In the aftermath of the protests and rallies against racism across the country, activists have broadened their message, resulting in a new wave of anti-Semitic actions and statements.
American Jews have always been at the forefront of the fight against racism. They helped start the NAACP, and Jews such as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel marched alongside the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement. Jews accounted for half of the young people who participated in the Mississippi Freedom Summer in 1964. And two young Jews, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, lost their lives for their beliefs in 1964, when they were murdered in Mississippi alongside James Chaney by members of the Ku Klux Klan.
Young and older Jews joined other Americans in marches against racism last month across the country. While the spontaneous marches came under the slogan “Black Lives Matter” some Jews found they could not support the marches because of the history of the organization. Many Jews still remember that in 2016, an alliance of groups affiliated with Black Lives Matter accused Israel of perpetrating genocide against the Palestinians. The alliance also labeled Israel an “apartheid state.”
Black Lives Matter has since pulled that language from its website, but in recent weeks, members of the movement have made openly anti-Semitic remarks. While the marches have been mostly peaceful, the Jewish neighborhood of Fairfax in Los Angeles was targeted by looters, and a Fairfax synagogue was vandalized with graffiti that read “free Palestine” and “f— Israel.”
Earlier this week, MTV’s Nick Cannon was fired after he shared anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and comments on a June 30 episode of his podcast. Also, in recent weeks, the NFL’s DeSean Jackson posted several anti-Semitic messages on social media, and former NBA player Stephen Jackson chimed in and accused the Rothschild family of owning all the banks. And, on July 1, protesters at a demonstration in Washington linked Black Lives Matter and the Palestinian cause. They chanted: “Israel, we know you, you murder children, too.”
Leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement need to denounce these attacks. As the country continues its conversation on race, civil discourse should rule the day. We must work together to make our country more tolerant and in that process, we cannot allow anti-Semitism to become an accepted item on the agenda.
7 Responses
By the way BLM has not removed its anti Semitic platform They merely transferred it to another name Movement for Black Lives// their website still carries this anti Zionist anti Semitic platform
Carol Denbo. Thanks for your very important comment. I was a Jewish Teenager (President of my Nfty Chapter) in the 60’s who marched with Dr. King along with other Jewish teens. I was extremely involved in the Civil Rights movement. BLM is NOTHING like Dr. King’s Civil Rights movement. I cringe whenever I see or hear Dr. Martin Luther King’s name mentioned in connection with the Anti-Zionist Anti-Semitic BLM. I highly respect Mort Klein of the ZOA for not being afraid to speak up in defence of Jews everywhere. It saddens me to see so many other Jewish Organizations blindly jump onboard to give support to such a group that encourages divisiveness and hate. Thank you for the editorial article. It was very well done.
I agree100%
So many dumb people
I would like to share this. Can you put this article in your FB page?
Unfortunately Jews can be their worst enemy ,especially liberal self effacing Jews
This is very bad for true cause of African Americans
Jewish citizebs are known to be helpful to their cause
and hearing this makes me feel that unless true citizens come out and focus on the cause they will loose their cause
Possibly they are far and few but than those groups of people should be asked to restrain and get educated – who is helping them and work as team
Your forgot Harry H. Wachel who happens to be my great uncle.