The Anti-Defamation League has slammed the US Olympic shooting organization for partnering with a firearms auction website that hosts sales of Holocaust memorabilia, according to a report.
“These are symbols of hate in the worst possible way and in a society that has seen such an amazing uptick in anti-Semitism, companies need to do everything in their power to dial that down,” Evan Bernstein, the ADL’s New York regional director, told WNBC.
“This site and those kind of products are ratcheting it up,” he added, referring to Gunbroker.com, which bills itself as “the world’s largest online auction site for firearms and hunting/shooting accessories.”
The TV station’s investigative team has reported for two years about Gunbroker.com’s policy of allowing people to peddle Nazi relics and even anti-Semitic literature.
Among the items for sale this week on the site was a replica canister of Zyklon B, a cyanide-based gas used to kill Jews during the Holocaust, according the WNBC.
Another item from the Nazi era was a concentration camp prisoner uniform billed as “all original and in good used condition” for $75,000, as well as a book titled “Holocaust Hoax Exposed,” according to the report.
Those items appeared to have been removed from the site, but numerous Nazi-era items were listed as of Wednesday, including a swastika-adorned uniform and officer’s cap for $4,500.
Also listed with a starting bid of $2,900 was a “last ditch” bolt-action Mauser K98 rifle, which the seller said was most desirable because “it was put together at Gusen – Mauthausen concentration camp by slave labor – prisoners.”
On Sept. 27, the USA Shooting Team said in a press release that the Olympic team — which is officially backed by the US Olympic Committee, “is partnering with Gunbroker.com and the nation’s gun manufacturers to support America’s shooting team” with a series of fundraising gun auctions.
“I don’t see how it doesn’t promote hate to sell the kind of items in the way they’re selling it with the kind of narrative that’s associated with it,” Bernstein told WNBC.
“Doing business in this way is only making our society a worse place,” he added.
In a statement, USA Shooting said: “Our relationship with Gunbroker in no way signifies our approval of these items, just as we don’t approve of every item or the editorial on the websites and social media platforms that we use to promote our sport.
“We use Gunbroker.com with a very specific purpose of hosting auctions of donated firearms to raise money for our team and athletes. That is the current partnership arrangement.”
The US Olympic Committee assailed the shooting team’s decision to stick with the auction site.
“Paraphernalia that celebrates hatred should be rejected in every form,” USOC rep Patrick Sandusky told the station. “We encourage all members of the movement to demonstrate the Olympic values every day and we are discouraged by this action.”
Despite his condemnation, Sandusky declined to say if he would seek to take action against USA Shooting or to de-certify the team.
Gunbroker.com did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Post.
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