They call us Commie Jew haters
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 28 September 2016 13:45
- Written by editor
There’s a coordinated attack against Palestinian human rights organizers growing, throwing the nastiest mud they can: accusing us of antisemitism.
This is a real poster, used by our opponents. This is what we are up against -- stand with us and fight back.
. CHIP IN . . .They’re calling us “Jew haters."
It’s disgusting, and not a little scary. But it’s not fringe or random, or even rare.
There’s a coordinated attack against Palestinian human rights organizers growing, throwing the nastiest mud they can: accusing us of antisemitism.
Our opponents are creating new organizations like the Maccabee Taskforce just to torpedo our nonviolent social movements for change in the US and Israel/Palestine. And their main talking point (maybe their only one) is that standing up for Palestinian human rights is antisemitic.
Muslims and people of color are being hit the hardest with these hateful accusations. But it's a mistake to think they don't affect us all -- including those of us who are Jewish. And at JVP we have a special role to play in fighting back, and big plans to change the racist status quo in Israel/Palestine.
But as things stand, we can’t truly take on the pro-occupation lobby. To do that, we need to grow.
Which is why I’m worried. Because we still have $15,000 left to raise in our $75,000, dollar-for-dollar match by Friday.
Can you help us over the finish line, Mic? Click here to give $18 -- instantly doubled to $36.
All this is happening while white supremacists, emboldened by far-right politicians and referendums, are bringing their hate out onto the streets. They’re combining racism, xenophobia, and antisemitism into a deplorable political movement crawling ever-closer to the mainstream.
I’m still waiting for the Maccabee Taskforce and their pro-occupation friends to condemn these hateful bigots. Instead, they’re trying to attack student organizers (many of them Jewish) just for speaking up for Palestine.
So we’re fighting back. We’re defending Palestinian human rights organizers from these slanders, and taking on racism, xenophobia, and antisemitism wherever we find it. And because of our values-based organizing, growing base, and communications savvy, we can really make a difference.
That difference depends on you. Can you step up with a gift of $18?
I know why our opponents are coming after us so hard -- and it should strengthen our resolve to fight back. Jewish public opinion (just like society at large) is moving slowly but steadily to recognize that a commitment to human rights has to include Palestinians.
What I know as an organizer is that this means we’re headed into a historic fight. In fact, we’re already in it. But we can’t win this fight without more resources.
What needs to happen now is bigger than any specific campaign, talking point, region, organization, or community. What we need is to nothing less than fundamentally shift the conversation -- and we can’t do that if we keep letting Palestinian rights get pushed out to the margins.
It’s a tall order. But I also know that the only way to make change happen is one step at a time.
Take that step. Click here to give with an $18 gift today -- instantly doubled to $36.
Onwards,
Stefanie
Stefanie Fox
Deputy Director
Jewish Voice for Peace is a national membership organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for the freedom, equality, and dignity of all the people of Israel and Palestine. Become a JVP Member today.
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