Rockland Executive Decries Possibly Anti-Semitic Innuendos At Rockland Legislature Meeting
by Monsey.info
The Jewish Federation and Foundation of Rockland County issued a statement Thursday afternoon calling out specific language used at a recent Rockland Legislature meeting.
“In the context of recent discussions at the County Legislature, the term “hidden persuaders” was quoted and used by a number of legislators to describe persons they claimed control the county government,” the Jewish Federation wrote. “The Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Rockland condemns the use of well-worn antisemitic tropes like “hidden persuaders” by anyone, of any political stripe, especially among our representatives.”
The Federation continued their reasoningwhy such retoric was not just insulting, but dangerous.
“This theme has too often been used by those with an antisemitic agenda as a code word for Jews. Only a few days ago, these exact tropes motivated the terrorist who took hostages in a Colleyville, Texas synagogue. We call on all who have used or quoted this language to retract it immediately, and invite them to meet with Federation to learn more about the terrible outcomes of the use of these words and tropes,” they wrote
The sentiment was mirrored by ROckland Executive Ed Day, who wrote “The Jewish Federation and Foundation of Rockland County has expressed clear concern about this language. I have consistently called on Rockland residents to listen to and learn from their friends and neighbors and I encourage all those who used the language referenced above or repeated it to do so now.”
As a means of educating Rocklanders on the effects of anti-semitism, Day pointed residents to the Holocaust Museum and Center for Tolerance and Education, and their online website.
“I want to echo the words that the Jewish Federation and Foundation of Rockland County used in one of their Facebook posts on this topic, “We learn from the past, and we build a better future,” Day concluded. “May we all learn from the past, from each other and build a better future together for the safety and well-being of all Rocklanders.”
