BY BANNING JEWISH AND ISRAELI SYMBOLS, DC DYKE MARCH UNDERMINES ITS INTENDED PURPOSE

By Banning the Jewish Pride Flag and Israeli Symbols, DC Dyke March Undermines Its Intended Purpose

As a coalition of LGBTQ, Jewish, and feminist organizations, representing dykes, queer women, and allies in Washington and across the country, we come together to strongly condemn the leadership of the DC Dyke March for their decision to ban the Jewish Star of David on a pride flag and Israeli iconography at their upcoming March, this Friday, June 7.

We ask the organizers to hold true to their mission of inclusivity as stated on their website: “The D.C. Dyke March exists to celebrate and center all Dykes.”

Together we call on the DC Dyke March to apologize to the community, and reverse course by allowing Dykes wishing to carry all Jewish and Israeli symbols to march as their full, authentic selves.

Through inquiries, Dyke March leadership indicated that Israeli flags and related national symbols are not welcome. When pressed about the need to create an inclusive environment for all queer women––including the many Jewish Dykes who wish to carry Jewish pride flags, representing both pieces of their inherent identities, and including the many Jewish and non-Jewish Dykes who consider Israel to be the rightful homeland of the Jewish people­­––organizers declared via Facebook that ‘participants [may] not bring pro-Israel paraphernalia’ including Israeli flags and pride flags with the Star of David on them. When pressed on flags and national symbols from other countries, it became clear Israel had been singled out.

This policy is reminiscent of the controversy surrounding the Chicago Dyke March two years ago, in which three marchers with a Jewish pride flag were asked to leave.

We acknowledge and commend the organizers for reviving the DC Dyke March, and for addressing social justice issues of economic, racial, and gender inequality. Queer women in Israel face similar challenges as well, and as a global community, we must stand up for all marginalized people, regardless of national identity or origin.

Finally, to the extent that organizers intended the ban as a form of protection for queer Palestinians and Arabs, the decision makes queer Jews and Israelis that much more vulnerable at a time of rising anti-Semitism, on the far right and far left.

The DC Dyke March should know better than to stoke the flames of division and pain by driving a wedge between Queer Arabs and Jews at a time we must stand united against homo- and transphobia, anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia. We hope that they will do better––for the sake and advancement of all of our communities.


https://awiderbridge.org/dc-dykemarch/

Since when was the star of david perceived to be something wrong?
This is appalling to see happenning today and also the Israeli flag represents the israeli people. Who are Jews, Arabs, Muslims, Christians, athiests, Ethiopians, Druze etc.

phil wrote:Since when was the star of david perceived to be something wrong?

Since they wrote the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution.  "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

The 1st Amendment has become the moral basis for attitudes generally about not only freedom of religion, but freedom of speech and freedom of association.  How often do you hear: it's a free country, I'll say what I want?

The DC Dyke March is simply saying: Don't turn our event into a dilution of mixed messages.  The pro-Israelites can hold a march of their own.  This is particularly so since Natanyahu has turned the Israeli cause--indeed, the religion of Israel--into a geopolitical weapon.

Not all Dykes support the Israeli political cause, nor do all Jews support the LBGTQ cause.  It mixes messages, and dilutes the theme of the Dyke March.  If you allow some to divert the March into alternative themes, why not sell space for Coca-Cola advertising, or Joe's Plumbing?  You're already mixing messages, make a little money too.

Original Quill wrote:

phil wrote:Since when was the star of david perceived to be something wrong?

Since they wrote the 1st Amendment to the United States Constitution.  "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

The 1st Amendment has become the moral basis for attitudes generally about not only freedom of religion, but freedom of speech and freedom of association.  How often do you hear: it's a free country, I'll say what I want?

The DC Dyke March is simply saying: Don't turn our event into a dilution of mixed messages.  The pro-Israelites can hold a march of their own.  This is particularly so since Natanyahu has turned the Israeli cause--indeed, the religion of Israel--into a geopolitical weapon.

Not all Dykes support the Israeli political cause, nor do all Jews support the LBGTQ cause.  It mixes messages, and dilutes the theme of the Dyke March.  If you allow some to divert the March into alternative themes, why not sell space for Coca-Cola advertising, or Joe's Plumbing?  You're already mixing messages, make a little money too.

Yet they are allowing other symbols and have said all are inclusive to the event
Hence they are discriminating against Jews
How is the star of david a mixed message that actually represents Jews?
I knew you would of course yet again support discriminating Jews.
Nobody has to support the Israel cause, what ever you thinbk that is?
Why is the Israel Flag wrong to be something to be proud of who are israeli's and gay?
The majority of Muslims do not support LGBT rights, so should any of their symbols be  banned as well, based on your poor and prejudiced thinking? How about Gay Christians symbols?

phil wrote:Yet they are allowing other symbols and have said all are inclusive to the event
Hence they are discriminating against Jews

No, they are not. If I go to a peace rally, and hold up a sign advertising Hilton Hotels, they are likely to ask me not to use their event to advertise. Essentially, they are saying don't mix the message.

Netanyahu has made the Israeli cause--emblemized by the Star of David (it's literally on the flag of Israel)--somewhat unpopular with some. They don't need their rally turned into a political event for Israel, or Palestine, or Russia.

Makes sense.

Original Quill wrote:

phil wrote:Yet they are allowing other symbols and have said all are inclusive to the event
Hence they are discriminating against Jews

No, they are not.  If I go to a peace rally, and hold up a sign advertising Hilton Hotels, they are likely to ask me not to use their event to advertise.  Essentially, they are saying don't mix the message.

Netanyahu has made the Israeli cause--emblemized by the Star of David (it's literally on the flag of Israel)--somewhat unpopular with some.  They don't need their rally turned into a political event for Israel, or Palestine, or Russia.

Makes sense.

So basically you are condemning Israel gay people and Jewish gay people. The later having nothing to do with Israel based on one person, Netanyahu. So a fallacy guilt by association

The star of david represents all Jewish people and not just Israeli's. As seen its Jewish symbols that are beiing single out. Even though homophobia is rampant in America with the Christian right. No christian pride symbols are banned. Gay people in Muslim countries face some of the worst persecutions and none of Muslim gay pride symbols are banned.

So based on how unpopular something is, why are you not calling for any flags, that has human rights abuses to be banned, any symbol, which persecutes gays?

The point of gay pride flags with symbols, is to show love and inclusiveness to all gay people not matter their background, ethnicity or religion. Which means jewish and israeli gay people.

phil wrote:So basically you are condemning Israel gay people and Jewish gay people.

No, they can join in the festivities.  They are simply asked not to dilute the message.

phil wrote:The star of david represents all Jewish people and not just Israeli's.

That is changing a lot these days.  More and more the Star of David is seen as the symbol of Netanyahu and all he represents.

phil wrote:So based on how unpopular something is, why are you not calling for any flags, that has human rights abuses to be banned, any symbol, which persecutes gays?

Because they are not doing it for reasons of popularity or unpopularity.  They are doing it so as not to dilute the message.  Unfortunately, contrary to your pleas of general universality, Netanyahu has turned the Star of David in to a symbol of a specific political cause.

Keep in mind the Dykes March is not banning anyone for their causes.  That would be to step into another debate, and exacerbate the issue.  They are doing it to preserve the purity of the LBGTQ message.  Big difference.

Original Quill wrote:

phil wrote:So basically you are condemning Israel gay people and Jewish gay people.

No, they can join in the festivities.  They are simply asked not to dilute the message.

phil wrote:Dilute the message? How is someone being proud of being jewish and gay, expressing this with the star of david diluting the message, unless you think there is something wrong with being Jewish?

That is changing a lot these days.  More and more the Star of David is seen as the symbol of Netanyahu and all he represents.

phil wrote:Right so, should I see the state of california flag, as a cesspit of democratic antisemitism? So your view to ban something is based on your own and some other haters arbritary view point? In other words, you are taking opwnership of what a flag means. How racist can you actually get, seriously?

Because they are not doing it for reasons of popularity or unpopularity.  They are doing it so as not to dilute the message.  Unfortunately, contrary to your pleas of general universality, Netanyahu has turned the Star of David in to a symbol of a specific political cause.

Keep in mind the Dykes March is not banning anyone for their causes.  That would be to step into another debate, and exacerbate the issue.  They are doing it to preserve the purity of the LBGTQ message.  Big difference.

Whgat does it matter if he has. That does not mean this is what it represents to many Jews.You do understand they are allowing Palestinian flags?

They have said people will be turned away if they show up with said symbols.

This goes against the view to be inclusive to all and its actually the march organisors making a political messga e themselves

Washington Post wrote:A.J. Campbell, 50, said she wanted to be sure a Jewish Pride flag would be welcome at the march, following a 2017 incident in which several Jewish women were asked to leave the Chicago Dyke March for carrying similar flags. Organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign and Anti-Defamation League condemned the decision.

Chicago organizers have said the flag too closely resembled the Israeli flag — and sporting an Israeli flag flew in the face of the Chicago march’s anti-Zionist beliefs.

Yael Horowitz, a Jewish organizer of the D.C. march, said this year’s organizers considered what happened in Chicago before crafting their own policy on flags and symbolism.Ultimately, she said, they decided to ban all “nationalist symbols,” including flags and banners that represent “nations that have specific oppressive tendencies.”

“If someone would show up with an American flag but with the stripes as a rainbow, we would treat it the same way,” Horowitz said. “I think what’s getting erased here is pro-Israel and pro-Jewish are very different things.”

Some flags, including the Palestinian flag, will be permitted, she said.

In a Facebook message to Campbell, Horowitz wrote, “Jewish stars and other identifications and celebrations of Jewishness (yarmulkes, talit, other expressions of Judaism or Jewishness) are welcome and encouraged. We do ask that participants not bring pro-Israel paraphernalia in solidarity with our queer Palestinian friends.”

Campbell found the response unsettling.

“I just thought, the Chicago Dyke March is happening all over again — here,” she said, adding she has participated in Dyke Marches in New York and the District while toting her flag. “I’ve been a Jewish lesbian for a long time, and it’s never been a problem. . . . They seem to have very specific ideas about what kind of Jew I’m supposed to be, and I don’t feel like they get to say that.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/pride-and-protest-dyke-march-returns-to-washington-after-a-12-year-hiatus/2019/06/05/8eb58e12-86f4-11e9-a491-25df61c78dc4_story.html?fbclid=IwAR2jQ4kzd0-liUirSRsamwIiQ7ZeCETHISnH5lVo9QaA-6Qous6cPGEmh9c&noredirect=on&utm_term=.9c20dc59af12

And Palestinian gays constantly flee to israel, as they are persecuted in the Palestinian territories

You cannot make it up and shows, this is not an inclusive march but a politicized march, that is denying the identy of israeli and Jewish lesbians. Claiming being anti-zionist. That means they are chosing sides and not being inclusive. That is not a message of love but hate

phil wrote:Whgat does it matter if he has. That does not mean this is what it represents to many Jews.You do understand they are allowing Palestinian flags?

Who, Netanyahu...turning the Star of David to mean selfishness?   Well, it is what it is.  Proof is in the pudding.  Bennie is what Bennie does.  There's got to be some truth in all those sayings.

As Netanyahu moves into mundane, selfish politics--pulling the Star of David along with him--it loses the patina of Israel as the vestal virgin.

It's the opinion of the people that counts, not your opinion.  If you lose touch with that, you become the proverbial New York bag lady, yelling at the wind as she feeds bread to the pigeons.

Original Quill wrote:

phil wrote:Whgat does it matter if he has. That does not mean this is what it represents to many Jews.You do understand they are allowing Palestinian flags?

Who, Netanyahu...turning the Star of David to mean selfishness?   Well, it is what it is.  Proof is in the pudding.  Bennie is what Bennie does.  There's got to be some truth in all those sayings.

As Netanyahu moves into mundane, selfish politics--pulling the Star of David along with him--it loses the patina of Israel as the vestal virgin.

It's the opinion of the people that counts, not your opinion.  If you lose touch with that, you become the proverbial New York bag lady, yelling at the wind.

What proof is in the pudding?
The problem with you Quill, is beiung the blatant antisemite that you are, you distort actually what is going on in the conflict.
Israel continues to give up land for peace and everytime, the vacuum is field with terrorists
So you have just insulted every single Jew to claim that now the star of david means selfish, yet another antisemitic troupe
Bernie does not hate Israel or is he anti-zionist. He is critical of policies. Hence unlike you, he does not claim the star of David represents Netanyahu.

Yeah the opinion of the people did count in Nazi Germany and that opinion is creeping more and more into society today, by the likes of people like you.

phil wrote:The problem with you Quill, is beiung the blatant antisemite that you are, you distort actually what is going on in the conflict.

It's not about me. It's about Israel, and what it has become under Netanyahu. Israel lost the patina of righteousness when it started its lebensraum. It moved over into the realm of self-interested player.

Original Quill wrote:

phil wrote:The problem with you Quill, is beiung the blatant antisemite that you are, you distort actually what is going on in the conflict.

It's not about me.  It's about Israel, and what it has become under Netanyahu.  Israel lost the patina of righteousness when it started its lebensraum.  It moved over into the realm of self-interested player.

Two things comparing isralei policy to the nazis, even more when it has no comparability, is antisemitic by the US own defintion of antisemitism. This is why you enable antisemitism and stupidly so. The settlements are in limbo, israel has not annexed the land they are within and they will either become part of a new palestinian state and then be ethnically cleansed by the Palestinian authority. As it does not allow any Jews to live with the areas they control. Or it will be part of a peace plan, that includes land swaps. It shows you do not even understand lebensraum is or what its intended goals were for the nazi's. Now if you claim only Jews cannot settle in lands, then you would then be against any form of immigration and migration. Showing you deliberatley lie to supercharge this with hateful comparissons to the nazi's. That is not the sign of someone who is academic, but seeking to deligitimise a nation, by comparing this nation to the nazi's. Which is disgusting.

No, Israel isn’t a country of privileged and powerful white Europeans

Along with resurgent identity politics in the United States and Europe, there is a growing inclination to frame the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in terms of race. According to this narrative, Israel was established as a refuge for oppressed white European Jews who in turn became oppressors of people of color, the Palestinians.

As an Israeli, and the son of an Iraqi Jewish mother and North African Jewish father, it’s gut-wrenching to witness this shift.

I am Mizrahi, as are the majority of Jews in Israel today. We are of Middle Eastern and North African descent. Only about 30% of Israeli Jews are Ashkenazi, or the descendants of European Jews. I am baffled as to why mainstream media and politicians around the world ignore or misrepresent these facts and the Mizrahi story. Perhaps it’s because our history shatters a stereotype about the identity of my country and my people.

Israel, the world’s only Jewish state, was not established for just one type of Jew but for all Jews, from every part of the world — the Middle East, North Africa, Ethiopia, Asia and, yes, Europe. No matter where Jews physically reside, they maintain a connection to the land of Israel, where our story started and where today we continue to craft it.

The likes of Women’s March activist Tamika Mallory, Temple University professor Marc Lamont Hill and, more recently, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) falsify reality in their discussions of Palestinians’ “intersectional” struggle, their use of the term “apartheid” to characterize Israeli policy, and their tendency to define Israelis as Ashkenazi Jews alone.

I believe their misrepresentations are part of a strategic campaign to taint Israel as an extension of privileged and powerful white Europe, thereby justifying any and all attacks on it. This way of thinking signals a dangerous trend that positions Israel as a colonialist aggressor rather than a haven for those fleeing oppression. Worse, it all but erases the story of my family, which came to Israel from Iraq and Tunisia.

For most of history, the Mizrahim have been without sovereignty and equality in the Muslim world. In Iraq, despite being “equal citizens” on paper, my family experienced ongoing persecution. The first organized attack came in 1941, the brutal Farhud, a Nazi-incited riot that claimed the lives of hundreds of Jews and forced the survivors to live in fear. My great-grandfather was falsely accused of being a Zionist spy and executed in Baghdad in 1951. My mother’s family was permitted to emigrate that same year, but with only one suitcase.

Any erasure of the Mizrahi experience negates the lives of 850,000 Jewish refugees just like them, who, even in the successor states to the Ottoman Empire of the early 20th century, were treated as “dhimmis,” an Arabic term for a protected minority whose members pay for that protection, which can be withdrawn at any time. Demographic ignorance also works to deny the existence of almost 200,000 descendants of Ethiopian Jews who were threatened by political destabilization in the early 1990s and airlifted to Israel in a daring rescue operation.

One of Judaism’s central themes is a story of national liberation in the face of imperial powers. Israel is a place where an indigenous people have reclaimed their land and revived their ancient language, despite being surrounded by hostile neighbors and hounded by radicalized Arab nationalists who cannot tolerate any political entity in the region other than their own. Jews that were expelled from nations across the Middle East, who sacrificed all they had, have been crucial in building and defending the Jewish state since its outset.

Without a doubt, the creation of Israel provided a haven for Jews who survived the Holocaust and extreme oppression in Europe. However, we cannot acknowledge that history at the expense of Mizrahi Jews, who with so many others, regardless of skin color, shared the desire for a Jewish state long before the establishment of Israel.

Hen Mazzig, an Israeli writer and activist of Iraqi and North African descent, is editor-at-large at the J'accuse Coalition for Justice. @HenMazzig

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-mazzig-mizrahi-jews-israel-20190520-story.html