This Hanukkah season, Jewish activists are holding demonstrations in fifteen cities throughout America, protesting against Islamophobia and racism. The groups – Jews For Peace and New York’s Jews Against Islamophobia – have compiled eight pledge signs, each symbolizing the eight candles of a Jewish menorah.
An example of the pledges:
– We will not be silent about anti-Muslim and racist hate speech and hate crimes
– We challenge, through our words and actions, institutionalized racism and state-sanctioned anti-Black violence
– We fight anti-Muslim profiling and racial profiling in all its forms
– We welcome Syrian refugees and stand strong for immigrants’ rights and refugee rights
“I believe that our role as members of the Jewish community is to continue to speak out as Jews opposed to Islamophobia,” says activist Donna Nevel of the JVP. “To meaningfully engage with those who are living and experiencing racism and Islamophobia; and to be principled, consistent partners in this work.”
