Click HERE for photos. “Racism and anti-Semitism hurt all of us. The racists are sending us a message of hate, and we are sending them a message of unity. The time is now for our communities to stand together and advocate for the betterment of all. We must leave our children and grandchildren a less divisive, more cohesive New York,” said Hikind to inaugurate the launch of a new citywide Black-Jewish alliance with elected leaders* and clergy. The elected officials will also be joined by Michael S. Miller, Executive VP and CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council. The JCRC was founded in 1976 to “protect and defend Jewish interests by bringing divergent voices into harmony.” More than 60 member Jewish organizations fall under the JCRC umbrella.
The concept materialized when Vera Jeffries, a New Yorker, emailed Hikind to applaud him for standing with State Senator Eric Adams to condemn a noose found on the door of a Columbia University office. She wrote, “I saw you this morning on ny1 speaking about the noose incidents…. I feel it is time for blacks and jews to unite together against this kind of hatred.again thanks for speaking out.”
“There is enough hate out there,” Hikind adds. “We’ve seen a spike in anti-Semitic and anti-Black incidents in the last four months, with recent anti-Semitic swastika vandalism near my home and in my district in honor of the New Year. A two-foot wide swastika was scrawled across the doors of a synagogue which also operates as a senior center, with ‘hate messages” underneath it, to tell you precisely what the racists have in mind for our community for 2008.
“In recent months the noose and the swastika have once again emerged as symbols of hate in America and in our city. With the creation of the Jewish Black Alliance, civic leaders and elected officials of New York City are coming together to confront the hatemongers and say that these symbols and hate have no place in a civilized society,” said New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr.
“I am proud to stand in the tradition of Abraham Joshua Heschel and Martin Luther King Jr. whose partnership forever cemented the bond between Jews and African Americans against racial injustice,” said Senator Jeff Klein. “Racism must not be allowed to take root and subvert the values of tolerance and mutual respect for which our predecessors fought and died. We will continue to oppose hatred in all its forms until it is eradicated from the hearts of minds of human kind.”
“We stand here today together: we are one and we are going to root out this scourge which defiles New York, with tougher penalties for anti-Semitic and anti-Black violence,” said Hikind. “When there is common ground on issues, we will stand together to speak out in one voice. We will arrange forums to advance understanding between our communities, reach out to our youth, and create a new format for communication between Black and Jewish New Yorkers.”
*Congressmembers Yvette Clarke (D-11th), Gregory Meeks (D-6th), and Ed Towns (D-10th) NYC Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer
Assemblymembers Michael Benjamin (D-Bronx), William Boyland (D-Brooklyn), Alec Brook-Krasny (D-Brooklyn), Karim Camara (D-Brooklyn), Vivian Cook (D-Queens), Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx), Rhoda Jacobs (D-Brooklyn), Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn), Rory Lancman (D-Queens), Alan Maisel (D-Brooklyn), Nettie Mayersohn (D-Queens), Audrey Pheffer (D-Queens), and Mark Weprin (D-Queens)
State Senators: Minority Leader Malcolm Smith (D-Queens), Eric Adams (D-Brooklyn), Jeffrey Klein (D-Bronx/Westchester), Bill Perkins (D-Manhattan), and John Sampson (D-Brooklyn) ; Councilmembers Leroy Comrie (D-Queens), Matthieu Eugene (D-Brooklyn), Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn), Letitia James (WF –Brooklyn), Melinda Katz (D-Queens), Mike Nelson (D-Brooklyn), Kendall Stewart (D-Brooklyn), David Weprin (D-Queens), and David Yassky (D-Brooklyn)
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28 Responses
It sounds very ideal, but what will they do to stop racism? We can make the biggest difference by being polite to others we encounter. I’m sometimes embaresed when I walk into a gift shop and some jews have to touch everything in sight, or nag the sales person for the price of each item. Nor am I proud to see all the kosher wrapers on the floor of the parking lot. We always have to behave like “B’NEI MELACHIM” and especially when we travel and encounter people who are not regularly with jews.
good
Whats next, Whites & Jews Together?
A lot of good the Jews who marched with that shiker M. King did. Black anti-semitism is higher than any other demographic in America.
I am with Joseph on this!
ILLLINI,
Jesse Jackson, AlSharpton , ex mayor Dinkins,and some other black anti semitic
leader who’s name slipped my mind, to name a few of the well know African AMERICANS.
I dont know if the demographic is higher but officially joining hands with them is not going to solve the problem. ‘Vaavdil eschem min Hoamim Lihiyos Li’
1,
Use your Seichel please, this is a public web site! Trust me, there are others who cause MUCH greater embarrassmen,t to their nationality and religion. MI KEAMCHO YISROEL!
illini – My crowd wishes the ADL adios. They can have a going out of business sale ASAP.
For the stats, there is a tool called google. It is well known and commonly cited.
They are trying to work on the problem of hate crimes. They are to be applauded. When Jews make remarks against other ethnic groups, they are just spreading hate while being poor role models for their children.
We have been down this road before and in the end it only fed anti-semitism not stopped it.
May sound good on paper, but many blacks aren’t very fond of us either…
Louis Farakahn is the name that slipped my mind, an outspoken anti semite!
Illini,
It happens to be that I am quite tolerant and failry liberal minded. However we are bound to certain limits. The almighty wants us to be exclusive. We are an ‘am levadod yishkon’, a nation who lives alone. For centuries we have put our complete faith in G-d and withstood all our hardships with pride . We certainly do not need another ethnic group , especially those who are lead by Jew Haters to ease our pain. Its totally inconsistent.
There is a critical mistake being made on the part of many posters here. In describing antisemitism in the African-American community, one is confusing race for another critical factor – income. Blacks don’t hate Jews more than anybody else hates us (assuming that’s true in the first place) because of their skin color. They hate us because they are the lowest economic rung of American society. They have been poisoned by white xianity to think of us Jews as the richest part of American society. This is where the hate comes from – out of poverty, not racism.
illini -You misunderstood me. I suggested you google for the stats as they are well cited and widely reported. I did not suggest google itself is the source.
Its almost like asking for a citation that George Washington was indeed the first President.
Joseph … Just so you know, George Washington was only the First President AFTER Confederation.
Prior to that, there were 7 other presidents. In order: John Hanson (1781 – 1783, Elias Boudinot (1783), Thomas Mifflin (1784), Richard Henry Lee (1785), Nathan Gorman (1786), Arthur St. Clair (1787), and Cyrus Griffin (1788).
#16
they were presidents of what?
the united states of america?
i dont think so
Joseph,
What purpose does it serve to malign an entire race of people based on the actions, comments or beliefs of a few people?
Your comments and sweeping generalizations about the attitudes of all black Americans are totally devoid of fact.
Mainstream media has been parading Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Louis Farakhan (and his hate-filled lackeys like Khalid Muhamed) in front of the cameras for years.
Why? Precisely because the divisive nature of their “sound-bite politics” sparks the ingrained prejudices of individuals such as yourself and inflames the kind of ignorance and hate that Hikind has the guts to address and the media loves to inflame.
If you, or anyone posting here actually believes that any of the ego-driven, self-serving media seekers I mentioned above accurately represent the personal views of the vast majority of black Americans you are not just out of touch; it’s clear you never bother to engage and any kind of meaningful dialog about race or culture with anyone who doesn’t think like you, look like you and worship like you.
Your contemptuous, cynical and dismissive comment about the many Jewish people who challenged social norms and risked violence and bodily harm at the hands of white southerners infected with hate to lend their support to the civil rights movement in the 50’s and 60s is an insult to the memory of Dr. King – and it demonstrates that the deeper spiritual meaning of his message eludes you.
Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman were in the car with James Chaney on that sweltering night back in 1964 during the “Freedom Summer” when the KKK pulled them over because they were working with the Congress Of Racial Equality (CORE) to ensure that black citizens of the United States could exercise their right to vote.
Their unspeakable suffering and senseless deaths helped to turn the eyes of the world onto the entrenched racism in the south; and bring pressure on the government to eventually pass landmark civil rights legislation.
Just because YOUR cynicism and smug indifference to the deeper problems facing ALL races in America have led you to brand the effort to try and create common ground between two peoples who are increasingly the victims of hate in 2008 as a waste of time doesn’t make it so.
When the noose is hung on the door of a black teacher, it should fill all Americans with outrage.
Just as we should all be outraged when the swastika is sprayed on the side of the synagogue.
People united together can find the strength to combat hate and forge new solutions; people divided will only stand by the side of the road shaking their heads as the truth rolls by them.
Oh and by the way, did you know that three high school students, Allison Nichols, Brittany Saltiel, and Sarah Siegel, with the support of the Chaney, Schwerner and Goodman families, worked with citizens throughout Mississippi, law enforcement officials, the news media, and Civil Rights Movement Veterans to try and get the case popularized by the movie “Mississippi Burning” re-opened?
You should ask one of those brave high school girls what good the Jews who marched with Dr. King did.
Don’t fret over it too much though Joseph; some people get it and some people just don’t.
Respectfully,
CG
Willi,
Many blacks recognize the need for solidarity with Jews in this country. Many blacks were raised to respect ALL people regardless of how they worship; and yes, some blacks, like some Jews, like some whites do not.
Please don’t paint an entire people with a broad stroke because the media rarely turns the spotlight on the former.
Many blacks are fond of Jews but that doesn’t sell papers.
ToHighSchool, Thanks. I’m aware of that. There was a President of the Continental Congress as well. Neither that position nor the one you mentioned, is the same as the current position known as the President of the United States.
Thanks for the history lesson!
A lot of good this ”historic alliance” will do. Just a bunch of posturing by bored politicians looking for a good photo op.
CG,
You are confused. I made no mention above regarding Sharpton, Jackson, et al. You are sadly mistaking my comments with another commentator above.
But since you bring up these demagogues, Sharpton, Jackson, et al, I will address them. Poll after poll has indicated that black America supports these race-baiting anti-semitic punks overwhelmingly.
M. King was a known 2-bit drug-addicted shiker out of prison. The only reason he is held in any esteem is because he was martyred and his community was in need of a ‘hero’.
And as far as the demographics are concerned, survey after survey has repeatedly demonstrated that anti-semitism in black America is far higher than in any other ethnic group. If memory serves me correctly, it is in the 50% range (and that is just how many are admitted.) Yoel pointed out above that this may be due to their poverty, and that very well may be the case. It makes much sense. But the facts remain what they are.
What a shame those misguided Jews gave their lives, time and money supporting the so-called civil rights movement (a misnomer) in the 1960’s. The more you help an anti-semite, the more he will hate the Jews.
(And illini as far as citations are concerned, they are plentiful. But YW has a policy of no links. So unfortunately it will not be possible for me to provide any of the dozens that there are. But as I said previously, google african-american anti-semitism and you will find many results including from academia.)
illini – I stand by my initial assertion. With your new information, it is obvious that not only was he a drug-abusing drunk, but he was a shiker ben hashiker.
Just take a look at any of the exit polling data for the elections that Jackson and/or Sharpton ran in. They received overwhelming (near unanimous — upper 90%) support from black voters.
Joseph and illini, I would love if you guys could somehow get together and meet face-to-face (with riot police and SWAT teams in attendance, of course).
illini – As I mentioned above, YW policy is no links allowed. So I must advise you to google for the many polls, surveys, and other academic data that is out there and widely nown and cited. How would you like it described in any other words?
How else do you justify their voting for an anti-white anti-semitic candidate?
illini – You are blinding yourself to the volumnuos data that you don’t like.
Sharpton derogatory calling the Jews ”diamond merchants” and whites ”white interlopers” and then inciting a black mob to burn down a Jewish owned store in NYC, is what gets him their votes. Same with Jackson referring to NYC as ”hymietown” and spitting into the white mans soup when he was a waiter.
#19, culturegiest,
you write, “please dont paint an entire ppl w/ a broad stroke..”
I’d suggest rereading what I wrote. I wrote “MANY blacks aren’t very fond of us either…” not “ALL blacks…”
Unfortunately, with many people like Joseph I dont think this alliance will get too far. Calling their leader, who they hold in the highest regard, a shikur and other insults doesnt help the cause. Imagine if they said this about our gedolim.
Midwestjew,
Does it help the cause if Sharpton and his gang continue to refer to us ‘Diamond Merchants’and to New York as Hymietown?
Lets fight our own battles first!
illini – With Sharpton and Jackson being outright bigots and anti-semites and with their community voting for them on the order of 90+%, coupled with the fact that surveys have consistently polled the black community as having very high admitted anti-semitic tendencies, speaks for itself.
illini – You are making a circular argument. Goinng round and round will not fix your fatally flawed argument.
For starters, research your beloved ADL’s survey of anti-semitism in America. You will find that they consistently found blacks to be FOUR TIMES as anti-semitic as the general population.
I responded multiple times and you keep repeating the same mantra. It won’t change the facts.
I didn’t say they are anti-semitic solely for that reason. That was used as an example in a pattern of anti-semitism.
You still failed to respond to the point that the ADL survey on anti-semitism in America found that blacks are FOUR TIMES as anti-semitic as the general population.