Legal group hails breakthrough as US judge equates Israeli flag with Jewish identity

The Times of Israel ^ | August 14, 2025 | Luke Tress

[Angelino97]

A Jewish legal advocacy group hailed a legal breakthrough in court battles against antisemitism after a US federal judge last week equated the Israeli flag with “the Jewish race.”

The judge’s decision sets a new legal standard that can be used to protect Jews targeted in anti-Zionist attacks, said the National Jewish Advocacy Center, a nonprofit that represented the plaintiff.

Pro-Israel Jewish activist Kimmara Sumrall filed the lawsuit in a federal district court in Washington, DC, last month. Sumrall alleged that she was attacked at a pro-Israel demonstration in Washington in November 2024 while wearing an Israeli flag tied around her neck as a cape.

An anti-Israel activist at the protest approached Sumrall from behind and yanked on the Israeli flag, briefly choking Sumrall. A police officer witnessed the incident and arrested the assailant at the scene, the complaint said.

The anti-Israel protest was organized by Code Pink, a far-left activist group that often demonstrates against Israel. Both the assailant and the pro-Israel activist regularly attended dueling protests in the capital. Sumrall said she had received death threats related to her activism after the attack, causing her to fear for her safety.

The lawsuit argued that the assault was discriminatory, according to the IHRA definition of antisemitism.

The lawsuit, like others filed by Jewish Israel supporters around the US, argued that Zionism is a facet of the faith and not a political position. Jewish legal advocates have used the interpretation of Zionism to protect pro-Israel Jews and combat anti-Zionism under US civil rights protections that cover religion, race and national origin, but not politics...

The lawsuit said Sumrall had been targeted in the attack due to her race, religion and national origin, and sought damages and a restraining order barring the assailant from approaching Sumrall.

[Angelino97]

A Jewish legal advocacy group hailed a legal breakthrough in court battles against antisemitism after a US federal judge last week equated the Israeli flag with “the Jewish race.”

I remember when it was "anti-Semitic" to claim the Jews were a "race."

[escapefromboston]

Assaulting someone is bad enough but don’t be racist about it!

[cowboyusa]

Jews are a people. There are Jews of all races.

[thegagline]

I remember when it was "anti-Semitic" to claim the Jews were a "race."

The filth over at Stormfront have been pushing that Jews are a separate race and therefore cannot be considered white. Ugh

[Lurker]

“I remember when it was “anti-Semitic” to claim the Jews were a “race.”

When exactly was that and who exactly said it was?

L

[ansel12]

I don’t remember that, all I know about the race versus religion argument is that it is whatever they want it to be, and the answer depends on what is useful at the moment.

[packagingguy]

I don’t know about this one because there’s clearly a religious and political component.

This standard could now be applied to Saudis as their flag reads “There is no deity but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God.” Clearly religious even though there’s a strong political component.

This could lead to a mess as people cloak their politics with religion.

[Angelino97]

I agree.

[yesthatjallen]

US courts have ruled desecrating the US flag is free speech and permissible without consequences

Now the US court has determined the flag of a foreign country (and the people it represents) is entitled to special considerations.

[NorthMountain]

When? During the reign of the Third Reich in Germany. Who? Adolph Hitler, among others ...

That was an essential part of National SOCIALIST "race politics", that Jews were a subhuman (untermenschen) race.

[Lurker]

Who is doing it now?

L

[jimwatx]

Bingo.

[Svartalfiar]

There are really three different “Jew” groups.

One, the religion. Anyone following Judaism is Jewish.

Two, the ethnicity. Anyone with heritage from the Biblical Jews would be Jewish/Jewish ancestry.

Third, the nation. Citizens of Israel are Jews, as Jew is considered synonymous with Israeli/Israelite.

[wardaddy]

I doubt this stands review

[wardaddy]

I’ve seen it quarreled about here with Jewish as an identity
Which it certainly is

[cowboyusa]

Also,the expand3f Kewish population, those marrordto Jews, or Gentiles who live with Jews in extended families.

[SunkenCiv]

Including this topic, added to 'zog' (Zionist Occupation Gov't) since 06/17/2025, by some POS who should be banned from FR:

• Legal group hails breakthrough as US judge equates Israeli flag with Jewish identity [08/20/2025]
• Israeli Cyber Directorate employee arrested in US on suspicion of pedophilia [08/16/2025]
• RFK Jr. wants every American to use 'wearable' health data-collecting technology [08/16/2025]
• Senator Lindsey Graham: 'If America pulls the plug on Israel, God will pull the plug on us'. [08/14/2025]
• Trump plans to "take over" Gaza aid effort, U.S. officials say [08/06/2025]
• Thomas Massie: Billionaires from New York and Las Vegas trying to unseat me [08/01/2025]
• Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on X: "genocide, humanitarian crisis, and starvation happening in Gaza" [07/30/2025]
• Massie vows Trump's threats to primary him will 'backfire tremendously' [07/22/2025]
• BREAKING: Attorney General Pam Bondi to meet with Ghislane Maxwell. [07/22/2025]
• Speaker Johnson says House won't vote on Epstein resolution before [5 WEEK?] recess [07/21/2025]
• The House voted 422-6 against Rep. MTG's amendment to cut $500 million in US funding to Israel's missile program [07/18/2025]
• Trump directs Pam Bondi to release grand jury transcripts in Jeffrey Epstein case [07/17/2025]
• 'It's a cover up': Musk floods X with posts attacking Trump over Epstein [07/17/2025]
• Trump's reaction 'not positive' to Israeli army's strike on Catholic church in Gaza [07/17/2025]
• Who Really Backed Epstein [07/16/2025]
• BREAKING: Donald Trump just called Republicans who want the Epstein files to be released "stupid" [07/16/2025]
• Marco Rubio Reacts to Israel Strikes on Syria [07/16/2025]
• Trump unloads on Epstein info-seekers: 'I don't want their support anymore!' [07/16/2025]
• Top US Pollster: Trump's Approval Rating Is One Point Away from the Lowest Net Approval He's Had [07/16/2025]
• BREAKING: Trump Blames Democrats for "Jeffrey Epstein Hoax" -- "My PAST Supporters have Bought into this 'Bullsh*t,' Hook, Line, and Sinker... I Don't Want Their Support Anymore!" [07/16/2025]
• Trump Lashes Out Over Epstein, Says He Doesn't 'Want Support' of Those Seeking More Info. [07/16/2025]
• Majority don't believe FBI report on Epstein: Poll [07/15/2025]
• Democrats take the Epstein bait hook, line and sinker [07/15/2025]
• The sole rebel Republican [Ralph Norman] who voted to release Epstein files in bold move defying Trump's administration [07/15/2025]
• BREAKING: House Republicans Block Democrat-Led Effort to Force Release of Epstein Files to the Public -- Here Are the Five Republicans Who Voted Against Transparency [07/15/2025]
• Bennett: Epstein never worked for the Mosssad. [07/15/2025]
• Democrat Ro Khanna Demands Vote To Release Full Jeffrey Epstein Files [07/13/2025]
• Trump posts on truth, social in defensive Pam Bondi: What's going on with my "boys" and, in some cases, "gals?" They're all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi [07/12/2025]
• TRUMP ISSUES MESSAGE OF TOTAL SUPPORT FOR PAM BONDI [07/12/2025]
• Tucker Carlson makes bombshell allegations about Jeffrey Epstein as MAGA civil war rages over 'client list' [07/12/2025]
• Flux Rules [07/11/2025]
• Megyn Kelly suggests Jeanine Pirro or Harmeet Dhillon to replace Pam Bondi [07/11/2025]
• Tucker Carlson's two Epstein theories! [07/09/2025]
• 'Her Days Are Numbered': Megyn Kelly Predicts Consequences For Bondi Over Epstein Fiasco [07/09/2025]
• 🚨WATCH: CNN's Jake Tapper says the Epstein case is NOT closed and there's a trove of evidence being hidden from the public. [07/08/2025]
• Graham: Senate will move 'soon' on Russia, China sanctions [07/08/2025]
• Mystery surrounds the Jeffrey Epstein files after Bondi claims 'tens of thousands' of videos [07/02/2025]
• Trump sensationally calls for Iranian regime change as he holds crisis talks with UK prime minister [06/22/2025]
• Donald Trump delays decision on Iran strikes as Keir Starmer calls for restraint [06/19/2025]

[Uncle Miltie]

Your infinite focus on Jews and Israel vastly exceeds mine, and I’m functionally Jewish and an veryvactive supporter of Israel.

Why are you always prattling on about the Jews?