Every day, when I walk toward the heart of Porter Square in Cambridge, I see a massive sign in Barbie pink:
Radicals Ruin America.
Really? The group behind it, JewBelong, claims all Jews “belong” – yet this message disowns the legacy of countless Jewish radicals who fought for safety, justice and equity in American life.
Does Saul Alinsky, author of “Rules for Radicals,” not belong? Samuel Gompers, who helped get us the 40-hour workweek? Rose Schneiderman, who demanded worker protections after the Triangle Shirtwaist fire? Clara Lemlich, who helped found the International Ladies Garment Workers’ Union?
What about Andrew Goodman, murdered for registering Black voters in the Freedom Summer? Or Emma Goldman, who championed birth control, free speech and workers’ rights? Stanley Levinson, close adviser to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? Abbie Hoffman, who helped end a ruinous war?
And what of Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn or Rebecca Solnit? Are their critiques of inequality “ruinous” – or illuminating? Should we dismiss Shulamith Firestone, Andrea Dworkin, Letty Cottin Pogrebin, Alix Kates Shulman? Should we take the orange off the seder plate?
Wherever the arc of history bends toward justice, you’ll find radicals at the tipping point. They brought us labor protections, civil rights and gender equity – not ruin, but progress.
To JewBelong: Your message does not belong – in Cambridge, in the commonwealth or in a democratic society.
Kathy L. Dalton, Arlington Street, Cambridge
A stronger
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Those billboards are an afront to thr truth & an attack on what really has advanced social justice & our democracy. Thank you for writing this letter!