Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

ADL Says Antiwar Protests in Washington and San Francisco Have History of Attacking Israel and Jews
Anti-Defamation League ^ | January 15, 2003 | ADL Press Release

Posted on 01/20/2003 7:19:30 PM PST by yonif

New York, NY, January 15, 2003 ... The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed concern that antiwar protest rallies scheduled to take place this weekend in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco may employ inflammatory anti-Israel and anti-Jewish statements and rhetoric.

Organizers of the January 18 "National March in Washington to Demand: No War Against Iraq", the San Francisco rally, and other events scheduled for this weekend have previously embraced statements supporting Palestinian terrorism, equating Zionism with Nazism, and calling for the destruction of the Jewish state.

"Given the rhetoric at past rallies organized by this group, we are extremely concerned that the message of this weekend's antiwar protests will be tainted with hateful calls for Israel's destruction and comparisons of Israeli actions to the Nazi extermination of Jews during the Holocaust," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "While we have always said that there is a time and place for criticism of Israel, we remain very much concerned and alert to those pro-Palestinian forces in this country who resort to anti-Semitism, and who may use the war in Iraq as a pretext for attacking Israel and Jews."

The antiwar rallies are primarily being organized by the International ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition. Past rallies by ANSWER have included significant anti-Israel propaganda, including claims that Israel is guilty of "war crimes" against Palestinians and that Israel is a "racist state." The group was responsible for last year's largest anti-Israel rally, the "National March for Palestine Against War and Racism" in Washington on April 20, 2002, which served as a forum for supporting violence and terror organizations, and a proliferation of anti-Semitic expression.

Other supporters of the D.C. rally include the Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University chapters of Free Palestine Now!, which justify their participation by arguing that, "Any U.S. attack on Iraq will be used as an excuse for the Israeli government led by war criminal Ariel Sharon to implement the policy of 'transfer' of the Palestinian inhabitants to the occupied territories." Free Palestine Now! plans to participate in a "feeder march" sponsored by various antiwar, anti-globalization, anti-capitalist and pro-Palestinian groups, including SUSTAIN (Stop U.S. Tax Aid to Israel Now).

BACKGROUND: International ANSWER Coalition

Since September 2001, ANSWER has organized many antiwar protests around the country. The largest and most disturbing was on April 20, 2002 in Washington, D.C. Called the "National March for Palestine Against War and Racism," the massive rally was attended by approximately 200,000 people, including thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators. The rally served as a forum for supporting violence and terror organizations, and for a proliferation of anti-Semitic expression.

ANSWER has played a key role in bringing Arab and Muslim Groups into the anti-war and anti-racism movements, which has led to extreme invective against Israel during protests. Among the groups that have endorsed ANSWER events and participated in rallies are Al-Awda and the Islamic Association for Palestine - groups that have actively engaged in anti-Israel boycott campaigns.

The rallies in Washington and San Francisco promise a repeat of what has occurred at other recent protests against U.S. policy, with the inclusion of significant anti-Israel propaganda and calls for the destruction of the Jewish state.

In addition to the larger rallies, the Student ANSWER group is planning a "Youth and Student Action Against War and Racism" on January 19, a march that will lead from the office of the Justice Department to the White House.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

--------------------------------------------------------

Anti-Israel Protest Groups and Individuals

The Al-Awda - Right of Return Coalition, an international grassroots organization, argues that Palestinian refugees have the right to return "to their original homes and villages" and should be paid restitution. Al-Awda has organized large protests with the International Action Center and its anti-war affiliate, ANSWER. Al-Awda is also active in several anti-Israel boycott campaigns.

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee was founded in 1980 and describes itself as a "civil rights organization committed to defending the rights of people of Arab descent and promoting their rich cultural heritage." ADC lobbies the U.S. government for "a balanced U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East."

The American Muslim Council seeks to empower American Muslims politically and advocates on issues of concern to the Muslim community. It describes itself as active in civil rights issues like anti-Muslim hate crime and the safeguarding of civil liberties. AMC is strongly anti-Israel, and its leaders have expressed support of anti-Israel terrorist organizations Hamas and Hizballah.

The ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition, created by the New York-based International Action Center to protest the bombing of Afghanistan, has organized many anti-war protests around the country since September 2001. The largest and most disturbing was on April 20, 2002, in Washington DC. Called the “National March for Palestine Against War and Racism,” the massive rally was attended by approximately 200,000 people, including thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators. The rally served as a forum for supporting violence and terror organizations, and for a proliferation of anti-Semitic expression. The ANSWER coalition moved up the date of its rally to April 20 to coincide with anti-globalization demonstrations, which were organized to protest the IMF and World Bank. ANSWER has become one of the most effective organizers for anti-war rallies, attracting thousands of demonstrators to subsequent rallies. ANSWER has played a key role in bringing Arab and Muslim groups into the anti-war and anti-racism movements, which has led to extreme invective against Israel during protests. Among the groups that have endorsed ANSWER events and participated in rallies are Al-Awda and the Islamic Association for Palestine.

The Anti-globalization movement is made up of loosely organized protest groups that oppose the economic and political structure of international capitalism through confrontational and frequently violent direct actions. Many anti-globalists are active on college campuses; some are radical animal rights supporters, anarchists and socialists.

The Anti-Racist Action Network is a large, occasionally violent and loosely organized protest group with chapters in a number of cities in the United States and Canada. Founded by non-racist skinheads and punks in the late 1980s in reaction to the growing threat of hate groups, ARA chapters are usually far to the left: many members are anarchists, for instance. According to the Web site of the de facto headquarters chapter in Columbus, Ohio, ARA members "organize a resistance to any fascist groups like the KKK or any component of Neo-Liberalism such as the WTO, IMF, FTAA [Free Trade Area of the Americas], etc."

According to its Web site, the Arab American Institute "was organized in 1985 to represent Arab American interests in government and politics. AAI provides leadership training and strategies in electoral politics and policy issues that concern Arab Americans." AAI's founder and president is James Zogby, a leading spokesman in the Arab-American community.

Atlanta Palestine Solidarity is, according to its Web site is "a new organization of human rights activists dedicated to fighting for Palestinian rights and against the Israeli Occupation. We believe that Israel's actions towards the Palestinian people are criminal, unjustifiable, and morally reprehensible."

According to its Web site, Free Palestine Now! "is an organization dedicated to helping the brave Palestinian people in there quest for freedom and justice." FPN was founded by two Virginia Commonwealth University students in Richmond, Virginia. FPN members "have twice participated in public banner drops in the Washington DC area to protest Sharon's visits."

The International Solidarity Movement sends international activists and Palestinian sympathizers to Israel to confront Israeli military and police forces with "non-violent" direct actions. ISM received extensive media coverage of its presence in Yasir Arafat's compound in Ramallah and at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

The Islamic Association for Palestine was founded in 1981. Based in Illinois, with offices in several cities around the country, IAP regularly publishes Hamas communiqués and in the past has printed and distributed the Hamas charter under its own masthead. IAP has also been closely associated with the Holy Land Foundation, a charity organization that the U.S. government declared part of "the financial apparatus of Hamas." Many of IAP's writings are anti-Semitic and support terror. It has stated that "our Muslim people are eager to take revenge… from the Jews," whom it calls "children of apes and pigs." It rejects attempts to negotiate a peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as a conspiracy against Muslims. IAP calls the Jews "God's lying people" who enjoy an "absolute Jewish grip on the media and the show business" [sic].

The Justice in Palestine Coalition is an umbrella organization directed by the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. The Coalition includes Arab and Muslim organizations, anti-globalization and anti-war groups, socialists and student activists who are active in the anti-Israel divestment campaign. Among the groups are the Muslim Public Affairs Council; Al-Awda; the International Action Center and its affiliated organization, ANSWER; the International Socialist Organization; and Students for Justice in Palestine. The ADC's San Francisco chapter helped the student group develop its divestment campaign at a time when ADC's national leadership refrained from involving itself.

Founded in 1988, the California-based Muslim Public Affairs Council defines itself as "a non-profit social welfare organization" that aims to increase the awareness and involvement of Muslims in the political process, foster relationships with other religious and ethnic groups, build relations with elected officials and monitor the media's depiction of Muslims. An affiliated publication, The Minaret, publishes sometimes conspiratorially anti-Israel and anti-American material.

The Muslim Students Association is a constituent organization of the Islamic Society of North America. MSA was established in 1963 and is a national organization with headquarters in Washington, D.C., and a strong presence in several universities across the country, as well as in Canada. Past MSA rallies have included anti-Semitic language. Recently, Altaf Husain, MSA's president, spoke at the annual convention of the Islamic Association for Palestine, which has served as a mouthpiece for the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas and published anti-Semitic materials.

According to its Web site, New Jersey Solidarity "is a grassroots organization dedicated to resistance and action in support of the Palestinian struggle for justice, national liberation, human rights and self-determination." On November 4, 2002, New Jersey Solidarity, organization is headed by students from Rutgers University, sponsored a lecture by Norman Finkelstein. The group ran ads in the Daily Targum, the Rutgers University Campus paper, claiming that Israel is a terrorist state whose track record is worst than Iraq's.

New Black Panther Party: The anti-Semitic and racist New Black Panther Party was formed in Dallas in 1989. It is led by Malik Zulu Shabazz, who has a long record of attacking Jews. He has blamed Jews and Israel for the September 11 terrorist attacks, and has equated Zionism with terrorism. He has also called the Holocaust "a goddamn lie" and described Jews as "evil." The group claims to have 26 chapters nationwide.

Students for Justice in Palestine initiated the anti-Israel divestment campaign in February 2001 at the University of California at Berkeley. The campaign was launched in conjunction with the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. SJP wanted the university to withdraw its investments from companies doing business with Israel, claiming that "the people who run our universities are not just tacitly supporting but are actually benefiting from the exploitation of Palestinians." The divestment campaign has since spread to universities around the country, where it is led either by new SJP branches or by extant local pro-Palestinian groups. SJP seeks to emulate, in tactic and in spirit, the 1980s divestment campaigns against apartheid South Africa.

SUSTAIN (Stop US Tax-funded Aid to Israel Now) was formed near the end of 2000. It describes itself as "a non-hierarchical, grassroots organization committed to supporting and sustaining the Palestinian movement for justice, human rights and self-determination…. We are committed to building a campaign against US military and economic aid to Israel so that US tax-dollars do not support the abuse of human rights." One of the key founders of the group is Mark Lance, a Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University.

Individuals

Al-Arian Dr. Sami, a frequent guest at anti-Israel campus events, is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of South Florida. He is currently suspended from teaching while the university investigates the legal consequences of firing him. Al-Arian was the president of a now-defunct charity, the Islamic Committee for Palestine, and of a think tank called the World and Islam Studies Enterprise. Investigations into alleged ties between these groups and Palestinian terror organizations did not result in criminal charges. However, video footage of conferences sponsored by ICP shows Al-Arian telling an audience, "Jihad is our path. Victory to Islam. Death to Israel. Revolution! Revolution! Until Victory! Rolling, rolling to Jerusalem." In another conference, in 1991, Imam Fawaz Damra, spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of Cleveland, said that "terrorism and terrorism alone is the way to liberation." Sharing the podium with Al-Arian, Damra also called for "directing all the rifles at the first and last enemy of the Islamic nation and that is the sons of monkeys and pigs, the Jews."

Adam Shapiro co-founded the International Solidarity Movement with Huwaida Arraf, a Palestinian-American born in Michigan who is now his wife, and Neta Golan, a Jew born in Israel to Canadian parents. Shapiro, who is also Jewish, found himself in a media spotlight when he accompanied an ambulance to Yasir Arafat's headquarters after it was surrounded by the Israeli military in March. During his stay, he reportedly had breakfast with Arafat. Shapiro has spoken throughout the country about the ISM's activities, and has outraged critics by comparing some instances of Israeli behavior toward Palestinians to that of the Nazis. Before joining the ISM full time he worked in Jerusalem for Seeds for Peace, an American nonprofit that promotes dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian youth.

Huwaida Arraf, a Michigan-born Palestinian-American, is a co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement. She majored in Arabic and Judaic studies and political science at the University of Michigan, and founded an Arab-Jewish group there, according to The New York Times. She also spent time at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and studied Hebrew on a kibbutz. "I wanted to be involved in diplomacy between Israel and the Palestinians," she was quoted as saying in the Times. "I really wanted to understand the Jewish mentality and history, Israeli culture and society, and the language, so I would have the legitimacy on both sides that is needed to be a negotiator."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Front Page News; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: answer; antiisrael; antisemetism; terrorism

1 posted on 01/20/2003 7:19:30 PM PST by yonif
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: yonif
Don't expect the ADL to draw the logical conclusion that it should stop smearing conservatives adn start looking at the left.
2 posted on 01/20/2003 7:33:19 PM PST by rmlew
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yonif
They whine, yet continue to smear any and every right wing group and cause.

Finally getting a taste of their own medicine.
3 posted on 01/20/2003 7:38:32 PM PST by Guillermo (Sic Em')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yonif
One more step: ANSWER is a front group for the Stalinist Workers World Party, which supports North Korea, Iraq, Russian Communists, the Palestinians and Mumia! Go to www.workers.org and you'll see them all pop right up.

Yeoman's work on another thread has shown direct links in personnel and funding among several WWP front groups. Y'all, we're dealing with the good old-fashioned REDS!

4 posted on 01/20/2003 7:42:55 PM PST by Uncle Miltie (Islamofascism sucks!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yonif
No Sh*t! I was part of a FReeper counter-protest in San Francisco, which included quite a few Jews, including myself. An Arab kid came up and told one of us that he wanted to "kill all the Jews." Nastypumps challenged him to start with her and he got real, real quiet. We also ousted him to the media when they came around and eventually he slinked off into the crowd.

Also, a woman in a burka (real freedom fighter) and a guy in an Intifada T-shirt unfurled their Pali flag in front of us. We ignored them, although I did tell the burka-clad idiot (she was a convert from Judaism!) that she had a speck of skin showing on her arm. They dish it out and we give it right back.

5 posted on 01/20/2003 8:46:45 PM PST by SeenTheLight
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rmlew
"...start looking at the left."

Foxman will never do that. Notice how he studiously avoids mentioning that A.N.S.W.E.R/IAC is run by the World Workers Party (unabashed communists)?

6 posted on 01/20/2003 9:50:31 PM PST by Bonaparte
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson