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Group pressuring U of I on anti-semitism sets its sights on Pritzker
Thursday, May 6, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller * Some background is here and here if you need it and Stop Hate Illinois’ website is here. A March mailer…  * An April mailer…  * A May mailer… 
Yikes. * Response from Quentin Fulks at the Pritzker campaign…
* I haven’t yet been able to track down anyone affiliated with this group… 
Whoever it is, they’re reading this blog.
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- U of I Alum - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 3:33 pm:
This has Illini Hillel, and their warhawk AIPAC funders, written all over it.
- Cool Papa Bell - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 3:36 pm:
Rich - As a journalist and a publisher, how does it make you feel to see those pull quote in a mailer with attribution given to the blog?
- Perrid - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 3:36 pm:
IHRA’s definition of anti-semitism, referenced above: https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definitions-charters/working-definition-antisemitism
- Quibbler - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 3:43 pm:
Pretty clear this is a group trying to shut down pro-Palestinian/pro-BDS speech. Their website basically admits as much, equating BDS to anti-Semitism. The other alleged incidents of anti-Semitism aren’t described in any detail.
- Shibboleth - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 4:05 pm:
I’m definitely hoping that the University addresses attacks and begins taking antisemitism more seriously.
With that said, the accusation against Pritzker is in terrible taste(if not reprehensibl) and the group’s inclusion of banning BDS protests in their platform is also concerning.
- Siriusly - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 4:12 pm:
Rich you’re going to let that comment from U of I alumn stand ?
You’ve deleted me and many others for far less offensive trolling. That’s a ridiculous baseless smear.
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 4:13 pm:
The governor is a descendant of refugees.
- Nuke The Whales - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 5:05 pm:
Noah Pollak is the Executive Director of the Emergency Committee for Israel. It’s an astroturfing operation. His Twitter account is:
www.twitter.com/NoahPollak
- SouthSide Markie - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 5:06 pm:
The image on Google Earth of the address in LA listed on Cyberdrive looks like an apartment building.
- Yiddishcowboy - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 5:24 pm:
@ U of I Alum: Please explain, with proof of course, why you believe that to be the case. It’s a pretty, say, serious accusation (though I certainly have other words to describe it.)
- Yiddishcowboy - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 5:39 pm:
Questioning or debating the policies of Israel or its leaders, as related to the Palestinians, is not a form of antisemitism. That simple. But when a movement or group has as its MO to focus solely on and blame Israel and delegitimize Israel by denying Israel’s right to even exist, that’s a form of antisemitism. That simple too. One can be passionately pro-Palestinian and not (1) subscribe to the BS of BDS (2) be antisemitic.
- Yiddishcowboy - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 5:46 pm:
@ Stop the Hate: if you want support from this Jew (not to mention credibility), stop with the mishegas by thinking the Gov is allowing the antisemitic acts to happen. Your statement is as foolish, or even more so, than some of the comments on this board.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 5:57 pm:
=== But when a movement or group has as its MO to focus solely on and blame Israel and delegitimize Israel by denying Israel’s right to even exist, that’s a form of antisemitism.===
I’ve weighed in on this issue previously. The decision by some activists to explicitly decide that speech against specific acts or deeds carried out by the Nation of Israel is the equivalent of hate speech or explicitly antisemetic is a mistake. Especially since in the process of expecting a university to expel or discipline someone who is advocating against the crimes against humanity committed by Israel is also interfering with the rights of that student and this kind of dispute has to be settled by a judge.
This also sets up a pretty interesting question of what kind of ism is it to deny the right of Palestine to exist? To deny the right of Palestinians to govern their own state?
Whoever thinks it is a good idea to escalate this rhetoric is really overplaying their hand and they’re going to force people to take positions, make rulings, and make determinations that might not be helpful to whatever the long term goals of their organizations are unless the only goal they have is to find some niche from which to attack our Governor.
It’s not reasonable to demand that a University punish students for criticism of Israel by insisting that it’s antisemitic. Especially as an effort to gaslight people with sincere concerns for Israel’s crimes against humanity. The whole concept is everyone has rights.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 6:27 pm:
===Response from Quentin Fulks at the Pritzker campaign===
Completely unrelated to the post, but I am amazed Mr. Fulks is still on the payroll after the abysmal failure of the Fair Tax advocacy organization for which he was responsible.
- George - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 7:16 pm:
Pritzker is the descendant, not ancestor, of refugees.
- ArchPundit - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 8:02 pm:
The problems are very serious, but the adoption of the IHRA is definition is also a problem as conservative groups have used it to attack any criticism of the State of Israel to the point the original author, Kenneth Stern, has suggested the definition is flawed for this very reason.
- Responsa - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 8:46 pm:
@George –so you’re suggesting Governor Pritzker would be wise to review the press releases issued for him? You’re right. That is an incredibly careless and embarrassing mistake from the pen of Fulks.
- ArchPundit - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 9:39 pm:
The UofI needs to step up and take these incidents on. No student should feel unsafe on campus especially due to an inherent characteristic. That said, the author of the IHRA (not the racing body) statement, Kenneth Stern, is critical of how it has been used against any criticism of the State of Israel which was never his intent. There are more precise ways of addressing antisemitism that are especially appropriate in an academic environment.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/13/antisemitism-executive-order-trump-chilling-effect
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, May 6, 21 @ 10:44 pm:
Is Noah Pollak related to Breitbart contributor/2010 Jan Schakowsky opponent Joel Pollak?