On Thursday, Jan. 22nd, Direct Action for Palestine organized a protest at the New York City Council’s stated meeting. People from Jewish Voice for Peace-NY, Queers Against Israeli Apartheid, Granny Peace Brigade and Boricuas for Palestine participated in this peaceful call on NYC Councilmembers to cancel their 8-day junket to Israel paid for by pro-Israel lobby groups. The trip amounts to uncritical support for Israel’s vast web of racial segregation laws and it’s violent occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
Groups calling on the Councilmembers to not go on this trip have asked for meetings with many of the Councilmembers but have either been turned down or not responded to. Bringing the message directly to the Council chambers was a logical next step. The protesters unfurled a banner saying “New York City Council Members – Don’t Tour Apartheid Israel” as well as a Palestinian flag. At several moments, they called out to Councilmembers not to take the trip. One protester, from a family with deaths in the holocaust, called out a sentiment we all share: “Never again means never again for anyone! Not just Jews. Israel is an apartheid state. As a Jew it offends me that you support a country that discriminates and kills other people.“
A few Councilmembers quickly claimed that the protest targeted a resolution memorializing the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp, and many media outlets leapt to suggest that protesters were anti-Semitic. That is a disgraceful diversion. In fact, the protest began in the middle of a vote on a long list of resolutions (although it did not target any of them) with a silent unfurling of the banner. You can see for yourself in the NYC Council’s video of the meeting as the Public Advocate calls for the banner to be removed at 58:00. The Auschwitz resolution had been discussed much earlier without disruption. Its vote was about to be recorded, but the protesters had no way of knowing that.
The protest continued two minutes later with another person calling out to Councilmembers not to take the trip. Another person called out 4 minutes after that. A larger group of protesters called out a few minutes later (1:05:40 in the video) and all were removed from the Council Chamber. It was a good-faith effort to intervene in a human rights crisis, smeared by those who prefer to paper over Israel’s actions.
None of this is a surprise. Every time human rights activists say “Palestine”, someone else says “anti-Semite.” As the links between racist injustice in New York and apartheid in Israel are highlighted by the #BlackLivesMatter movement, Israel lobbyists’ project to tar human rights activists as bigots grows more heated. It won’t work, because we are not. We are united against racism in all its forms, in every part of the world, regardless of nationality, race, or religion. Our Councilmembers should be too.
The writers of this post want you to believe that they are concerned with the human rights of Palestinians, but Council Member David Greenfield knows better – they are simply upset that Hitler did not finish the job. Watch for yourselves:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpGPzoaNVCU
It is somewhat fascinating to watch Greenfield work himself into a feverish lather culminating in the Hitler charge. It raises the question of whether such pro-Israel politicians and pundits cynically lie and distort or honestly believe the shit they say. Ultimately it may not matter, but I think such a question has to be answered on a case-by-case basis. This guy, despite the insanity of what he is saying, appears sincere to me.
btw, when I clicked on the link to the video, it did not work.
“This guy, despite the insanity of what he is saying, appears sincere to me. ”
Doubtful. He’s a politician. Politicians are frequently insane, but seldom sincere.
I simply want to say that if this was a demonstration organized with the best of intentions it was poorly planned. There is no reason why the demonstration had to go on when there was a resolution being voted on regarding the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. I am a founding member of Jewish Voice for Peace and I was quite disappointed with your action.
I have several questions for the authors.
1. Do you respect Palestinians and Jews? (This question does not mean you have to respect bad actions of anybody.)
2. Was there an agenda posted for the Council Meeting in advance or on the same day?
3. Is there a reason the demonstration had to happen that day?
4. Did members of the coalition make any attempt to contact Council Members or their staff to see what might be happening at the meeting?
5. Where you aware of what was being discussed on the Council Floor when you began your demonstration? If not, why not? Why did you continue your demonstration?
6. Do you feel your conduct should not be subject to question because the Council Members are planning trips to Israel and they are the bad ones?
In San Francisco JVP I do not think this could happen. We have done work with the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and we are very aware of what is going on during a session.
I should say that friends of my family have been leaning towards JVP and nonetheless were very upset by this action when they learned of it and that New York City JVP people where involved.
My family are Holocaust survivors and we do not use that to excuse Israel’s actions. Nonetheless we cannot accept a free for all attack on all Jewish concerns. We cannot even accept a nonchalant attitude about all Jewish concerns when it comes to protesting what needs to be protested.
I suggest you consider the questions above among many more in planning your next actions. If not I suggest you cease political activity.
The New York City Council trips to Israel needed to be protested and yet you chose the wrong way to do it. You confused your message.
I’d hate for JVP to start planning itself to death.
It seems Baruch B is ready to quit the revolution.
People, watch the video. The Mondoweiss link has a typo, but it’s all right here.
http://legistar.council.nyc.gov/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=374401&GUID=4E0FDF23-2136-4813-BABB-474E01DA3C46&Options=info#
The media leapt on (and widely reposted) a YouTube clip from Jewish Press reporter Jacob Kornbluh. It starts several minutes after the disruption Greenfield was complaining about. even that video doesn’t show what has been interrupted — you are just asked to assume that it interrupted a memorial. That’s not true, but WOW have folks taken the bait. Watch the video and see for yourself how ridiculous it is.
The “memorial” itself, btw, consisted of reading the name of the resolution earlier in the meeting.
@baruch – no, the agenda was not available beforehand, and no, Councilmembers were not willing to talk. And to answer your other questions, really just watch the video.