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Sen. Peters on Jewish leaders who boycotted mayoral sitdown: ‘I found it insulting’

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* Leigh Giangreco at Crain’s reports on Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s attempt to reach out to Jewish community leaders. As you already know, some leaders, including Sen. Sara Feigenholtz and Rep. Bob Morgan, refused the invitation. But not everyone did…

On April 15, Johnson held a roundtable conversation with Jewish leaders meant to help his administration address antisemitism in Chicago and to strengthen its relationship with the Jewish community. Several rabbis attended, as well as progressive Jewish groups like the Jewish Council On Urban Affairs. During the session, the group discussed issues of antisemitism within Chicago Public Schools and antisemitic flyers placed in bags containing a substance that resembled rat poison and distributed on the North Side in recent months, according to state Sen. Robert Peters, D-13th, who also attended.

“It was a pretty diverse room of people who were across the ideological spectrum,” Peters said. “I know I’m personally disappointed by people who decided to boycott this. I found it insulting.”

Peters was speaking of a group of Jewish politicians and organizations who refused the mayor’s invitation last week. In a letter to the mayor, Ald. Deb Silverstein, 50th, state Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, D-6th, and state Rep. Bob Morgan, D-58th, declined to join, citing Johnson’s tie-breaking vote on the cease-fire resolution in January and what they described as a “silence” from the administration amid a rash of antisemitic attacks across the city.

The Jewish United Fund and the Midwest chapter of the Anti-Defamation League also declined the mayor’s invitation.

“There were a number of groups, who represent a marginal element of our community,” said Jay Tcath, executive vice president at the Jewish United Fund. Tcath argued that if his organization had attended the session, it would have created a “false equivalency” between the majority and minority voices in the Jewish community.

* Violet Miller at the Sun-Times…

As for those who skipped the meeting, including Ald. Debra Silverstein, [Marty Levine, a coordinating committee member of Jewish Voice for Peace Chicago and retired CEO of Jewish Community Centers of Chicago] said they were making the fight against antisemitism more difficult. He pointed to the recent examples of antisemitism, which he said should unite the community despite disagreements over the war in Gaza.

“That difference doesn’t have to keep us from combating antisemitism as it rears its head,” Levine said. “If there is someone who intends on doing harm to Jews, they’re not differentiating between my political strategies and Ald. Silverstein’s.” […]

“To me, it just feels like this was a hollow offer to try to save face with the Jewish community,” Silverstein told the Sun-Times. “There are a lot of people who should have been invited to the meeting who were not. … We don’t want to sit at a roundtable with those people who are anti-Israel.” […]

At the roundtable, Peters and Levine said educating people, especially young residents, was at the forefront of efforts to combat hate. Peters also said restorative justice would play a large role due to its ability to “build relationships” between people who are committing hateful acts and those affected by them.

* Meanwhile…

From the ADL…

Driven in part by a massive spike in antisemitic incidents after the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza, the Jewish community in Illinois and the United States experienced an unprecedented increase in antisemitic incidents. ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) released the 2023 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents today. The data is staggering.

ADL recorded 211 incidents of antisemitic assault, vandalism, and harassment in Illinois in 2023, a shocking 74% above the previous record of 121 set in 2022. Illinois posted the 12th highest total of antisemitic incidents among the 50 states and a 379% increase since 2019 when ADL recorded just 44 total antisemitic incidents in Illinois.

Broken down, ADL recorded 155 incidents of antisemitic harassment, 54 incidents of antisemitic vandalism, and 2 antisemitic assaults in Illinois in 2023. This compares to 75 incidents of antisemitic harassment, 46 incidents of antisemitic vandalism, and 1 antisemitic assault in 2022.

“It’s alarming to see the exponential growth of antisemitic incidents in our state and nationwide. Every segment of the Jewish community has been affected,” said David Goldenberg, Regional Director of ADL Midwest. “Concern in the Jewish community is significant and heightened, especially considering most antisemitic incidents tracked in 2023 occurred after October 7, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust – and it isn’t letting up.”

68% (143) of the total number of antisemitic incidents recorded in Illinois occurred after Hamas’ attack against Israel on October 7. The number is 20% more antisemitic incidents between October 7 and December 31 than ADL tracked in all of 2022.

“These incidents were fueled in large part by anti-Zionist and anti-Israel groups – such as the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, Jewish Voice for Peace, Students for Justice in Palestine, and American Muslims for Palestine – whose activities have fanned the flames of antisemitism in Chicago, the suburbs, and on college campuses throughout Illinois,” added Goldenberg. “It is going to take a whole of society approach to reverse this dangerous trend and reject this hate, bigotry, and antisemitism.”

* The ADL’s Goldenberg led a Statehouse press conference today. He was asked about the refusal to attend the meeting with Mayor Johnson…

There have been opportunities to speak out against antisemitism in real-time from the administration in Chicago. From our perspective, those have been missed opportunities. … And so what we would like to see is some real concrete action and some real significant steps that are taken to reject this type of antisemitism to make clear that it has no place in Chicago.

Deep breaths before commenting, please.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 12:51 pm

Comments

Seems like the mayor already put down his marker already. Not surprising some didn’t want to join the PR event (at least that is what it seems like). Just my perspective as an outsider.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 12:58 pm
Given the disregard for civilian life shown by the IDF in Gaza and elsewhere, is it time to consider removing the state’s restriction on investing in companies in the BDS movement? Seems like a distinction that our pension funds aren’t really in a position to make–especially when that distinction punishes companies that attempt to show a modicum of social responsibility…

Comment by Springfield native Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:01 pm
- We don’t want to sit at a roundtable with those people who are anti-Israel.” -

Being critical of Israel’s policies regarding Palestinians before or after the Hamas attack is neither anti-Israel or anti-Semitic. The idea that Israel is above any reproach due to the attack is insufferable, and reminiscent of Dick Cheney and his cronies after 9/11.

Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:01 pm
What was insulting was the Mayor breaking the tie to pass his pro Hamas resolution

Comment by Sue Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:01 pm
Insulting? Disappointed maybe. but insulting is ridiculous.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:02 pm
I’ll just say this: the boycotters are progressive Jewsish politicians - the type that condemns the settlements on the West Bank and regularly criticizes Netanyahu and the Israeli right wing. The person speaking on the mayor’s side is Jewish Voices for Peace - a group that describes itself as “firmly opposed to Zionism” on its website. In other words, quite an outlier on the American Jewish political spectrum. Without diving into the merits of the debate, that gives you an idea of how far to the left MBJ is on this issue.

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:05 pm
@sue

Not sure what part of the resolution was “pro-hamas,” especially given that it called for the unconditional release of the hostages and condemned hamas.

Comment by Anon1 Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:09 pm
==As for those who skipped the meeting, including Ald. Debra Silverstein==

Can’t blame her. JVP has consistently demonstrated more concern with their stature and place in the world of intersectionality than actual Jewish principles and values. Strong sympathizer/apologist vibes.

Comment by City Zen Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:23 pm
Instead of being “insulted”, Sen Peters or the mayor should have reached out to those boycotting, listened to their concerns and convinced them to attend. By going public with his resentment over non attendance he doesnt help move the dialogue forward.

Comment by low level Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:23 pm
It seems a bit odd that Sen. Roberts is telling Jewish people that their feelings about anti-semitism are “insulting.”

Comment by Jurist Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:26 pm
===Sen. Roberts is telling Jewish people===

Sen. *Peters* is telling *fellow* Jewish people.

Fixed it for you.

When I said take some deep breaths before commenting, I meant it. You obviously didn’t do it. Don’t make that mistake again.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:30 pm
Chutzpah.

I think that is the proper term for anyone arguing that the Anti-Defamation League is standing in the way of fighting antisemitism.

Its like accusing the Southern Poverty Law Center of not being a team player.

If the ADL doesn’t want to be in the same room with you, you are the problem. Silverstein, Morgan and Feigenholtz get that.

Comments like Levine’s are telling.

Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:30 pm
- that gives you an idea of how far to the left MBJ is on this issue. -

You may want to look at recent polling of Democratic voters on this issue before deciding where this issue falls on the spectrum.

Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:33 pm
lake county democrat gets it right- the reality is the particular organizations like Jewish Voices for Peace, do not represent mainstream or majority Jewish people or thought.
The meeting ended up being a leftist echo chamber (that Sen Peters and Rep Guzzardi are apart of) with an outlier point of view that doesn’t get anywhere close to resolving the issues the Mayor current faces with secular and religious members of the Jewish diaspora in Chicago.

Comment by LastModDemStanding Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:42 pm
The mayor’s allies, including alderpeople La Spata, Sigcho-Lopez, and Rodriguez, are standing at protests shoulder to shoulder with people calling October 7 an act of self defense. He either thinks that’s OK or he’s unwilling to criticize them publicly. Either explanation is the real insult.

Comment by DS Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:44 pm
=== it would have created a “false equivalency” between the majority and minority voices in the Jewish community. ===

“Majority and minority” significantly understates the gap. By inviting JVP, Johnson made it clear that he wasn’t interested in criticism coming from the Jewish community. He doesn’t care. He just wanted to engineer a shouting match that would create the false impression of a split in the Jewish community. Just by walking into the room, ADL and JUF would be contributing to that dishonesty. They were right to stay away.

If Johnson actually wants to make progress with the community he alienated, he needs to come out from under his safety blanket of shouting activists. He needs to recognize that most of his constituents aren’t protestors. JUF does more for the people of Chicago in a month than JVP ever will, but Johnson only believes in what he hears out of megaphones.

Comment by vern Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:47 pm
That’s Rodriguez-Sanchez

Comment by DS Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:47 pm
Whenever a politician is in hot water over antisemitism, the standard way to try to get out of it is to schedule a meeting with some Jews (usually ones who already agreed with them, in this case JVP and other stalwart supporters of the Mayor), and say ‘look I met with them, everything I did wrong is resolved now’.

Good for Ald. Silverstein, Sen. Feigenholtz, and Rep. Morgan for recognizing this tactic and refusing to provide cover for a Mayor who continues to not act to protect the Jewish community. A meeting means nothing if it isn’t followed up with real action, and the groups he invited are not ones who will push the Mayor to act differently than he already is. All showmanship, no change, and Jews in Chicago continue to be under threat as a result.

Comment by CornAl DoGooder Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:50 pm
The mainstream Jewish community is not divided on this. No major organization was willing to meet Johnson in the same week that he again reiterated his calls while publicly accepting an award from an organization that has had some issues in the past. Further, the administration would not disclose the invitee list to those invited. This was all about PR for the mayor and he mostly got bad PR on Friday and over the weekend. Statements now coming out are trying to “fix” some of that. To the Jewish community, this isn’t about PR. Maybe the organizer in him can’t get over that. No one is looking for a PR hit. The Jewish community is looking for allies in a battle against antisemitism that has been waged for literally thousands of years. Johnson talks about the Bible often. Perhaps, he missed that the entire Hebrew bible is about the Jewish people’s exile and then journey back to the land of Israel. Jews will sit down next week to Passover Seders, where we retell this story. The story of that long ago journey and the modern story of the reclaiming of that 2000 year old dream. A Pr meeting with fringe groups will not fix anything. Oh by the way, did I miss the Mayor’s call for a resolution condemning Iran for its attack?

Comment by That guy Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:55 pm
Exciteable Boy: those polls are highly dependent on the wording. For example, ask if a ceasefire should accompany release of the hostages and most Dems agree, putting no daylight between them and the ADL.

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 1:56 pm
It seems weird to boycott a meeting intended to address antisemitism because you don’t think enough is being done about antisemitism.

It is like refusing to go to couples therapy because you’re mad at your spouse.

Comment by Homebody Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 2:33 pm
“It was a pretty diverse room of people who were across the ideological spectrum,” Peters said.”

“We got both kinds of music: country and western.”

Comment by New Day Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 2:38 pm
It seems weird to boycott a meeting intended to address antisemitism because you don’t think enough is being done about antisemitism.

—————

Missing the point that this wasn’t the purpose or agenda from the Mayor’s perspective. That was quite clear. Couples therapy is only ever productive when both sides are committed to it. Otherwise, it’s a waste of time.

Comment by That guy Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 2:42 pm
“It is like refusing to go to couples therapy because you’re mad at your spouse.”

No, it’s like refusing to go to therapy when the therapist is your spouse’s best friend and there is an audience of all their other friends. It wasn’t designed to have an open dialogue. It was a stunt and the mainstream Jewish organizations could smell it from a mile away.

Comment by New Day Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 2:48 pm
===This was all about PR for the mayor===

Yes

=== it would have created a “false equivalency” between the majority and minority voices in the Jewish community. ===

Yes, it does seem like the mainstream Jewish community was being set up.

Now, I suppose others will now attempt to shame folks for not going along with the ruse.

It’s interesting that the City of Chicago is now arresting protesters engaged in illegal occupation of streets. Hopefully, this is not a PR stunt to for the members of the DNC who are visiting Chicago.

Comment by Lisa Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 2:51 pm
I’m out of the loop, so someone help me out: what was wrong with calling for a cease-fire?

Comment by Genuinelyhavenotbeenreadingthenews Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 3:12 pm
Insulting? Peters needs to read the room and stop making apologies for the left’s handling of this situation locally. The Jewish community is in a state of duress and this administration has added it through poor leadership and judgement. Anyone paying attention knows this was a pr stunt for him so he could say he brought Jewish leaders together, listened…and then did nothing. The minute he broke the tie on the resolution he lost all credibility with the Jewish community.

Comment by Shytown Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 3:21 pm
What was wrong with the resolution?

Comment by Genuinelyhavenotbeenreadingthenews Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 3:28 pm
I am involved with one of the organizations and I stand with ADL..
Senator Peters is not listening to the mainstream Jewish organizations when he protests with JVP and does not have dialogue with the majority of the community.

We are insulted, we are feeling alone, and that letter is how the 85% of the community feels when it comes to city government. JVP calls for a one state solution and Israel not being a Jewish state. How can JUF or ADL sit there as even partners at a table when there is no dialogue to be had?

I personally would be glad to sit down with Sen. Peters and others to explain that, because yes, there can be common ground found, but there is no common ground with an organization like JVP that does not really believe the state of Israel should exist.

Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 3:34 pm
We need Leaders that are willing to lead, to unite not divide. When there is a fire burning, you do everything you can to put it out and keep everyone safe, not throw a match on it and watch the hate and division spread.

Comment by Old school Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 3:38 pm
Actual excerpt from the resolution:

=== BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Chicago City Council, do hereby call for a permanent ceasefire to end the ongoing violence in Gaza; call for humanitarian assistance including medicine, food, and water, to be sent into the impacted region; and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages; ===

Johnson’s vote for the ceasefire puts him in good company with the overwhelming majority of UN member nations and with US democratic voters.

Comment by Mark D Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 3:45 pm
=No, it’s like refusing to go to therapy when the therapist is your spouse’s best friend and there is an audience of all their other friends. It wasn’t designed to have an open dialogue. It was a stunt and the mainstream Jewish organizations could smell it from a mile away.=

This and other comments are spot on. Johnson wasn’t interested in a real dialogue. It was a PR session and when the ADL isn’t interested in meeting with a politician, that is bad for the pol.

=Given the disregard for civilian life shown by the IDF in Gaza and elsewhere=

Hopefully this isn’t too off topic, but a response seems appropriate to this post. The elected government of Gaza started a war against Israel when Hamas (selected by the majority of the citizens of Gaza) attacked Israel. They didn’t meet ahead of time to set parameters for the conduct of the war. Wars are horrible, ugly, deadly events that claim the lives of innocents. But when you attack innocent civilians and basically no military targets, you do not occupy the moral high ground.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 3:55 pm
That excerpt seems reasonable. Was the vote unanimous?

Comment by Genuinelyhavenotbeenreadingthenews Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 3:57 pm
==ongoing violence==

Aside for calling for a ceasefire, which in and of itself is anti-Israel, the phrase ongoing violence” is problematic. That phrase insinuates something unlawful is occurring.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 4:02 pm
Do these proclamations have an impact?

Would the Chicago Mayor or city council be impacted by another nation, state or city passing a resolution about what Chicago might/should do?

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 4:07 pm
-Genuinelyhavenotbeenreadingthenew—

Not by a long shot. The Mayor was the tie breaking vote, after he coerced a few black Alderman who couldn’t vote Yes not to attend the vote. The gallery was filled with folks organized by a couple Alderman, JVP, Students for Palestine and [probably] the Chief of Staff of a certain Alderman. Lots of jeering, Hamas insignia, and intimidation tactics utilized, and it was quite a hurtful response, given the amount of antisemitic events that have occurred in the City and the Mayors reluctance to address in any way.

Comment by LastModDemStanding Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 4:12 pm
@LastModDemStanding

Thanks for explaining. That was helpful. So the opposition had more to do with tactics and the antics of activists than with the content of the resolution?

Comment by Genuinelyhavenotbeenreadingthenews Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 4:17 pm
Lack of leadership from the Mayors Office on the issue, lack of consensus building on the resolution leading to deeper divisions, overt influence from leftist activists groups, and fairly obvious bias are things that I would also add to the lists along with the lack of action or public communication on the rabid antisemitism being seen.

Comment by LastModDemStanding Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 4:25 pm
Three more years of this guy…incredible.

Comment by Just a guy Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 4:38 pm
Not getting into an argument with anyone but explaining the answer to your question. Calling for a permanent ceasefire in a vacuum leaves Hamas in control and able to rearm at a time when their leaders have repeatedly called for the extermination of every last Jew in Israel. They have explicitly said they will repeat the barbaric murders, rapes and other acts of terror from 10/7 on innocent civilians again and again until Israel is destroyed. Their ambition - spelled out in their charter - is not for a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. From the river to the sea literally means every last inch of the state of Israel. Recall that the American equivalent of 40,000 people died in the 10/7 attacks. What nation on Earth would accept allowing them to rebuild and rearm with that as their stated ambition.

Two other points. 1) Minor changes to the resolution were proposed by Silverstein and other opponents that would not have simply acknowledged the Hamas crimes of 10/7 and been a bit more balanced. The Mayor refused and insisted on forcing their draft through with the tactics outlined above.

2) I’m not defending everything Israel has done in the conduct of the war and never would. Bibi is the absolute worst and should be in jail. But that doesn’t change the strategic reality of an enemy determined to murder every one of your citizens.

Comment by New Day Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 4:41 pm
==tactics and the antics==

Propaganda and intimidation should never be tolerated or rationalized. It often leads to irrational violence against perpetually victimized minorities.

Comment by Mary Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 4:56 pm
=The minute he broke the tie on the resolution he lost all credibility with the Jewish community.=

Amen

Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 5:13 pm
Mark D-boy you just stepped in it. To be in good Company with “ many members” of the UN isn’t an accolade most folks would be proud of. The UN’s relief committee in Gaza was proven to be facilitating the activities of activists. The UN has also historically been quite opposed to Israel. Sure criticize Israel for attacking an Iranian General who planned the October 7 attack. I would be more critical of your post but for wanting to abide to Rich’s rules of the blog

Comment by Sue Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 5:30 pm
This is real. I have seen anti-Semitic graffiti several times. Sometimes, it is in unlikely places like on ATM machines outside of branch banks. Many synagogues and Hebrew schools have hired private security to watch over their properties, parking lots and playgrounds.

Comment by Gravitas Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 6:22 pm
@Mary

Agreed! It just seems to me like the content of the resolution is more relevant than the tactics and antics. Especially since there are plenty of Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims in Chicago who wanted to see it passed and weren’t participating in intimidation and propaganda.

Comment by Genuinelyhavenotbeenreadingthenews Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 8:04 pm
Not opining on the merits, but a couple of factual points.

1. Senator Peters is Jewish.

2. There are two Alders with the last name Rodriguez - Rossana and Mike. Rossana used to be Rodriguez-Sanchez but not anymore. I think she is the person being referred to above.

Comment by Jeremy Rosen Tuesday, Apr 16, 24 @ 8:59 pm
==Especially since there are plenty of Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims in Chicago who wanted to see it passed and weren’t participating in intimidation and propaganda.==

If they condone propaganda and intimidation they are complicit in the tactics (that will likely lead to stronger action).

Remember, silence is violence.

Comment by Mary Wednesday, Apr 17, 24 @ 10:17 am