JVP Philly Demands Safety for All at ADL "Walk Against Hate"

Philadelphia, PA (June 3, 2018) -- Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) Philadelphia members highlighted the glaring hypocrisy of a walk against hate sponsored by an organization that gets U.S. police, ICE and FBI agents trained in Israel at Sunday’s Walk Against Hate event, organized by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). JVP members passed out hundreds of flyers, engaged with community members about ADL’s police exchange programs, and unfurled a banner reading “ADL Stop the Hate: End Police Exchanges with Israel” when two ADL board members took the stage. JVP’s statement opposing the hypocrisy of the walk and calling for an end to the exchanges is endorsed by a number of community groups, including the Community Bail Fund, Philadelphia Black Lives Matter and the Council for American-Islamic Relations - Philadelphia. A second banner read “Safety Through Solidarity Not Policing #DeadlyExchange.”

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JVP Philly Vigil at Rep. Boyle's Office

JEWISH EXPONENT, MAY 21 2018

Rabbinical students and Jewish Voice for Peace – Philadelphia activists held a vigil at Rep. Brendan Boyle’s Olney office on Monday, asking Boyle to condemn recent Gaza deaths.

Participants dressed in all black and carried a banner with the names of the dead, as well as signs reading “Jews Stand with Gaza” and “US Jews to Rep Boyle: Break Your Silence on Gaza.”

DOZENS OF PHILADELPHIA JEWS PROTEST MAYOR KENNEY'S CELEBRATION OF ISRAEL

Philadelphia, PA -  On Monday, May 14th at 1pm, at the twin flagpoles at Philadelphia City Hall, Jewish peace activists held Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney accountable, demanding he condemn Israel's indiscriminate killings and injuries of grassroots protesters and journalists in Gaza. While Mayor Kenney and several city council members gave speeches at the first-ever raising of the Israeli flag at City Hall in Center City (an event sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia), Jewish Voice for Peace members and allies held a peaceful, solemn vigil in memory of the over 100 unarmed protesters that have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since March 30th, over 50 of whom were killed today.

More than 35 Philadelphia Jews and allies gathered to ask why Mayor Kenney is attending an event celebrating Israel, which killed over 50 unarmed protesters in Gaza today, bringing the total death toll to over 100 since the end of March. JVP members and allies held up a large banner displaying the names and ages of the 51 Gazans who have been killed by Israeli forces from March 30th - May 11th, and also read their names out loud and sang songs of peace.

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#phillydontorchestrateapartheid

Over 100 musicians, artists, scholars, union members and activists, as well as 35 social justice organizations, have called on the Philadelphia Orchestra to cancel its planned June tour in Israel.

Inspired by the global cultural boycott that helped end Apartheid in South Africa, Palestinian civil society has called on international cultural institutions not to perform in Israel as a popular non-violent means to pressure Israel to end its occupation and apartheid policies.

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s claim that their performance in Israel is “cultural diplomacy,” not “a political mission,” is undermined by their own admission that the trip is "in celebration of its [Israel’s] 70th anniversary” and by their close collaboration with Israeli government officials, before the trip and in the planned itinerary. The orchestra has several meetings planned with high level Israeli politicians and military personnel, including a "VIP visit" to a military base!

This is the same military that has killed or wounded over 3000 unarmed Palestinians in the span just the last two weeks since March 30. At least 773 people, defenseless and demonstrating on their own land, were shot with live ammunition by snipers in ONE DAY.

Such examples of Israel’s contempt and wanton destruction of Palestinian life are precisely the sort of abuses with which The Philadelphia Orchestra will be associating itself in making this trip.

Philly: Don't Orchestrate Apartheid! Cancel the trip to Israel!

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FREE THE TAMIMIS GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION - PHILLY

On February 18th, JVP-Philly joined a national day of action, heeding the call from the Free the Tamimis Campaign to protest the ongoing incarceration and systematic targeting of members of the Tamimi family and the village of Nabi Saleh. 

Background:
On Tuesday the 19th of December 2017, 17 year old Ahed Tamimi was arrested from her family home in Nabi Saleh by the Israeli army under the cover of darkness. Ahed is one of over 300 Palestinian children in Israeli military detention. Her mother, Nariman Tamimi was arrested later on the same day when she went to inquire about her daughter. On Thursday the 11th of January 2018, Mohammad Tamimi, Ahed’s cousin, was arrested from his home in Nabi Saleh. 11 days later, his brother Osama was also arrested on his way home from work. All of them remain incarcerated and have been subjected to sleep deprivation, emotional abuse and inhumane interrogation.

The Tamimi family and the village of Nabi Saleh are targets of a political campaign that aims to crush their resistance to the Israeli settler colonial regime. The Free the Tamimis Campaign calls on Palestine’s allies, comrades and supporters around the world to take action and demand the release of Ahed, Nariman, Mohammad and Osama, as well as all Palestinian prisoners. 

Take Action!

1. Visit freeahed.org
2. Tell your representative to support HR 4391 “Promoting Human Rights by Ending Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children Act” http://bit.ly/signhr4391
3. Learn more about Israel’s detention of Palestinian children at nowaytotreatachild.org

Chanukah Action #RekindleJustice

Photos from our recommitment to fighting Islamophobia, Trump's embassy move, and the travel ban with CAIR - Philadelphia Chapterand Kol Tzedek Synagogue congregants. #rekindlejustice

Meeting with Rep. Dwight Evans

On August 2, JVP Philly members met with Rep. Dwight Evans to discuss the treatment of Palestinian children by the Israeli military, the unconstitutional anti-BDS legislation currently pending in Congress, and Israel's travel ban on American citizens who support BDS.

For more on the anti-BDS legislation and what you can do, visit: https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/take-action-stop-unconstitutional-attack-freedom-boycott/

To read about Rabbi Alissa Wise's (pictured, right) experience being banned from visiting Israel/Palestine because of her political beliefs, visit: http://forward.com/opinion/israel/378100/im-first-pro-bds-jew-israel-banned/

Protest Refugee Deportations at PHL

On January 29th, Jewish Voice for Peace-Philadelphia joined with over 40 other organizations in coalition to protest Trump's executive orders banning all refugees as well as all citizens of 7 majority Muslim countries.  Over 5,000 protesters converged at PHL International Terminal A West (Arrivals) to voice their opposition and to call on all relevant federal, state and local government agencies as well as airlines to follow their conscience by refusing compliance with the racist, inhumane, and illegitimate executive orders.

How to turn these huge Philly protest marches into action (Billy Penn, January 27, 2017)

'No hate. No fear': Thousands protest Trump's immigration order at Philadelphia International Airport (Philly.com Blog, January 29)

Thousands protest Trump’s travel ban at Philadelphia International Airport (Delaware County Daily Times, January 29)

Anti-Trump immigration protestors to rally at Philly airport. (NJ.com, January 29)

Second Trump immigration protest held at PHL. (Fox29, January 29)

Jewish Groups, Individuals, Respond to Trump’s Executive Order. (Jewish Exponent, January 29)

Permanent Protest in Philly: What’s driving the anti-Trump movement. (Billy Penn, January 31)

Commentary: Once a refugee, I now stand in support of those shunned by U.S. government. (By Egina Manachova; Inquirer/Philly.com, Feb 7)

How 30 grassroots groups organized that 5,000-person airport protest — and what’s next.  (Generosity.org, March 7)

Philly protesters to march against Trump immigration order. (Philly.com, February 3)

Chanukah Action Against Racism and Islamophobia

On December 29, 2016, JVP Philly members gathered at Mayor Jim Kenney's public Chanukah ceremony, where we formed a human menorah and affirmed our solidarity with immigrants and refugees and our commitment to fighting white supremacy and Islamophobia. We had the opportunity to speak with the mayor, who gave us a shout-out in his speech and promised to maintain Philly's sanctuary city status. 

Here is a video of part of the action:

JVP was included in photos of the event on Phillyvoice.com and Newsworks.com

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Canvasing to Stand with Our Muslim Neighbors

Just after the election of Donald Trump, more than 65 people knocked on doors in West Philadelphia to engage business owners and neighbors in conversations about racism and anti-Muslim bigotry. Leaving behind posters reading “Stop Profiling Muslims” in the windows of local businesses, the canvassing was an effort to change the landscape and create welcoming spaces in this moment of particularly heightened violence against Muslims and other communities of color.

Sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace - Philadelphia, Tikkun Olam Chavurah, and Congregation Mishkan Shalom.

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