After Failing To Equate Islamophobia With Anti-Semitism, Black Equity Officer Is Fired

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NEW YORK (VINnews) — In an astonishing display of insensitivity regarding the unique phenomenon of anti-Semitism, the director of the worldwide professional organization for children’s book authors, Lin Oliver, decided to apologize to Muslim and Palestinian members of the organization after a condemnation of anti-semitism issued by the Equity and Inclusion officer of the organization did not discuss Islamophobia at the same time. Oliver went even further and forced the officer who had posted the message to resign.

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The original SCBWI statement on antisemitism, published on June 10, stated that antisemitism was on the rise globally and  stressed that Jews “have the right to life, safety, and freedom from scapegoating and fear.” The statement recognized the unique status of anti-semitism, stating that “because anti-semitism is one of the oldest forms of hatred, it has its own name.”

Noting the recent precipitous rise in antisemitism, the statement added that, “Silence is often mistaken for acceptance and results in the perpetration of more hatred and violence against different types of people.”

Despite the obvious universal condemnation of racism in the final sentence, Oliver decided to apologize “to everyone in the Palestinian community who felt unrepresented, silenced or marginalized. SCBWI acknowledges the pain our actions have caused to our Muslim and Palestinian members and hope that we can heal from this moment.”.

Oliver said that Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer April Powers, who issued the statement, had resigned; that board seats and Equity and Inclusion Committee slots would be created for Muslim members; and the committee would review its “policies regarding freedom of expression for all underrepresented members to make sure no one is silenced or unsafe.”

Powers herself apologized, stating that “I neglected to address the rise in Islamophobia, and deeply regret that omission,” she added. “As someone who is vehemently against Islamophobia and hate speech of any kind, I understand that intention is not impact and I am so sorry.”

“While this doesn’t fix the pain and disappointment that you feel by my mishandling of this moment, I hope you will accept my sincerest apologies and resignation from the SCBWI,” Powers said. “I wish all of you success in your work because the world’s children need your stories. All of them.”

Jewish journalist Yair Rosenberg was not impressed by the attempts to mollify Muslims and equate anti-semitism with Islamophobia. Rosenberg tweeted: “This looks VERY bad. On June 10, after anti-Jewish crimes spiked, the Black Jewish diversity officer for the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators@scbwi posted a condemnation of antisemitism. Today, she was fired, apparently for not mentioning Islamophobia? Yikes.”

It is patently obvious that equity officers have to know what to equate but also what not to equate. There can be no equating anti-semitism which has caused untold anguish and misery throughout history to the relatively modern phenomenon of Islamophobia which has not led to any such atrocities and has mainly been fueled by the rise of extremist Islamist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda which spread terrorism and misery themselves.

 


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we are being overrun by opressed hoodlums
we are being overrun by opressed hoodlums
2 years ago

how perverted do the modern society’s views have to be to equate the hatred of jews with the fear of islamics???

Last edited 2 years ago by we are being overrun by opressed hoodlums
Liam K. Nuj
Liam K. Nuj
2 years ago

“…the relatively modern phenomenon of Islamophobia… has mainly been fueled by the rise of extremist Islamist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda”
A very dangerous statement, because it can validate the claims of some that the actions of some Jews can be construed as an acceptable reason for the rise of anti-semitism.