Takoma Park, Anti-Semitism, & Mayor Kate Stewart
Takoma Park, MD is affectionately called the Berkley of the East, known for its pure progressive values, nuclear-free zones, and a core dedication to love and inclusion which has now forever had its reputation marred by accusations of Antisemitism.
There is no blaming this on staff error or youthful pranks, there is no one to blame but the City Council and Mayor Kate Stewart.
Occupation of the American Mind: Israel’s Secret War in the United States, is a four-year-old flop of a documentary, that no one wanted but fringe pro Palestine groups who used it as a fundraiser.
The filmmakers admit the lack of interest in the film by, well really, anyone in the promotional website of the film:
“[the film] repeatedly attacked and misrepresented by right-wing pressure groups and outright ignored by virtually all mainstream media outlets and North American film festivals. To bypass this campaign of misrepresentation and suppression, we’ve decided to make the film available for FREE online so that people can make up their own minds about its analysis of U.S. media coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
The flopumentary was so resoundingly rejected that it was being given away for free by the filmmakers to anyone who wanted to see it, which didn’t seem to be that many.
The movie asserts two age-old ideas antisemitic accusations:
1. Jews control the media so the people never find out the “truth” about how Israel.
2. Jewish money through the “Israel Lobby” buy off American politicians to support Israel.
IHRA DEFINITION OF ANTISEMITISM
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance gives the following example as part of their working definition of Antisemitism:’
Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions. https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/working-definition-antisemitism?focus=antisemitismandholocaustdenial
Despite the staleness of the flop, the lack of interest from legitimate film festivals, absolutely no fact-checking by Takoma Park staffers, the film was placed on the schedule as if it were a legit documentary.
I personally pleaded with Mayor Kate Stewart and City Manager Suzanne Ludlow who spoke about showing the documentary, in terms of having no choice in the showing.
I patiently explained to both of them that it will cause great harm to our community and that they should put Takoma Park first. Ludlow and Stewart were unmoved by my pleas or that of the larger Jewish Community.
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) worked with Mayor Kate Stewart and staff to understand why this was not a legitimate documentary. JCRC offered other movies that might be more appropriate. All efforts were rebuked. When JCRC said they would not participate in a panel on this film, Mayor Kate had the movie rescheduled anyway:
“Invitations have been extended to a number of organizations. We regret to say that the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington (JCRC) has declined our invitation to participate on the panel and we are disappointed in their decision.” Source: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news/statement-from-the-mayor-on-the-rescheduled-film-screening-occupation-of-the-american-mind/
At the same time as denying that she or the City of Takoma Park “endorsed” the content of the film.
...“The Occupation of the American Mind.” As with other We Are Takoma films and arts programming, the Mayor and City Council, do not endorse nor back the content. Source: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news/statement-from-the-mayor-on-the-rescheduled-film-screening-occupation-of-the-american-mind/
While I don’t want to characterize Mayor Kate Stewart’s temperament, a good leader would work for a compromise, instead, Kate drew on her “real job” as a crisis communications professional for the pro-abortion lobby, and choose to whether a storm that she created herself.
COMPROMISES
The following compromises were offered:
- Withdraw city support for the film
- Cancel the film entirely
- Have a discussion on the topic without this film
- Choose a different film that is more balanced on the subject
- Show two films on the same night then have a discussion
- Fact check this film
- Show a historical film instead
- Have a historian on the panel to discuss the historical issues about the land. Neither of the final panelist chosen was a historian. Both were lobbyists and advocates.
- Have a scholar or professor who has published on the subject. Neither panelist were scholars or published on the subject.
OUTSIDE ANTI ISRAEL GROUPS
Among the many defenders who personally attacked me for speaking out were members of Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow both are pro-Palestinian, Anti-Israel groups.
There is no logical reason that this film needed to be shown in Takoma Park. In fact, it had been shown in Takoma Park, by Jewish Voice For Peace, has a prominent board member Karen Ackerman who was a defender of the film in 2017.
Karen Ackerman attended a Takoma Park City Council meeting before the showing, without revealing her ties to JVP. As did other JVP member, Shelley Cohen-Fudge, who also did not reveal her ties to JVP. Guess it is a secret?
And
Support for the film came from Freedom to Boycott Maryland, a pro-BDS organization who organized letter drive to encourage Mayor Kate Stewart to show the antisemitic film.
Another force behind this film’s external support, in addition to having its prominent members testify at City Council meetings without identifying themselves, is Jewish Voice for Peace. The organization encouraged it’s members from as far away as Gaithersburg to come to the screening to “fill the seats”
Another point of external support came from CAIR, who showed up with a camera crew and reporter.
Letters of Condemnation
July 22, 2019 Senator Benjamin Kramer denounces Takoma Park showing the film:
“Occupation of the American Mind” is a propaganda film bankrolled, produced, choreographed and narrated by rabid supporters of the moment to boycott the Jews of Israel and to bring about the financial ruin of the Jewish State.”
“Filed with anti-Semitic tropes about Jews controlling the media and the minds of the unwitting, its only shortcoming is not to connect the dots as to how the Jews manipulate the weather. I can only, but, assume that your action to sponsor a film of this great offense would never occur (and hasn't with any religious or ethnic people. Evidently, the City of Takom Park as deemed this inexcusable and offensive behavior to be acceptable because..its just Jews that will be harmed.”
“Your complete lack of sensibility to this issue is appealing, especially in light of the dramatic increase in hate-motivated crimes across our state, many of which have target Jews. Please don’t bother behind the excuse that there exists a small number of Jews who support boycotting other JEws… that doesn’t make it more acceptable or less offensive”
CONDEMNATION: MONTGOMERY COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS
“While we strongly believe in the value of respectful discussion, this particular film does not promote that, as it uses centuries-old antisemitic tropes about the Jewish people controlling and manipulating media and government….At a time when we’re already seeing increased polarization and a lack of civil discourse nationwide, with anti-Semitism and other bias incidents on the rise locally, nationally, and internationally, this decision runs the risk of further stoking those flames of division.”
“…we do not believe it is appropriate for a government to sponsor or endorse it. We have been adamant that it is irresponsible for any government to use tax payer funds to show this film, which is extremely biased, one-sided, filled with antisemitic tropes, and does not represent the tolerance and diversity of Takoma Park or Montgomery County. ”
CONDEMNATION: Comptroller of Maryland, Peter Franchot.
“Having lived in Takoma Park for decades, and having raised my family in this wonderful city, I can’t tell you how disappointed I am that our City’s government is still planning to show this piece of anti-Semitic garbage on the taxpayers’ dime.
I’m fine with freedom of speech and political expression. I’m not fine with our local government using my tax dollars to peddle the same bigoted dog whistles that have been used to rationalize hatred, discrimination and violence against the Jewish people for generations. I don’t know who in the hell thought this was a good idea, but Kate Stewart and the City Council need to make the call TODAY to cancel this showing and relegate this movie — and its anti-Semitic values — back to the dark fringes of our society.” — Peter Franchot, Comptroller of Maryland
Takoma Park Notices
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OPED:
https://www.algemeiner.com/2019/07/30/taxpayer-funded-israel-hate-in-takoma-park-maryland/
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