Protest outside the office of Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. (Photo: Bud Korotzer)
Dozens of protesters gathered outside Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig’s office in Midtown Manhattan today to ask him to intervene in the upcoming Hebron Fund fundraiser to be held at Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets, this Saturday. To make matters worse, the event benefitting the notoriously racist settler community in Hebron will be held right above a rotunda named for Jackie Robinson, the legendary Brooklyn Dodgers player who broke baseball’s segregation barrier in the 1940s. This point was made by protesters through some pretty creative chants:
To the tune of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame":
Mets, please boot the Hebron Fund,
Racism is a shame;
There’s no place for segregationists,
Jackie Rob-in-son would pump his fists
If you don’t eject the Hebron Fund,
Citi Field goes to shame.
And we’ll have to root for the Yanks,
Or a different game.
A press release from the protest organizers says that over 2,600 individuals have emailed the Mets asking them to cancel the event, and Jay Horwitz, the Vice President for Media Relations for the team, told one caller that the Mets are being "bombarded" by phone calls (keep it up).
The growing campaign against the fundraiser continues to get media attention. In addition to the story on the cable news network NY1, it has also been covered by New York Magazine and the New York Daily News. Rebecca Vilkomerson, from Jewish Voice for Peace, and Neil Strauss, a legal fellow at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, write today in in the Huffington Post:
Where do the millions of dollars raised in the United States by the Hebron Fund go? The organization does not publicize details, but it does brag in its publicity materials about its support for illegal purposes, such as "establishing facts on the ground," which is code for settling Jewish Israelis on occupied Palestinian land, or otherwise prejudicing peace negotiations by creating obstacles to Israeli withdrawal. . .
The Mets should act in the spirit of Jackie Robinson and cancel the Hebron Fund fundraiser. There is no question that if Palestinians attempted to hold an analogous fundraiser, it would have long since been shut down. We urge the US government to examine the appropriateness of US non-profits receiving tax breaks for providing funds to Israeli settlements that undermine US foreign policy and hopes for peace in the Middle East.
Protest organizer Andrew Kadi of Adalah-NY echoed this point today, “Institutions like the Mets and Major League Baseball should not allow groups like the Hebron Fund to use their facilities, and organizations like the Hebron Fund should not be given tax-exempt status as nonprofits by the US government to carry out settlement activities that contradict US foreign policy, violate international law and destroy any hope for peace in the Middle East.” Meanwhile Donna Nevel, from Jews Say No!, was a bit more blunt, "The Mets claim it is a business decision, that they are a private organization that rents out their space to a variety of groups. But they would never rent it out to white supremacists or the KKK."
{ 46 comments }
I wonder if there’s an organization honoring Jackie Robinson that might weigh in.
jackierobinson.org
I cannot refrain from commenting – Jackie Robinson of the LA Dodgers??? You’re only in your thirties, Adam, right? No wonder.
As a lifelong Mets fan, I am utterly disgusted by this. It’s indefensible. The KKK analogy is apt.
Mets fan here as well. No games for me next summer, even if they do get Roy Halladay.
This is a wonderful issue to put Palestinian rights on the front page. It is downright brilliant. BDS light perhaps, but a campaign that can possibly break out of the MSN boycott of the Palestinian rights movement. Jackie Robinson, America’s pass time placed against the Hebron settler fanatics. Think about this for a second — even Witty can’t object to this. Folks, keep up the phone calls, right now this is one great issue that should gain legs and put a light on how the WB settler movement is being bankrolled by US donors and the associated tax deductions (keep in mind for every dollar that American Zionist donate to the Hebron fund, 33 cents are being paid by the US taxpayer).
More phone calls!
Absolutely agree, syvanen. Let’s keep the phone calls going, and spread the word far and wide.
this is one great issue that should gain legs and put a light on how the WB settler movement is being bankrolled by US donors and the associated tax deductions (keep in mind for every dollar that American Zionist donate to the Hebron fund, 33 cents are being paid by the US taxpayer).
Dollars and cents is the avenue to go down in bringing these issues to light. Those numbers will stand out to every American, particularly in this economy.
Syvanen and Dan, you hit it on the head: the dough the US taxpayer is coughing up for this. It’s a palpable issue. (Just like those free clinics that Olbermann is campaigning for now. Imagine what the $15 billion we give Israel every year in direct and indirect funds could do to help the people running the free clinics. The last eight years alone was enough to fund almost 15% of the Senate health care reform bill announced today. And a DC lawyer told me rather nonchalantly a couple of years ago that if all the money we’ve given Israel since 1949 had stayed here in the bank at a modest 5-6% interest, the USA would have $6 trillion in the US Treasury.)
I wonder if this figure includes the vast cost of the Iraq war, or the cumulative damage to our economy from the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo, which was a direct response to our helping Israel during the 1973 war to retain the Arab lands that it had conquered during its 1967 attack. These two factors alone would add at least several trillion to the total.
How The Israel Lobby works in Britain:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POtk6G7q4Bw
Nov 16, 2009
Channel 4 UK:
Dispatches investigates one of the most powerful and influential political lobbies in Britain, which is working in support of the interests of the State of Israel. This film contains scenes of the aftermath of war conflicts which some may find upsetting
The above link (a 48.45min clip on YouTube) is perhaps the British equivalent of the groundbreaking Walt and Mearsheimer study of the American Israel Lobby. It names the key players and discusses how wealthy Anglo-Jews accomplish the same goals as their American compatriots: the subversion of foreign policy decisions by powerful Jewish interests.
Mr. Selig –
“Received, along with Sue Selig, the “Centennial National Human Relations Award” from the American Jewish Committee for promoting social justice and human understanding in Milwaukee, WI on November 21, 2006.
Awarded the “Recognition of Goodness Award” by the prestigious Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, an organization that provides financial support to aging non-Jews who risked their lives to save others during the Holocaust, for his extensive charitable efforts on December 8, 2003 in New York City.
Received the “Sports Torch of Learning Award” presented to outstanding leaders in the field of sports from the American Friends of Hebrew University, July 18, 2001. Created “The Allan H. and Suzanne L. Selig Merit Scholarship Fund” to the Rothberg International School at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Received the “International B’nai B’rith Sportsman of the Year Award” for his distinguished contributions to the world of sports, February 1981.
Mr. Selig is a Committee member of The Jerusalem Fund of Aish HaTorah, Aish HaTorah seeks to teach young Jews about their heritage. Everyday, Jews walk away from Judaism, the Jewish community and commitment to the Jewish state not because of what they know but because of what they don’t know. Aish HaTorah programs now being held in 80 cities representing 17 countries on five continents.
Commissioner Bud Selig, who with his wife, Sue, is a major contributor to Israeli institutions – Sue is on the Board of Trustees for the Jewish Federation…
Where do you think Mr. Selig’s sentiments lie?
As one example. The Jerusalem Fund of Aish HaTorah also helped to launch “Honest Reporting”, in 2001 which is a media watch dog agency that hounds media when they publish something that they think puts Israel in a “bad light.” They were recently brought up in the documentary on the Israel Lobby in the UK in the Dispatches report.
Aish HaTorah was also involved with the email campaign to paint Obama as a Muslim during the primary along with the Republican Jewish Coalition and ex-Israeli Ambassador to the US Danny Ayalon, now Yisrael Beitenu Knesset member under Avigdor Lieberman. See jewsonfirst.org for details. In other words, Selig is a right-wing extremist.
Also, Aish HaTorah is behind the “hit” production “Obsession,” which portrays the Muslim community as a whole as patently dangerous. It is a smear piece meant to elicit fear on the worst sort of lies, trying to show the Muslim community as a monolithic whole, over a billion people all over the world, as terrorist monsters. They say it is “targeted,” but when there is a woefully lacking plus prejudicial knowledge taught here in the first place, the only thing it does is paint the entire Muslim world with the same brush. They gave this crap away free with news paper prescriptions.
Why would anyone seek to prohibit others from peaceful assembly?
“Don’t rent to racists” would leave a large percentage of the world homeless.
Hey look, the Nazi showed up.
“Why would anyone seek to prohibit others from peaceful assembly?”
Be more vague, you piece of shit.
“”Don’t rent to racists” would leave a large percentage of the world homeless.”
The point is that these racists, carry out racist attacks and are stealing land and property. That’s the point you fucking snake.
Oh yeah Witty –
““Don’t rent to racists” would leave a large percentage of the world homeless. ”
racist in heart and mind lets say, as opposed to action. I can see it now, racists in town set fire to neighbors home – kill their children – knock dwon fences and set up homes on others property – than confer awards on each other in bizarre ritual. I can see that going over really big Witty where I live…
WITTY’S KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD
Hey Cliff,
Stop attacking Witty with the word Nazi, you idiot!
Oh, sorry! Cliff forget. Zionist Jews own the copyright on labeling people Nazis, do they, WJ?
I’m not attacking him when I call him a Nazi. Maybe when I drop the F-bomb here and there, I’m attacking him. But when I call him a Nazi – I’m just stating the obvious.
Besides what the hell would you know? You should up here months ago. I’ve been here for years, reading his pathetic and intentionally superficial (‘point-scoring’ see: World Union of Jewish Students, 2007 Hasbara Handbook: promoting Israel on Campus) arguments.
Correction
should: showed
BTW – I don’t know what’s worse. Reading what the Nazi writes, ONE time and then getting upset because he’s so full of shit and lies. Or reading it again after awhile and realizing he’s still full of shit and lies.
I mean, this statement of his is tantamount to begging the question. Tell us, Nazi, what is your intention? What are you implying when you say what you said IN CONNECTION to the topic at hand?
Are you honestly trying to whitewash the deep racism in the fanatic Jewish colonists STEALING land from another people? It’s not like they are merely academic in their racism. They are advocates and activists of racism.
It’s the ACTIONS we’re concerned about. Not that they may simply THINK that ‘the Arabs’ are animal and unworthy of ‘the Chosen peoples’ land.
I mean, the only reason a scumbag Nazi like yourself would make such a BROAD and SWEEPING generalization is to whitewash these Jewish colonists.
You’re so fucking transparent.
Oh and go fuck yourself WJ. I know Witty. You’re just on his side.
A bit blunt, Cliff… but honestly? I agree with you on all accounts.
That’s what the 1400 dead Palestinian civilians are asking now, as well. Especially the fried and barbecued babies, seared with white phosphorous, or shot in a barrel at school and on the streets eleven months ago. [The Israeli soldiers said there was no counter fire.] And the majority of American Jews cheered.
Its an effort at censorship, calling itself non-violent.
Its an ugly form of dissent.
A choice to not attempt to persuade, but only to harass.
Goebbels would have been proud of your ability to twist a fundraiser for terrorists and settlers into something noble that is being censored. Well, proud except for your… you know.
What is? This is incomprehensible; I dont understand what you’re saying. Are you responding to my comment? What’s the “its?” Who is being harassed?
Pathetic and very distasteful Witty, your mask (as ridiculous as it was) has now slipped off and has fallen to the floor, revealing what what was hiding behind your ridiculous rhetoric. This is one of my specialties Witty, it is what I am trained for, and it was just a matter of time before it took its toll. However, what is really funny is that I have not even used a smidgen of verbal ammo yet here, and I am sure this is just one in a long line of exposes that you and others like you experience here. That is why none of your “mentors” who defend this murderous process will ever go toe to toe, but where they are smart and fear to tread you bumble in as fodder stupidly trying to defend the indefensible.
Witty,
If, as others seems to understand here, you are referring to the protesters exercising their right to freedom of expression in front of Selig’s offices, then I’d suggest you reread Thoreau’s 1849 essay, The Duty of Civil Disobedience. It’s available online.
Why play the young child here, Mister Witty?
So this is how you oppose the settlement movement in Israel? By seeking to protect fundraisers that fund the colonization and ethnic cleansing project? Huh.
Its still their right to assemble.
Its reasonable to disagree. The photo on the header did not suggest an attempt at censorship or assembly. The topic heading though did.
When the left suggests “don’t assemble” or “don’t speak”, its not all that different than when the right suggests similarly.
The photo was still an offensive generalization of “the” settlers.
I’m not sure why that generalization is considered more accurate than the stupid generalization “the” Palestinians.
You are correct, Witty, just as Frank Colin had a right to assemble and march in Skokie, Illinois back in the day; and also the right to switch to Marquette Park and assemble his party there. Even the right to wear the swastika armband, which was a point of dispute by municipal authorities. We don’t live in Germany, where they it from extreme to the other, as in Churchill’s famous statement that the Germans were always either at your throat or your feet. We know where they were then, and where they are now. All political photos are an offensive generalization of course. Even the ones selected to show at the Nuremberg trials, no? As to your “I’m not sure why that generalization is considered more accurate than the stupid generalization “the” Palestinians.”–why don’t you read Goldhagen and his critics?
You might get a clue.
REPORT ABUSE
As what? Violating international law? Stealing land that doesn’t belong to them? Casting wine and spit and rocks on native Palestinians? Uprooting generations-old olive trees? Are you denying that all of that’s happening.
Seriously. If someone made the case that the nasty way the KKK is regarded is an “offensive generalization” because they all haven’t burnt down churches and lynched African Americans, would you really get behind that too, Witty?
To say nothing of that absolute absurdity of the protesters execution their First Amendment rights is somehow violating the “First Amendment rights” of a group meeting behind closed doors. You’re not even really all that good at faking being a liberal.
More equivocations from the Jewish Nazi.
They are racist. They are colonists. They are racist colonists. You don’t live on another peoples’ land without being racist.
Only a dishonest, troll like you Witty would whitewash colonialism.
Typical that you can ONLY ever resort to the most inanely idiotic superficial arguments.
No context, no logic, no analysis. No meaning. Everything you say is just a tactic representing your ideology. You’re a fucking sleaze. Do you think anyone here can’t see right through you by now?
This is not a right or left issue Witty, sorry it is not distinguished that way – it is a life or death issue. When the State of Israel subsidizes through armed force the theft of Palestinian land, murders Palestinians, impoverishes areas so these idiots can traipse around like buffoons with impunity. That is about as left or right as pogroms – left being against pogroms right embracing them? You have no argument Witty, you are an advocate of atrocities.
Witty’s like that German soldier on top in the death wrestle in the shattered building, in Saving Private Ryan–just submit to my bayonet, loser, and make it easy on both of us. Another version of shoot and cry. Not that Witty ever saw one day in any military uniform.
If it were just you who advocated for this it would not be an issue, except for your own reprobate position, but we are talking a national landmark in the USA being used by racist murderers, patently illegal activity according to both all local common and international law, plus in direct contradiction to the Obama administrations goals on settlement activity.
Terrorists. These people celebrate and promote terrorism. They spend their funds promoting visits to the grave of a terrorist who shot 175 people. They have sold tshirts celebrating this terrorist act with the slogan “Uzi Does It.”
But I’ll bet they don’t wear them to the banquet.
it is state sponsored terrorism by israel, with american dollars and the american jewish community becoming more and more divided by the day over it….
It’s a pleasure to have the whiny little faggot “Cliff” back! Can’t live on “other people’s land” without being a racist, eh Cliff? Enlighten me as to how this applies to Israel and not you? Oh I know,” it’s Hasbara–but aren’t you guys all about holding Israel to the same standard as the rest of the world?
Red state culture at its finest.
So OJ when are we going to see you dressed up in native American wardrobe like some other crazy Zionists to make your point? Let me get this straight, you want Israel to get the same “privileges” of genocide in regard to the Palestinians like the early USA did to their indigenous population? Sorry, no “privileges” extended.
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