adl Central Pacific Region Newsletter
The Oakland Tribune is not impressed. From a September, 26 editorial:
Earlier this month, the board of Oakland’s Museum of Children’s Art, MOCHA, abruptly canceled an exhibit of Palestinian children’s art that had been six months in the planning. “A Child’s View in Gaza” featured drawings and paintings by Palestinian children who were living in Gaza during Israel’s three-week bombing and ground invasion that began Dec. 27, 2008.
Pro-Israel lobbying groups claimed that the Gaza exhibit was anti-Israel and fought to kill it. They asserted that the art could not possibly have been created by children . . .
The museum’s actions have drawn justifiable condemnations from critics, including progressive Jewish groups who have demanded the museum reverse itself and allow the art work to be shown.
The entire event is troubling that certain individuals have prevented the public from viewing art they don’t want us to see. What’s to stop other organizations from using the same strong-arm tactics to silence opposing viewpoints?
For more see the Forward – “Bay Area Jewish Groups Celebrate Shutting Palestinian Art Exhibit.”
“controversial” ??? Not until the ADL etc. created controversy.
In other words, I don’t like it, therefore I controvert it, and it is (ipso facto) “controversial”.
well, they have not prevented the public from seeing the exhibit. i went to the opening last saturday and there were hundreds of people. it started out on the courtyard of the museum with the entire inside perimeter lined with people each holding a replica of one of the drawings, at least 50 people or thereabouts ( henry was holding one). it was crammed and there was a band playing wonderful music on the street. there was also i little table set up by some pro israel activists and they had a few flags but everyone just ignored them.
then everyone was directed to join a walk which ended up right around the corner less than a 1/2 block away! they didn’t have to look far for a willing venue and i heard they had many offers. there was a wonderful gallery with the original art set up and no way we could all fit inside so the crowd mingled on the sidewalk and out into the street (with people reminding us to stay on the sidewalk). after seeing the exhibit (some people were crying) and buying a t shirt with on of the images on the front w/CENSORED written on the bottom i found myself a nice spot standing in the bed of a parked truck to be able to see above the crowd and listen to the poetry over the microphone and music etc. a table was set up w/a chef making these edibles. the show will be up for 2 months i think.
it was a wonderful well attended opening and i saw many activist friends there although it was so crowded another friend of mine who was there i completely missed somehow. as we were heading back to my friends car i noticed the pro israel activist with their table and flags still set up around the corner in front of the courtyard with no one else inside. all alone.
From another context, we can’t help but wonder [paraphase] : at long last, have they no shame?
Still, some among the most hardline Zionists do not hesitate to shoot children, often under the flimsiest of pretexts, so why would we expect them to treat the artwork of kids any more leniently?
I love mondoweiss. Its a great website.. you will hear a lot of me
this is getting a fair amount of radio coverage here in the bay area
and another email message from a friend about kqed