We have had many from the Jewish community joining Palestinians and antifascists to condemn the actions of Israel in the war in Gaza. That should be the first clue that Antisemitism in the name of Anti-Zionism should not even come from us!

Luis-Enrique Marquez and Nik Pears

This article is about something that will be considered “taboo” with many of my allies and fellow Americans. But with that said, and after much consideration, we feel that it needs to be addressed.

To put it briefly and bluntly: We are being douche bags to our Jewish friends!

This willful ignorance is putting our Jewish brothers and sisters people in serious jeopardy, many whom have stood with us for generations, and it’s come to the point I feel I have to say something.  

While Zionism is a part of Judaism, Judaism is not part of Zionism. Zionism is a Nationalistic philosophy that puts a group of people before all others.

Judaism is a religion, to me, which shouldn’t be treated any non-different from any other religious practices in this world. All people should feel safe and free enough to practice worship whatever gives them peace.  

The problem, is that since the attacks of Hamas attacked on October 7, many have conflated the two. This is resulting in good people being attacked and labelled as racists or bigots themselves, turning them into something that they are not nor ever wanted to be associated with.   

As of December 11, 2023, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reports that attacks on Jewish Americans were up 337% with more than 2000 attacks reported since the Hamas attacked.

This includes:

• 40 incidents of physical assault
• 337 incidents of vandalism
• 749 incidents of verbal or written harassment
• 905 rallies including antisemitic rhetoric, expressions of support for terrorism against the state of Israel and/or anti-Zionism.

Averaging over 30 incidents a day!

United States Senator Bernie Sanders has also been on the receiving end of Antisemitism over the last few years, including having swastikas painted onto his campaign offices.

Just recently he was quoted to say:

“The last thing this country needs is a Donald Trump or some other right-wing demagogue who is going to try to undermine American democracy or take away a woman’s right to choose, or not address the crisis of gun violence, or racism, sexism or homophobia,” Continuing on to say “I think Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee. And my job, and I think the progressive movement’s job, is to make certain that he stands up and fights for the working class of this country and does not take anything for granted.”

Now  not all of you will agree with what Sanders is saying or doing for the States but he has never stepped back from a fight, even if it meant making himself a target.

I believe that the reason this movement is happening, frankly is that many American Leftists cannot tell nor care to or do not know the difference between Zionism and Judaism. Let alone take the time to learn the differences between the two. We are flat out blaming the wrong group of people for the brutal happenings against the Palestinian people.     

Jewish people have stood with us (the American left) for decades, but many of them are now afraid. 

Afraid that pride in their religion is equated with Zionism.

They are being attacked in their homes, on the streets, on college campuses and in the synagogues  sanctuaries of their faith. That is not ok!      

Jewish people are no more to blame for the actions of the Israeli government and the atrocities it is committing than the average American citizen is guilty of all the crimes the United States commits daily upon the World.    

Let me make it clear, it’s ok to fight Zionism in fact it’s a political responsibility to fight it, just like any other form of fascism.

We as antifascists oppose land being taken or given to for any one group of people regardless of sexual orientation, Religion or race. All people have a right to all land. Land is for all.  

American Leftists need to do a better job of educating themselves and I would encourage that we as leftists read and do more research on subjects in the future instead of jumping onto the just go with populist thought. That is what got and will get Trump and other fascists elected at the next election.   

It’s important to know the roots of Zionism, https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/resource/zionism/ it came about in the 19th century when people were talking about what Nationhood should look like. Jews had been living in Europe for hundreds of years yet always treated as outsiders, always thought of as less than human, always the victims of violence against them due to their ethnicity.

Like most, they began to want a home land for themselves. The racism of 19th century Europe was on a level that we could not imagine in todays’ world. Palestine was considered a land without inhabitants – i.e., no white people were living there – so why not take it over?

The problems now encompassing the Middle East will only be solved by the people who live there, not by attacking Jewish people living thousands of miles from where the conflict is currently happening.

So its time to do better and support all, not just one.