Nearly 50 Jewish Organizations and Leaders Launch Petition Drive Pledging to Combat Hatred and Violence
-Sign the petition here–
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 17, 2017
Contact: Jeff Simmons, jeff@anatgerstein.com, 917-673-0024, Lynsey Billet, lynsey@anatgerstein.com, 718-793-2211
(New York, N.Y.) – A coalition of Jewish organizations today launched a petition drive to combat escalating incidents of violence and hatred in the wake of the deadly Charlottesville clash this past weekend.
“We are confronted with increasing anti-Semitic, racist, Islamophobic, anti-immigrant, homophobic, transphobic and misogynistic attacks and more and more extreme versions of hate. Today, we commit to stand together with people of all races and nationalities to resist and say ‘Never Again,’” the petition reads.
The petition was initiated by Bend the Arc, National Council of Jewish Women and The Workmen’s Circle. You can access the petition here or at https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/never-again-means-never-again.
Cosponsors include some of the most prominent Jewish organizations:
Ameinu
American Jewish World Service
Avodah
Bend the Arc
B’nai Jeshurun
Camp Kinderland
Carolina Jews for Justice
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Democratic Socialists of American Jewish Solidarity Caucus
Fair Trade Judaica
Habonim Dror North America
Hashomer Hatzair
HIAS
IfNotNow
J Street
Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action
Jewish Community Action
Jewish Currents
Jewish Labor Committee
Jewish Reconstructionist Communities
Jewish Women International
Jewish Youth for Community Action
Jews United for Justice
Jews for Racial and Economic Justice
Keshet
Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives
MAZON
Moishe House Boston: Kavod Jewish Social Justice House
National Council of Jewish Women
New Israel Fund
New Yiddish Rep
Partners for Progressive Israel
Rabbi Burton L. Visotzky/Jewish Theological Seminary
Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Herrmann
Rabbi Michael Feinberg/Greater New York Labor-Religion Coalition
Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum/Congregation Beit Simchat Torah
Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub
Randi Weingarten/American Federation of Teachers
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
Ruth Messinger
Sholem Community
Stuart Appelbaum/Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union/UFCW
Union for Reform Judaism
Uri L’Tzedek
The Workmen’s Circle
Alison Hirsh, Kevin Brown, Manny Pastreich, Lenore Friedlaender of 32BJ/SEIU
Organizers hope to rally support from Jews and allies to strengthen the national movement against hate, bigotry and intolerance.
The petition drive was launched in the aftermath of clashes among White Supremacists and protestors at a White Supremacist rally in Charlottesville. During that afternoon, a man drove his car into a pool of protesters, killing one woman and injuring dozens of others.
The full text of the petition can be read below:
Never again means never again!
The events in Charlottesville on Saturday, August 12th did not occur in isolation.
What happened in Charlottesville directly connects to a growing national movement of White Supremacist organizations and individuals who have been emboldened by the atmosphere of intolerance, xenophobia and exclusion promulgated by elected leaders. These leaders promote these reprehensible words and actions and/or refuse to stand up and denounce them. In doing so, they are complicit with Saturday’s violent outcome.
We are confronted with increasing anti-Semitic, racist, Islamophobic, anti-immigrant, homophobic, transphobic and misogynistic attacks and more and more extreme versions of hate. Today, we commit to stand together with people of all races and nationalities to resist and say “Never Again.”
As Jews, we have witnessed this before. We must strip away the terms “white nationalist” or “alt-right,” both designed to legitimize what we know is racism, Nazism and Fascism, pure and simple.
As Jews, we commit to following the traditions of resistance so exemplified by Jewish partisans, our courageous ancestors of the past century who, in the face of the Nazis unimaginable attacks, coined the rallying cry in Yiddish: Mir zaynen do! We are here!
In their names, in our names, and in the names of all children who deserve to grow up in a country that lives up to the ideals of democracy, we pledge to fight at every turn these attacks on all of our rights and freedoms.
Sign our petition and send the message, “Never again”
To our elected leaders and to all who are promoting – and permitting — bigotry, hatred, and violence in our country:
As a Jew, I join this movement and pledge NEVER AGAIN! I join the many communities of people in the United States committed to a country that promises freedom from discrimination and welcoming policies for refugees; rights for immigrants, freedom from religious and racial persecution, and economic justice for each one of us. I pledge to resist and fight back against the hatred and dangerous threats that this growing white supremacist movement represents.
I demand that the White House and Congress take immediate steps to stop the spread of fascism in this country. And I commit to take whatever actions I can, including educating myself and others, speaking out on behalf of the oppressed, and working within my community and beyond to ensure that our elected officials act in support of this pledge.
Mir zaynen do! We are here!
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Individual Signer
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The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. More information on Facebook and on Twitter at @NCJW.