The racism of the Israel haters

Chloé Simone Valdary is an undergraduate at the University of New Orleans and founder of the Allies of Israel Association. This thoughtful and determined young woman has been subject to a barrage of vicious and racist attacks by members of the so-called “progressive “ movement because she defies their expectation of political correctness and is an avowed supported of Israel

 The attacks on Chloe are documented by Anthony Hardy Williams,  the Democratic whip of the Pennsylvania State Senate. His father, Hardy Williams, worked alongside Martin Luther King Jr.  In his piece in The New York Post , The racism of the Israel-haters he writes that the attacks on Chloe  represent “a deeply troubling trend in an anti-Israel movement that goes way beyond honest criticism of Israeli policy to dehumanize and vilify Israel, Israelis and anyone who supports the Jewish state” he condemns the silence of the progressive community in condemning this abject racism, writing “ As a civil-rights activist and leader in the African-American community, I’m exceptionally disturbed to discover that the response to this attack on Valdary has been subdued, almost nonexistent”

Writing about Seattle blogger Richard Silverstein’s notorious comment “They finally did it: found a Negro Zionist: Uncle Tom is dancin’ for joy!”, Williams says

The attacks from his allies are offensive enough, but Silverstein’s racial slurs are beyond the pale. And his river of hate continued to flow, as he called this young African-American woman a “house slave” and said the “Israel Lobby is her Master.” His racist intent with such loaded language could hardly be more clear.

For many in the African-American community, the phrase “Uncle Tom” is as bad as, if not worse than, the N-word. The pejorative has historically been used against African-Americans seen as subservient to oppressive whites.

Few words could be more hurtful, especially from a Caucasian man publicly castigating a young African-American woman.

I’ve seen this too many times before: a supposed “progressive” stepping on the backs of African-Americans, then walking away as if the pain he’s inflicted is different from that caused by any other racist. Why should such hate speech go unchallenged, just because it’s cloaked as criticism of Israel?

Anthony Hardy Williams concludes

So while Chloé Simone Valdary continues to fight for Israel, let all good people denounce Silverstein’s racism and stand with her. This is doubly true for liberal Americans, who have so long stood for rooting out hatred, discrimination and bigotry. They should make clear that they believe in these things just as strongly when it comes to the subject of Israel.

The racial slurs and personal attacks against Chloe have only served to strengthen her resolve and commitment. She knows, as do we all that the words of Socrates still ring with truth 'When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser.'