“We will not be silent”:

“We will not be silent”: American Jews hit the streets during Hanukkah to fight Islamophobia and racism.Jewish Voice for Peace condemns "state-sanctioned Islamophobia & racism" and anti-refugee xenophobia this Hanukkah.

This Hanukkah, Jews across the U.S. are taking to the street to rally against the Islamophobia and racism rampant in their communities.

On each night in the eight-day-long religious holiday, Jewish activists are participating in protests against various forms of injustice in a campaign initiated by the Network Against Islamophobia, a project called for by national peace organization Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) to challenge anti-Muslim bigotry, along with Jews Against Islamophobia, a coalition of JVP-New York and the activist group Jews Say No!

The demonstrations are being held in 15 cities throughout the country, including Chicago, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Atlanta. The first demonstration was held at New York City’s Rockefeller Center on Sunday, Dec. 6, the first night of Hanukkah.

Activists are conveying their commitments through signs in the shape of eight candles, which together comprise a symbolic menorah. A ninth sign, modeled after the shamash, or “helper” candle, reads “Jews against Islamophobia and racism — rekindling our commitment to justice.” The eight pledges listed on the other candles are:

We will not be silent about anti-Muslim and racist hate speech and hate crimes;
We condemn state surveillance of the Muslim, Arab, and South Asian communities;
We challenge, through our words and actions, institutionalized racism and state-sanctioned anti-Black violence;
We protest the use of Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism to justify Israel’s repressive policies against Palestinians;
We fight anti-Muslim profiling and racial profiling in all its forms;
We call for an end to racist policing #SayHerName #BlackLivesMatter;
We stand against U.S. policies driven by the “war on terror” that demonize Islam and devalue, target, and kill Muslims; and
We welcome Syrian refugees and stand strong for immigrants’ rights and refugee rights.

“Our goal in creating this action during Hanukkah and in creating the eight statements — which mark a rekindling of our commitments to justice — was to make visible the extent and multiple manifestations of Islamophobia and racism and to re-commit ourselves fully to this work,” JVP activist Donna Nevel told Salon. “Intersections and connections are being made, not to create sameness but to strengthen the distinct, yet overlapping struggles for justice.”

Nevel is a founding member of both the Network Against Islamophobia and Jews Against Islamophobia. She was involved in the rallies in New York and Miami.

“I believe that our role as members of the Jewish community is to continue to speak out as Jews opposed to Islamophobia; to continue in our work to expose the underlying issues and links related to Islamophobia and the politics of both Israel and the U.S.; to meaningfully engage with those who are living and experiencing racism and Islamophobia; and to be principled, consistent partners in this work,” Nevel added.

The nationwide protests vary in type. At the more traditional New York demonstration, there were readings from the rabbinical council and other statements, along with candle-lighting and singing.

JVP activists outside NYC’s Rockefeller Center on the first night of Hanukkah (Credit: JVP-NY)

In Milwaukee, activists protested right-wing Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who was invited by the Milwaukee Jewish Federation to be honored by lighting the menorah. Rachel Buff, co-coordinator of Milwaukee JVP, told Salon that she and fellow members of the groups Jews for Refugee Relief thought his participation at the event was “wrong” and “ironic.”

“Gov. Walker has been among state governors opposing the resettlement of refugees from the Middle East in the United States,” Buff said. “Grounded in a vicious Islamophobia, this anti-refugee sentiment fosters oppression and tyranny, the very things routed by the Maccabees in the Hanukkah story.”