FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: February 11, 2003 Bert Knorr (510) 644-8071, (415) 307-8028 (cell)
BAY AREA UNITED AGAINST WAR NOT IN OUR NAME PROJECT INTERNATIONAL ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) COALITION UNITED FOR PEACE & JUSTICE
STATEMENT FROM FEB. 16 ANTI-WAR COALITIONS REGARDING RABBI MICHAEL LERNER
We would like to clarify the misunderstanding regarding Rabbi Michael Lerner's perception that he was "banned" from speaking at the peace rally. His charges are untrue, and we wish to set the record straight.
As the Bush Administration continues its relentless drive toward war, the mass mobilizations in cities around the world on the weekend of Feb. 15-16 have taken on great significance. Millions of people are expected to demonstrate in cities around the world in what may be the last opportunity to stop a new war on Iraq before it starts.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, four coalitions -- each comprised of many organizations and individuals -- have come together to sponsor a broad and united anti-war march and rally on Sunday, Feb. 16.
The four coalitions -- Bay Area United Against War, Not In Our Name project, United for Peace & Justice, and the International ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) Coalition - have been working together successfully for the last several weeks to maximize the turnout on Feb. 16.
One of the first agreements that was made between the groups organizing the Feb. 16 anti-war protest was that none of the coalitions would propose rally speakers who had publicly attacked or worked to discredit one of the coalition groups. When members of the Tikkun Community, who have actively participated in the organizing meetings for Feb. 16, suggested to Bay Area United for Peace and Justice that it propose Michael Lerner as a speaker, it was explained by members of UFPJ that since he had publicly attacked ANSWER in both the New York Times and Tikkun community email newsletters, his inclusion in the program would violate the agreement among the Feb. 16 organizing groups.
It was this issue -- Michael Lerner's public attacks against one of the anti-war coalitions -- that resulted in his not being formally proposed as a speaker on Feb. 16; his views on Israel and Palestine had nothing to do with it.
Within the anti-war movement, there is a wide spectrum of diverse and opposing views regarding Israel and Palestine, and those views will be heard on Feb. 16. On that day, two rabbis, David Cooper and Pam Frydman-Baugh, both of whose views are similar to those of Michael Lerner, will be speaking. To reiterate, the fact that Michael Lerner was not invited to speak on Feb. 16 was not the consequence of a veto by the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition. None of the coalitions have veto power over the Feb. 16 program
We strongly abhor all forms of racism and bigotry, including anti-Semitism. At the same time, we don¹t believe that criticism of Israeli government policies should be labeled as anti-Semitism any more than criticism of U.S. government policy should be labeled as anti-American. On the eve of a terrible war, we call upon everyone to join together in making Feb. 15-16 a massive and powerful statement for peace and justice. We're heartened by the broad range of participation that is developing forFeb. 16, including within the Jewish community, and invite one and all to join with us in our efforts to stop the war on Iraq.
Issued by: Bay Area United Against War, International A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) Coalition, Not In Our Name Project, United for Peace and Justice
***************************** ORIGINAL POSTING ON COMMON DREAMS
Published on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 by CommonDreams.org Let Anti-War Rabbi Michael Lerner Speak
Also See: The Banning of Rabbi Lerner by David Corn / The Nation 2/11/02
Rabbi Michael Lerner has been banned from speaking at the antiwar rally in San Francisco this Sunday, February 16. One of the rally organizers, Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER), has stated that it will not allow a "pro-Israel" speaker to take the stage -- despite the fact that Rabbi Lerner has been an outspoken critic of Israeli policy in the occupied territories, has endorsed ANSWER's antiwar rallies in the past, has signed the Not in Our Name petition against the war, and is widely known to be among the most progressive of American rabbis. Other coalitions organizing the rally, including Not in Our Name and United for Peace and Justice, have acceded to ANSWER's opposition to Lerner, on the grounds that they had previously accepted as a condition for participation in the demonstration the agreement that if one of the groups vetoed a speaker that all would have to agree.
We, the undersigned, protest ANSWER's refusal to let Rabbi Lerner speak at this Sunday's rally. At a time when the antiwar movement needs as broad a platform and as broad an appeal as possible, ANSWER has chosen instead to put the interests of sectarianism ahead of the interests of all those who oppose this foolish and unnecessary war. We believe this is a serious mistake, and that it exemplifies ANSWER's unfitness to lead mass mobilizations against war in Iraq.
Partial List of Signers: Greg Goldin, writer Robert W. McChesney, writer Jack Newfield, writer Howard Zinn Doug Ireland, writer Ariel Dorfman, writer Marc Cooper, writer Michael Berube, Penn State Candace Falk Janine Jaquet, Nation Institute John Powers, writer Katha Pollitt, writer Suzi Weissman, professor and author Eric Alterman, writer Kateri Butler, writer Todd Gitlin, writer Suzy Marks Wally Marks Michael Pugliese Judy Bertelsen Nelson Lichtenstein Richard Falk Tom Christie, writer Eyal Press, writer Jon Wiener, historian UCI Mark Schubb Lee Smith, writer Michael Balter, writer Carl Bromley, Editorial Director, Nation Books Harold Meyerson, writer Stew Albert Judy Albert Al Wasserman Anne Wasserman Celeste Fremon, writer Matthew Rothschild, Editor, The Progressive Stanley Aronowitz Isaac Balbus David Bensman Ken Brociner Shirley Bryant Chaz Bufe Leo Casey Bogdan Denitch Tom Edminster Stuart Elliott Irene Theodore Heinstein Maurice Isserman Peter Kosenko Justin Paulson Jason Schulman Timothy Sears Clifford L. Staples Luke Weiger Arthur Wilke Ian Williams Ellen Willis Adam Shatz, writer Emily Jane Goodman Sonia Jaffe Robbins Phyllis Chesler Richard Healey Dorothy Healey Roy Ulrich, attorney Naomi Glauberman, writer Judith Long, The Nation Maurice Zeitlin, author and professor Bruce Shapiro, writer Tad Daley, UCLA Andrew Gumbel, journalist Dr. Aryeh Cohen, University of Judaism, Los Angeles Nalini Lasiewicz, Lasiewicz Foundation Barbara Osborn, Liberty Hill Foundation Fr. Chris Ponnet, Co-Chair Pax Christi USA, Los Angeles Chapter Anita Frankel, former Public Affairs Dir. Pacifica Radio Roane Carey, The Nation Reverend Ed Bacon, Rector, All Saints Church, Pasadena CA Prof. Steve Ross, USC Dr. Lawrence Littwin, CSUN Kenneth Pomeranz Ella Taylor, writer Daniel Sokatch, Executive Director, Progressive Jewish Alliance Francisco Letelier, writer Devra Weber Jules Tygiel, SFSU Ellen Carol DuBois, UCLA Mike Davis, UCI Marla Stone, Occidental College Terrence McNally Vicki Ruiz Peter Dreier, Occidental College Bobbi Murray, Journalist Ginger Varney Kevin B. Anderson, Purdue University Jody Zonenchin Robert H. Silk, Attorney Susan T. Silk. PhD, Biochemist Frank Smyth, journalist Laurie Salen Dave Anderson Sam Bottone David Nasaw, CUNY Grad Center Moshe Machover Robin Arie-Donch Amie Potsic Ana Villa-Lobos Constance Bernstein Gretchen Mackler-Lipow Arthur Lipow Maggie Helwig, writer Rabbi Shaya Isenberg, University of Florida Richard H. Schwartz, College of Staten Island Marcia Diaz Howard A. Rodman Rabbi Rachel Cowan, Nathan Cummings Foundation Scott Tucker Daniel Pope, University of Oregon Jordan Elgrably, Open Tent Middle East Coalition Don Bustany, host "Middle East in Focus" KPFK Marge Piercy Richard Applebaum