University of Georgia together denounce these and all acts of antisemitism 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.”

The SEC also issued a statement about the message.

The statements from the schools and the conference come less than a day after the NBA denounced antisemitism after a tweet from Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving promoting an antisemitic movie. West’s Twitter account was restricted and his antisemitic tweet was removed by the social media platform earlier this month.

Florida and Georgia have played each other in Jacksonville in all but two years since 1933 and there has been open discussion about moving the game from the neutral site for months, long before what happened on Saturday. Georgia coach Kirby Smart has been outspoken about having the game played at the teams’ home stadiums going forward.

The teams’ contract with the city of Jacksonville runs through 2023 with an option for two more seasons.