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It’s Time to Walk Away From the Women’s March
Politics makes strange bedfellows, forcing us to ally ourselves with people whose views on other matters we do not share. How should we determine with whom to join hands and whom to reject? Some people have proposed a quantitative scale: If we agree on 75 percent of issues, then we can work together. I think our barometer must also be qualitative. Some differences are so beyond the pale that, even if I agree with most of your objectives, there is no room for compromise. I cannot join you. Such is the case with the current leadership of the national Women’s March.
Many Jewish women enthusiastically participated in the January 2017 marches, the largest of which happened in Washington, D.C., but also occurred in cities across the United States and the world. They came in droves with their pussy hats, baby strollers, walkers, mates, children, grandchildren and witty signs. But things have soured since then, not with the march’s objectives, but with its leadership.
In the months following the march, it became clear that one of its main organizers, Linda Sarsour, was a virulent opponent of Zionism, having tweeted back in 2012: “Nothing is creepier than Zionism.” Embracing the canard that Zionism is racism, she laid down a challenge to women who “call themselves Zionists” and want to participate in racial justice events. They must choose, she argued in more tweets: “We will not change who we are to make anybody feel comfortable. If you ain’t all in, then this ain’t the movement for you.” In other words, it’s either progressivism or Zionism.
Sarsour and some of her colleagues’ allegiance to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan is most disturbing. Sarsour and Tamika D. Mallory, one of the co-leaders of the Women’s March, kept silent when Farrakhan described “the powerful Jews” as “my enemy,” and “the mother and father of apartheid.” When Mallory was criticized for her failure to condemn Farrakhan’s statements, she tweeted: “If your leader does not have the same enemies as Jesus, they may not be THE leader! Study the Bible and u will find the similarities.” This reference to Jesus’ enemies (“the Jews”) had unmistakable antisemitic overtones.
In recent months, Farrakhan again has engaged in hateful rhetoric, declaring in a sermon that “Satanic Jews” have “infected the whole world with poison and deceit.” Denying he’s an antisemite, he said at another speech that he is “anti-termite.”
In the wake of these controversies, Women’s March leaders have belatedly issued statements insisting, “We will not tolerate anti-Semitism, racism, misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia and we condemn these expressions of hatred in all forms.” While they have disassociated themselves from antisemitism in general, they did not explicitly condemn Farrakhan’s statements.
For many Jewish women, particularly baby boomers, this controversy resonates in a deeply painful way. Various international women’s gatherings, including those under the auspices of the United Nations, have been the scene of virulent antisemitism. In July 1975, at the U.N. World Conference of the International Women’s Year in Mexico City, we witnessed successful attempts, spearheaded by the Soviet Union and the Palestine Liberation Organization, to link Zionism with racism and colonialism. Subsequently, the full United Nations declared Zionism to be racism. Today, this effort by the far—and not so far—left to toxify Zionism and Israel has continued. We see it in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement; among the leadership of the United Kingdom’s Labour Party, with Jeremy Corbyn at the head; and in many other arenas.
It is encouraging that some local Women’s March groups have publicly walked away from the national movement, denouncing its exclusion and antisemitic associations. Coalitions in Colorado, New York, Rhode Island and elsewhere have organized their own efforts, including new marches on Jan. 19, when another national march was also slated. And even as we leave this particular effort, we must do two things: We must remain warriors for women’s equality and fight to end sexual abuse of women in the workplace and beyond, and we must recognize that antisemitism is not just on the political left. Most of the overt, violent antisemitic acts in the United States have come from far-right individuals and groups that are both antisemitic and misogynist.
Clearly, Sarsour, Mallory and their colleagues are not responsible for what Farrakhan says. But how can they claim to lead a social justice movement when they stand shoulder to shoulder with a man who explicitly expresses virulent antisemitism and homophobia? We are not asking them to conform to our views or become Zionists. We are asking, “How can self-respecting Jewish women support you when you stand by someone who called us termites and then only offer tepid critiques after a wave of criticism swept over you?”
For those who have refused to sever ties with the national movement, this should be a deal breaker because what, of course, does one do to termites? (See under Nazis.) We already know the answer to that.
Deborah E. Lipstadt teaches Holocaust studies at Emory University in Atlanta and is the author of the recently published Antisemitism Here and Now (Schocken), from which portions of this article are drawn and which explains the author’s preference for the spelling of antisemitism.
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Susan Nuni says
Incorrect information! This is only happening within the Woman’s March DC, Under the name women’s march Inc., or national woman’s march, the sister marches in separate states are not a part of that organization. Please ammend the article to reflect this, as not to cause damage to our movement!!!!!
Susan nuni says
https://www.facebook.com/wmnsmarchla/photos/a.1234455566648003/2036614769765408/?type=3
Rachel says
Thank you for this EXCELLENT summary of the Women’s March “leadership”!! As a former member of the board of Women’s March Barcelona I left the movement when it became clear that Barcelona would not change its name and distance itself from the Women’s March “brand.”
My mother is the co-president of her Hadassah chapter and every month I read their newsletter and learn time and again the amazing work that Hadassah (a Zionist organization) does not only in Israel but around the world. I couldn’t be more proud to be a Life Member of Hadassah- an organization that will help anyone who walks through their hospital doors and any country in need around the world. People have no idea the medical research and cures they benefit from thanks to donations to Hadassah Hospitals in Israel.
Bonnie Diamond says
Thank you for your article/commentary. I wholeheartedly agree with all that you and Rabbi Newman Kamin said in her January JUF Commentary, “Why people ought to distance selves from national Women’s March leadership”. My daughter and I have reserved space on a bus from suburban Chicago to Washington. I seem to be asking the following questions but no one is giving me answers so please reply:
1)Do you mean we shouldn’t be participating in the March? If so, how will we voice our opposition to the many issues of concern? I’ve taken all the online surveys and called and sent emails to my Senators and Representative butI think my voice is stronger alongside multitudes of marchers as it was the day after his inauguration.
2)How will the President, Congress and fellow citizens know that the March leadership is why we’re not there? I certainly don’t want them to think we stayed home because we are compliant and/or apathetic to what is happening in our country.
I would appreciate your reply. Thank you, Bonnie Diamond
Jan S says
I’m proud that my hometown, Asheville, NC, has a Women’s March on January 20 and proudly declares they are independent and they welcome all to join in. If you don’t want to support the DC March, find one near you and look on their information to see if it’s independent and if it welcomes and supports all women. I’m a 3rd generation Life Member of Hadassah, read the magazine every month, was a proud member of Young Judaea, attending Camp Judaea in Hendersonville, NC, for several years, and a proud reader of Deborah Lipstadt’s books. Yes, call out the leaders of the National March (I have) and work for women’s dignity everywhere.
Cdmjudyw508@gmail.com says
I too am a Life Member of Hadassah. From the beginng of Women’s March I researched who their leaders were. I waa shocked to learn their leaders were known Anti Semites. I refused to join any group where it’s leaders seek destruction of Jews and Israel. I cannot understand how our sisters could believe such hate and still attend
Kayla Weiner says
I am not a Hadassah member and with this article I will never be. We can’t distance from this march. We must be there to resist. Resist the governmental affront to humanity and resist the internalized anti-Semitism of some of the march leaders. We can change this system only from within. Education will help and our presence will do more.
Judith Brea says
Pie in the sky, Kayla Weiner. These leaders will never change from within or education.
Anne Richards says
Excellent point! I’m surprised that Lipstadt’s acknowledgement of this is so tepid. Also, this article is being posted on social media and people are reading the headline only.
Marcia Kurz says
The organizers must step down/be pushed out first in order to march with them. Otherwise march with other groups. Empower other women’s marches in your own state such as the Zioness Women’s March. If we don’t directly fight against Anti-Semitism in the national organization how can we change anything in our country or the world.
https://www.facebook.com/zionessmovement/
Aari says
Here is a statement by rabbis who met with Sarsour & Mallory:
“We the undersigned are Rabbis who decry anti-Semitism in all forms and affirm our support for the Women’s March.
We have recently been in dialogue with Women’s March leaders, Tamika Mallory and Linda Sarsour, engaging in frank discussions about the issues that are dividing our communities: the connection of Tamika Mallory with Nation of Islam leader Reverend Louis Farrakhan, whose words about Jews and LGBTQ people are anathema to us; the perception of earlier erasure of Jewish women from this and other women’s movements; and ongoing personal attacks on Tamika Mallory and Linda Sarsour, including threats against their lives. We have also discussed the widespread reality of racism and anti-Semitism in American society, and the reasons why we can more effectively combat these societal structures by working together.
Tamika and Linda have listened carefully and respectfully to our hurt and concern. We have not resolved our differences but we agree to continue meeting, talking and working together long after the 2019 Women’s March is over. Tamika and Linda have also heard the concerns of other Jewish leaders and have acknowledged earlier mistakes. They have denounced anti-Semitism and have taken meaningful steps to welcome more Jewish women onto the Steering Committee of the Women’s March and engage Jewish organizations at the highest levels of collaboration. They also reminded us that the Women’s March has included Jewish leaders since its inception, and that Jews always have been celebrated as a part of the Movement. We believe them and our belief is strengthened by the official statement of the Women’s March, which affirms:
“Every member of our movement matters to us — including our incredible Jewish and LGBTQ members. We are deeply sorry for the harm we have caused, but we see you, we love you, and we are fighting with you…. We are deeply invested in building better and deeper relationships with the Jewish community. And we’re committed to deepening relationships with any community who has felt left out of this movement.”
We recognize that:
• Statements and actions from and about our different communities have caused pain and threaten to derail the hopeful possibility of a truly multifaceted Women’s Movement.
• We must all pay more attention to the spread of white supremacy and white nationalism in this country, forces which seek to exploit our pain, divide us, and ultimately destroy us
• All of our communities are internally complex and diverse and involve webs of connection that are misunderstood by people outside those communities. No individual can speak for an entire group of people.
• Movements for positive change only work when we prioritize love over anger and trust over fear, and when we stay focused on our shared goals.
We have learned too well that divisions between Jews and People of Color only serve to further the aims of white supremacists and their enablers, and to erase the strong presence in our Jewish communities of Jews of Color. We believe there is power and beauty in an intersectional, multiracial, multifaith, women-led movement that is the ideal of the Women’s March. We believe the best way to ensure that ideal is to stay in the conversation and work in good faith with our partners. We also want to support our Jewish women of color sisters who have called upon the community to show up to the Women’s March.
We encourage members of the Jewish community to participate in the Women’s March on 1/19/19. In Washington, D.C. and New York City, there are contingents of Jews marching together, and those who wish to express Jewish pride and solidarity may wish to join them. We hope that future marches of many kinds are held on different days, and we will carry in spirit those who cannot march this year, out of devotion to their Shabbat observance.
Our deepest hope for this March and for this Movement is that they become a sanctuary for all who march, offering safety, pride, love and hope. We take seriously the Divine instruction in Torah (Exodus 25:8): ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם “Make for me a holy sanctuary and I will dwell with you.”
We pledge to remain actively involved with the Women’s March, its next steps, its hopeful agenda, and its leadership, Linda and Tamika in particular. We pledge to continue creating and strengthening relationships across our differences and to work towards our shared goals. In this way, we pray, we will join people across this country in building a sanctuary in time and place that invites the Divine to dwell among us.”
Signed by
Rabbi Barat Ellman, Phd; Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg; Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Hermann; Rabbi Lisa D. Grant, PhD; Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum; Rabbi Ellen Lippmann, Rabbi Mike Rothbaum, Rabbi Joshua Stanton, Rabbi Nancy H. Wiener
Aari says
To see discussion and rationale for staying engaged see this post by Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum: https://www.facebook.com/sharon.kleinbaum/posts/10215718697911931
Aari says
A competing editorial in the Forward:
https://forward.com/scribe/417259/we-jewish-women-must-show-up-at-the-womens-march/
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