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Rally Signage
- 1. Troubling Signs: The Hatred Being Revealed at Chicago’s Anti-Israel Rallies A JUF Special Expose Photographs and PowerPoint by David Brinn, JCRC’s Domestic Affairs Associate
- 9. “…I find it appalling that some on the pro- Israeli side are better concerned with cardboard paper.” 1/14/09 Ahmed Rehab Director of CAIR- Chicago
- 14. Troubling Signs: The Hatred Being Revealed at Chicago’s Anti-Israel Rallies A JUF Special Expose Photographs and PowerPoint by David Brinn, JCRC’s Domestic Affairs Associate
Notes de l'éditeur
- In December 2008 and January 2009, Israel’s battle in Gaza with Hamas triggered anti-Israel protests worldwide. While conveying sympathy with Palestinians, many of the protests also demonized and threatened Israel and Jews. This presentation brings to light the most troubling signs promulgated at Chicago’s anti-Israel rallies, describing just why they are so troubling and are signs of danger ahead.
- Blaming Jews and Israel for the 9-11 attacks is already the “classic” anti-Semitic conspiracy lie of the 21st Century. It spread quickly in the Arab and Muslim world, and on neo-Nazi websites. On January 9, 2009 it made its debut on the streets of Chicago.
- Criticizing Israeli polices and sympathizing with the plight of Palestinians is not extraordinary. Celebrating a terrorist group is, or at least should be. This is Hezbollah’s flag, a designated terrorist organization that killed 241 US Marines in 1983 in the single deadliest attack on Americans overseas since World War Two. And Hezbollah proudly admits participating in attacks on US troops in Iraq. Here is their flag, waved proudly in the streets of our beloved Chicago.
- And here’s Hamas’ flag, another designated terrorist organization. Hamas has murdered twenty-six Americans, and countless Israelis. And its charter references the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, calling upon Muslims to murder Jews.
- Equating Israel to Nazism, the Star of David to the Swastika and the suffering of Palestinians to the Holocaust constitute the most frequent rally themes. The Star of David is a revered symbol of the Jewish faith. There is little doubt what the response would be were a revered symbol of Islam so publically desecrated.
- Deeply troubling is the exploitation of children in the promulgating of these hateful messages. The negative implications of these signs are magnified – and will be extended for generations to come – by the age of their holders.
- While the use of shoes is certainly noteworthy, even more so is the young boy at the bottom carrying a banner that equates the Star of David to the Swastika and calls for “Death to Israel” in English and Arabic. Yet its most chilling message is in the Hebrew:
- The Hebrew translates to: “Death to Jews and to the State of Israel.” Such a threatening, direct verbal assault passes every red line imaginable. We have shared it with law enforcement and other appropriate authorities.
- JUF convened a press conference to alert the broader community about these images. In the Chicago Tribune article that followed, the Chicago director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations belittled the significance of these troubling signs, arguing, “As hundreds of innocent human lives are crushed…by a belligerent Israeli government, I find it appalling that some on the pro-Israeli side are better concerned with cardboard paper.” So in CAIR’s view, hate speech against Jews – but certainly not Arabs or Muslims – is understandable. Especially since the messages are only on “cardboard.”
- We believe words matter wherever they are promulgated. We’re actually proud of what we put on our cardboard, reflecting, as it does, our fervent prayers for peace.
- The anti-Israel signs in this presentation are indeed troubling. They reveal that for many, the real goal isn’t merely to influence any particular Israeli policy; rather, it is the demonization and the demise of Israel, and in one bone chilling instance, all Jews.
- Most of the pictures shown are from a January 9th rally, just 12 hours before a series of attacks on local synagogues and a Jewish school, in which bricks were thrown at front doors, windows were broken, and “Death to Israel” and “Free Palestine” were spray-painted on walls.
- The organizers of these anti-Israel protests expect – and usually secure – their proverbial “seat at the table,” be it with elected officials or civic and religious leaders, all the while insisting they are committed to civic ideals and intergroup harmony.
- We’re eager to enlist your help in securing additional presentations at your synagogues, other Jewish groups and other Jewish and non-Jewish institutions. We have uncovered the darkness. Please help us shed a bright light on it.