{"id":115016,"date":"2024-08-17T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-17T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.reunion68.se\/?p=115016"},"modified":"2024-08-16T11:21:02","modified_gmt":"2024-08-16T09:21:02","slug":"17-00-93","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reunion68.se\/?p=115016","title":{"rendered":"North Carolina Lawmaker Faces Backlash From Local Jewish Leaders, Fellow Democrats Over Attacks on Israel, Zionists"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>North Carolina Lawmaker Faces Backlash From Local Jewish Leaders, Fellow Democrats Over Attacks on Israel, Zionists<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

Peter Reitzes<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Raleigh City Council member Mary Black. Photo: Screenshot<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Last week,\u00a0The Algemeiner reported<\/a><\/em>\u00a0that Mary Black, a member of the Raleigh City Council in North Carolina who recently\u00a0filed for re-election<\/a>, has come under fire for regularly attacking Israel and Zionists, despite her job having no apparent responsibilities concerning Middle Eastern affairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since then, Black, 30, has come under increased scrutiny from the media, community members, and fellow Democrats. The North Carolina Democratic Party Jewish Caucus told\u00a0The Algemeiner\u00a0<\/em>they have endorsed Mitchell Silver, a former New York City Parks Commissioner and Raleigh Chief Planner, who is running for the Raleigh City Council seat currently held by Black.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rabbi Eric Solomon of Beth Meyer Synagogue, the largest congregation in Raleigh,\u00a0publicly endorsed<\/a>\u00a0Silver this week in a widely read and shared social media post.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the weekend, a local progressive paper\u00a0reported<\/a>\u00a0on some of the Jewish community\u2019s concerns about Black. In addition, a group of more than 20 prominent Democrats wrote a letter asking the Wake County Democratic Party \u2014 which includes Raleigh \u2014 \u201cnot to endorse between Democrats in local elections in Raleigh this fall.\u201d Multiple political insiders told\u00a0The Algemeiner<\/em>\u00a0this is significant because there is widespread agreement that Black won her seat in 2022 in large part based on the endorsement of the Wake County Democratic Party.<\/span><\/p>\n

Black has alienated many voters and members of the Jewish community by working closely with a pro-Hamas activist and spending much of her time in office attempting to have the Raleigh City Council pass a divisive, anti-Israel, one-sided Gaza ceasefire resolution. After several attempts, the resolution\u00a0did not pass<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

To get a better sense of how local Jewish Democrats are responding to Black\u2019s intense and disproportionate focus on the world\u2019s lone Jewish state and its supporters,\u00a0The Algemeiner<\/em>\u00a0interviewed Conner Taylor, 2nd vice chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party Jewish Caucus; Linda Brinkley, president of the Wake County chapter of the caucus; and Lynn Schwartz, vice president of the Wake chapter caucus<\/span><\/p>\n

The Jewish Caucus representatives were clear that while their statewide caucus has endorsed Silver in District A (the seat currently held by Black), the local Wake County chapter does not make or ask for specific endorsements when Democrats, such as Silver and Black, are running against one another.<\/span><\/p>\n

Taylor explained that the Jewish community is concerned about much more than Black\u2019s support for a ceasefire resolution. \u201cFor many of Raleigh\u2019s Jews, I think the real turning point, that really galvanized the Jewish community, was her [Black\u2019s] very close working relationship with Rania Masri.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Algemeine<\/em>r was the first to\u00a0report<\/a>\u00a0that in November, Masri spoke at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,\u00a0declaring<\/a>\u00a0that Oct. 7 \u2014 when Hamas-led Palestinian terrorists invaded southern Israel and perpetrated the biggest single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust \u2014 \u201cwas a beautiful day.\u201d Masri\u00a0expressed<\/a>\u00a0pride and admiration for Hamas and their paragliders and\u00a0went on<\/a>\u00a0to \u201cdemand the eradication of Zionism.\u201d In addition, Masri\u00a0posted<\/a>\u00a0a video on Facebook that called Hamas fighters \u201cheroes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In March, Masri\u00a0asked<\/a>\u00a0her Facebook followers to vote for Black for \u201cBest Politician in Wake County.\u201d In June, a smiling Masri\u00a0attended<\/a>\u00a0Black\u2019s campaign kickoff event.<\/span><\/p>\n

Taylor explained the \u201cbetrayal\u201d felt by the Jewish community observing Black and Masri\u2019s close working relationship, seeing Black pose for photographs with Masri, speak on a\u00a0panel<\/a>\u00a0with the pro-Hamas activist, speak at a fundraiser with Masri\u00a0standing<\/a>\u00a0behind her, and speak at a local rally\u00a0standing<\/a>\u00a0with the controversial figure.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA very important piece of context here,\u201d Taylor shared, \u201cis that Mary Black, in District A, represents the heart of Raleigh\u2019s Jewish community. Two large synagogues are there \u2026 Many, many Jewish Democrats who voted for Mary Black in 2022 then had to see their member of City Council \u2014 who was supposed to be representing all of her constituents, including her Jewish constituents \u2014 openly embracing a woman [Masri] who has said that the rape and murder of Jews is a beautiful thing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Rabbi Solomon has attempted many times to start a dialogue with Black. Solomon, a political progressive, recently wrote a widely shared social media post in which he\u00a0denounced<\/a>\u00a0Black\u2019s \u201cincitement\u201d and endorsed her opponent Silver in the upcoming election.<\/span><\/p>\n

Solomon explained why he went from voting for Black in 2022 to supporting one of her opponents in 2024: \u201cI speak to CM [Council Member] Mary Black *privately* beseeching her to stop speaking\/posting about the Gaza War as her words are a source of incitement. After the Pittsburgh Synagogue terrorist attack and the\u00a0October 7th massacre<\/a>, District A Jews are living in fear. I explain we need her help, not her antagonism. I am careful not to call her an antisemite but her focus on this issue above all others as well as the tenor and content of her comments lean into antisemitic tropes. Her positions are not pro-Palestinian; they are pro-Hamas.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The rabbi noted that Black has held many community meetings during Shabbat and on a Jewish holiday, when observant Jews are unable to attend, and devoted significant time and energy to Israel-related issues that are \u201cnot relevant\u201d to the City Council\u2019s business.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCM [Council Member] Black holds numerous District A community discussions on the Jewish Sabbath and one session on Hanukkah during the exact time when it is customary to light candles,\u201d Solomon wrote in his social media post. \u201cI find a way to attend the meeting, racing out by leaving my wife and children behind in hopes that a respectful, face-to-face meeting will help her realize the seriousness of the issue. Nearly all attendees agree with my words and urge her to stop bringing Gaza War resolutions to the council \u2026 I speak publicly against Mary Black because she continues to post insidious one-sided statements and videos that are not relevant to the City Council and continues to threaten me and my community.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As\u00a0reported<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0The Algemeiner<\/em>, Black has publicly used the antisemitic slur \u201czios<\/a>,\u201d a term that was originally deployed by far-right extremists and has more recently been used by activists on the progressive far left. In an apparent attempt to delegitimize Israel and its supporters, Black has used an asterisk when discussing Israel, by\u00a0writing<\/a>\u00a0\u201cIsr*ael,\u201d and\u00a0misspelled<\/a>\u00a0Zionist as \u201cxionist.\u201d On a local Jewish social media group, a Raleigh resident explained, \u201cShe\u2019s throwing around Zionist like a curse word.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When asked about Black\u2019s use of the word \u201czios,\u201d Taylor responded, \u201cIt\u2019s bizarre that a Democratic elected official is using online slang that originated with the\u00a0grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan<\/a>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Black has also been accused of trivializing the Holocaust,\u00a0implying<\/a>\u00a0that Israel has treated the Palestinians like the Nazis treated the Jews and\u00a0comparing<\/a>\u00a0politics in Raleigh to \u201cNazi Germany.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Taylor told\u00a0The Algemeiner<\/em>, \u201cAs someone who lost many family members to the Holocaust, I don\u2019t think anything happening in Raleigh approaches the Holocaust or is comparable to the Holocaust. I think that is an incredibly bizarre statement regardless of what she may have meant by it. I think many, many of her constituents, just generally speaking, have viewed these social media posts about all of this as unsettling, as bizarre, as unprofessional, and as unbecoming of an elected official.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Others have also described Black\u2019s social media posts to\u00a0The Algemeiner<\/em>\u00a0as bizarre and unsettling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Black, a self-described \u201cintersectional environmentalist,\u201d recently shared a\u00a0post<\/a>\u00a0on Threads that celebrated the attempted assassination attempt on former US President Donald Trump. She also\u00a0posted<\/a>\u00a0that those who she calls \u201czionologists\u201d have taught her that \u201cthe massacre of children is justified because Babies [sic] voted for Hamas\u201d and has\u00a0expressed<\/a>\u00a0concern that Palestinians have difficulty obtaining cilantro.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2022, Black was\u00a0endorsed<\/a>\u00a0by the Wake County Democratic Party.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Algemeiner<\/em>\u00a0reached out to local and statewide party leaders for additional information and comment for this story. Kevyn Creech, chair of the Wake County Democratic Party; Anderson Clayton, chair of the state party; and Jonah Garson, first vice chair of the state party did not respond.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to attacking Israel, Black has recently attacked the United States,\u00a0writing<\/a>, \u201cIM [sic] AMERICAN! We do war crimes for breakfast.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Taylor told\u00a0The Algemeiner<\/em>\u00a0that Jews in Raleigh, as well as the broader population, are unhappy with the polarization that has taken hold of the City Council and its intense focus on foreign affairs far out of the purview of local lawmakers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Raleigh City council members Mary Black, right, and Christina Jones. Photo: Screenshot<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMany, many people in the Jewish community in Raleigh, over the past year, have been dismayed with how divisive the City Council has become,\u201d he said. \u201cThere have been members of the City Council that have become hyper focused on issues happening thousands of miles away that the City Council has no ability to impact, to the neglect of local issues \u2014 things like schools, things like housing, things like transportation. In general, the Jewish community is really searching for, and supportive of, Raleigh-focused candidates for City Council, like \u2026 Silver.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Taylor explained the enthusiasm that the statewide Democratic Party Jewish Caucus has for the candidacy of Silver.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a Raleigh-focused candidate. He is not campaigning on solving issues in Yemen or Gaza or Tibet or Ukraine,\u201d Taylor argued. \u201cHe is focused on Raleigh, North Carolina \u2026 He is really a phenomenal candidate. He helped draft Raleigh\u2019s\u00a02030 comprehensive plan<\/a>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Taylor discussed what he described as Silver\u2019s \u201creally robust housing and zoning policy ideas\u201d which, he said, focus on development while protecting \u201cexisting communities.\u201d The Jewish caucus\u2019 2nd vice chair added that Silver\u2019s experience as a former New York City Parks Commissioner and Raleigh Chief Planner would benefit the Raleigh City Council, again noting that he is discussing local concerns rather than Israel or Gaza.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a recent social media post, Black\u00a0suggested<\/a>\u00a0that opposition to her candidacy was based on racism, noting the Democratic Jewish Caucus\u2019 efforts to oppose her re-election.<\/span><\/p>\n

In response to the accusation, Taylor told\u00a0The Algemeiner<\/em>: \u201cWe have endorsed an African-American candidate [Silver]. So, I\u2019m not really sure how anyone could have the impression that our decision not to endorse Mary Black was related to her being African American when we have endorsed an African American for this same seat.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Black\u2019s social media posts are filled with concerns about racism and white supremacy. Yet, she has also harshly criticized what she calls \u201cblack capitalism.\u201d On Threads, Black shared an\u00a0image<\/a>\u00a0which read, \u201cCAPITALISM RUINS EVERYTHING AROUND ME,\u201d followed by the anarchy symbol. She also\u00a0stated<\/a>\u00a0on Threads, \u201cBlack capitalism is truly a plague on our people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

North Carolina civil rights leaders, such as the late Floyd McKissick, took the opposite view,\u00a0embracing and championing<\/a>\u00a0Black capitalism and entrepreneurship in the state.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Aug. 8, Black was\u00a0endorsed<\/a>\u00a0by a local Democratic Socialists of America chapter \u201cto keep her seat as an anti-Zionist leader on the Raleigh City Council.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Black has recently dismissed concerns that she is antisemitic as being \u201cfunny.\u201d She took to Threads this week to\u00a0share<\/a>, \u201cReading what I\u2019ve written on social media about this war on Gaza and all the responses last week about me being antisemitic when this is who I am is so funny to me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Peter Reitzes<\/strong> writes about issues related to antisemitism and Israel.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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North Carolina Lawmaker Faces Backlash From Local Jewish Leaders, Fellow Democrats Over Attacks on Israel, Zionists Peter Reitzes Raleigh City Council member Mary Black. Photo: Screenshot Last week,\u00a0The Algemeiner reported\u00a0that Mary Black, a member of the Raleigh City Council in North Carolina who recently\u00a0filed for re-election, has come under fire for regularly attacking Israel and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6],"tags":[26,24],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reunion68.se\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115016"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reunion68.se\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reunion68.se\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reunion68.se\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reunion68.se\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=115016"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.reunion68.se\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115016\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":115043,"href":"https:\/\/www.reunion68.se\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/115016\/revisions\/115043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reunion68.se\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=115016"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reunion68.se\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=115016"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reunion68.se\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=115016"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}