by Hawk Newsome – Black Lives Matter Greater NY
A recent New York Daily News editorial criticized the movement for black lives for their anti-Isreal position.
As the leader of Black Lives Matter New York I agree with Campaign Zero, another organization in the Black Lives Matter Movement which rejects the anti-Israel stand.
I disavow the position of movement for black lives on this issue.
As the Civil Rights Movement grew, multiple leaders and organizations emerged with differing ideals from the original language upon which the movement was founded.
We are seeing this now with the Black Lives Matter movement. Recently, movement for black lives, an organization within the movement has been criticized for using anti-Semetic language as part of its platform.
It is unfortunate that one organization is causing the entire movement to be labeled as being racist against the Jews. To say that Black Lives Matter as a whole is anti-Semetic is simply not true.
It is no secret that international debate over the conflict between Israel and Palestine is deeply rooted in the foreign affairs history of the United States. Yet, I do not consider myself to be the most qualified person to give an opinion on the conflict.
I am, however, fully aware of the significant role American Jews have played in helping lay the foundation of some of the most important civil rights organizations that rose as a result of racial injustices against blacks in America. NAACP, Urban League, Congress of Racial Equality, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference all had backing by American Jews.
Now, I know times have greatly changed since the Civil Rights movement. But, as a leader in the Black Lives Matter movement, I have learned how to focus on the enemy.
The true enemy is institutionalized racism and an oppressive criminal justice system. My aggression is toward a system that was purposely designed to oppress the lives of all people of color. My passion is in helping my community succeed in the face of the enemy.
We must continue to strategically apply pressure to the system, particularly the elected public officials. So that justice can be achieved on behalf of blacks who presently are being and treated unfairly at a highly disproportionate rate in this country.
I want to invite my Jewish Brothers and Sisters to join us and stand with us in the fight against the injustices Black Americans perpetually face. In fact, I challenge any member of any race and any ethnic group to stand with us in closing the racial inequality gap.
The responsibility of creating a fair and equal society does not fall on just one group. This is one fight in which all Americans must contribute.
Thanks, but no thanks. We Jews are doing just fine without the support of racist black-supremacist cop-killing groups.
The entire BLM movement is based on a lie, that police are systematically killing black people, as if their lives don’t matter. This simply isn’t true. It’s a blood libel, exactly as evil as the historical ones against the Jews. If this were really happening they should be able to come up with a significant number of examples of unjustified police shootings; instead they struggle to come up with even one. Police actually kill black suspects *less* often than they do white ones. They kill suspects when they reasonably fear for their own safety or that of bystanders. When a… Read more »
Mr. Newsome, If you would like more information about Israel, I would be very happy to send you, THE CASE FOR MORAL CLARITY by Alan M. Dershowitz. It documents infor about Israel, Hamas and Gaza.
Hawk Newsome is a politician . He doesn’t say what he means and he doesn’t mean what he says!!
We shouldn’t care what some race baiting Police hating Marxist says about Isreal. Ben Shapiro 2020
80% of murdered blacks are killed by other blacks.Instead of blaming everyone else, a true leader would first look within his own community to try and remedy the varied terrible problems facing black neighborhoods.
If he really wants to uplift the black communities of NY and promote peace, then someone should reach out to him to publicize “Sheva Mitzvos bnei Noach” – living according to this will accomplish more than all the rallies !!
Mr Newsome – It is a breath of fresh air to read that you give credit to American Jews for “having a significant role in laying the foundation of many major civil rights organizations” but it goes way beyond that. It was the Jewish shop owners,movie theatre owners, etc in the South who were in the forefront of integrating their businesses BEFORE the law demanded it. Jewish kids from NY traveled to the South to assist with voter registration & wound up giving their LIVES for that. Why haven’t any Black “leaders” pointed that out to these later generations rather… Read more »
Is correct. He does not state support of Israel but rather an acknowledgement of American Jewish support for civl rights. I think he dances around support for Israel like a politician, which is why I did not repost the essay.
He doesn’t say that he supports Israel. He says he doesn’t feel qualified to render an opinion.
I don’t know if he really believes what he’s saying or not. But I do know that it’s politically smart of him to say it.
It’s reassuring to read that there are some moderates and people of reason in the group.
Glad he’s got it right. Crown Heights Jews stand for racial equality.
Is their a smarter way to aquire 100,000+ white brooklynite supporters?