By COLlive reporter
Photos by Mendi Toledano
New York State Senator Jesse Hamilton, a Democrat who represents the Crown Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn, says the decision to protest the nuclear deal with Iran originated in Israel.
The African-American lawmaker said that he was inspired to sponsor Wednesday’s rally protesting the deal led by the Obama Administration during a recent legislative trip to the Holy Land.
“I just came back from Israel and said, ‘I need to do more,'” he told a crowd of 400. “I saw young boys and girls fighting for their country. I saw people that have 15 seconds to run for safety. I told myself I must make a change.”
Standing on Eastern Parkway, he made it clear that opposition to the Iran accords is far from a partisan issue, championed only by Republicans. In fact, most of the speakers during the event were members of the Democratic party.
“We must do everything in our power to protect Israel and their G-d given borders,” Hamilton stated. “People should not have to live in fear. And this is just the beginning.”
It was a clear message to fellow New York Democrats whose vote will be crucial in a September vote on the Iran deal. Among those on the sidelines are Representatives Yvette Clarke, Hakeem Jeffries, Nydia Velazquez and Carolyn Maloney.
“My problem with the Iran deal is simple: it’s a bad deal,” said NYC Councilman David Greenfield who served as emcee of the event. “I am proud of U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and other members of New York’s Congressional delegation for standing up for the Jewish community, Israel and America’s security,” he said.
Greenfield called on his fellow Democrats to follow Senator Schumer’s opposition and “let Obama know that we can negotiate a better deal for America.”
Recent polling indicates that a growing majority of Americans oppose the Iran deal. According to a CNN/ORC poll released on August 20, 56% of Americans think Congress should reject the deal with Iran — up from 52% less than a month ago.
As reported on COLlive.com, a grassroots effort has mobilized hundreds of Jewish community members to reach out to their representatives urging them to vote against the deal. Many of them were there for the rally on Wednesday evening.
Activist Yaacov Behrman, who helped coordinate the rally on behalf of Hamilton’s office, said he was pleased with the turn-out. “The event was a success, and we hope our Congressional leaders will do the right thing,” he told COLlive.com.
Not seeing eye-to-eye with those gathered were a small group of chassidic Jews identified with the Neturei Karta philosophy of opposing the State of Israel and Zionism. They held up signs condemning “Zionist impeding world peace and their abhorrent behavior towards President Obama.”
Ignoring their disruptions, New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind pointed an accusatory finger to another segment of the Jewish community: the leadership of Jewish organizations and Federations across the country.
He cited an op-ed written by philanthropist Michael Steinhardt accusing most of Jewish communal leaders of being “too scared to come out and oppose” the deal although they “believe the Iran deal is bad.”
Hikind, who earlier in the day protested against the Jewish Congressman Jerry Nadler for supporting the deal, said that “many Jewish leaders are not doing anything (about the deal) because they still want to be on the list” of invitees for the annual Chanukah reception at the White House.
The rally opened by Cantor Shlomie Rabin reciting a prayer in memory of all those lost in terror attacks worldwide.
Zaki Tamir, Chairman of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, reminded participants to keep spreading the truth against the “deal with the devil.”
Community activist Devorah Halberstam, whose son Ari was killed in the terrorist shooting on the Brooklyn Bridge in 1994, said she opposes war, yet called on elected officials to “Look into your hearts and the eyes of the children of the world and vote with your conscience.”
Participants were encouraged to keep contacting their local representatives to vote against the deal which both Israeli coalition and opposition leaders say endangers the safety and security of its citizens.
Protest ends in Chassidic dance to song of faith in G-d:
Looking good
Someone should have mentioned to the neture karat that if they’re for the deal then they should expect more terrorist attacks
Hakeem Jeffries 202-225-5936
Do even one small thing-
Hakeem Jeffries 202-225-5936
Nydia Velazquez 202-225-2361
It only took 15 minutes of my time to call them as well Gilibrand and Clark (numbers listed in previous comment)
One thing is for sure, UNITED we stand, DIVIDED, we fall.
Those who understand what I am saying, and have some input, bring together all the parties that may have positive results.
And PLEASE, my intent is for POSITIVE, and not to open up a back and forth for more machlokes, chas v’sholom.
Gut Shabbos.
Does anyone think that this crowd NEBACH, would impress any public official, and their staff??
More harm than good was accomplished.
I was told heard through the Grapevine, that a group of “The Young Leadership” put together the “Chasidishe Melave Malka – Rally.
Obviously, there are fewer the 100 young people in Crown Heights.
Sad, very sad……
Needed more planning
More publicity
More advertising and hype
Looks a little nebach
But a good idea and worthwhile too
where were the thousands of crown heightsers??? A real shame!
Breaking: N.Y. Congresswoman Carolyn Malone came out against Iran deal
Nice idea, but without advertising, what’s the point – better to call it a Press Conference rather than a rally – lends more legitimacy to the event.
BUT even more important is mentioning the Rebbe’s words that true peace in the Middle East and the World must originate with a firm Shleimus HaAretz and emphasis on the Sheva Mitvos.
Tamar Adelstein
Devora Halberstam is the one person who said what was most important. Let’s not make this a Jewish or Israeli problem that is just a distraction. It is a problem for our entire country and the entire world. That’s what all politicians and citizens need to hear.
Did I miss something? Not one word of action?
Talk, talk, talk, and more talk….
It sounded like a Political Rally….
NOT ONE WORD ACTION!!!!
How about again encouraging the people, to continue reaching out, and calling our senator and congress representatives, keeping the pressure on
Wish I knew about it
for one time we couldve use them to dance and sing yechi with flag around the NK that would push them away
where are all the women from kingston that wouldve chase them away to !
Devorah Halberstam keep it up!
Do we have to show these misguided souls and their pitiful banners. ugh.
I came down Kingston Ave. and saw those Neturei Karte Nazis, and my heart fell.
I looked at the crowd attending the rally, and my heart fell even further.
What’s up with us??? Doesn’t anyone care???
Out of close to four thousand families 250 people show up!!!!
The Neturei Nazis had as much of a crowd as the event.
Why was there no showing fro: JCRC, APAC, Flatbush PAC.
All of the above organizations sponsored Congressman Jeffries event.
I smell a rat.
Congratulations, Jesse, Dov and David.
BUT SHAME ON US!!!
No advertising?? Are you kidding??
Every home received a letter and postcard. Thousands of text messages Face book, etc., etc.
And a measly 200 people show up. Of which 100 happened to come out of the subway.
A real busha !!!
Most of the Jewish world stood silent as 6 million perished …. And we still have survivors…. If no one cares today what will be when they are all gone.
I glanced with interest at the opposition on the other side of Kingston protesting our protest against Iran nuclear expansion. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a rally in favor of nuclear disaster until now. It’s one thing to hate and abuse your Jewish neighbors for no reason, that kind of irrationality we are used to. It’s another to protest in favor of being nuked by a sworn enemy of the US. Sad… and yet so comical! Do they even know what they are protesting on behalf of, other than that it is something the Jewish community is opposing?.. Only… Read more »
I specially enjoyed hearing Senator Jesse Hamiltons words, the emcee David Greenfield and Dov Hikind. But my favorite was Devorah Halbershtam! She was terrific. Would be nice to post videos. Great speeches!
For all those asking why this event wasn’t better advertised. I hope you all at least made 1 call to each of the following. 1) Yvette Clarke 202-225-6231. 2) Kirsten Gillibrand 202-224-4451 and stay tuned for better organized events.
Surprised at COL that the ‘nature karta’ got 11 pictures in this article. That’s exactly what their looking for ; attention. They should get zero attention, their plight is ridiculous and their so rude and disrespectful!
This event was so badly publicized. No-one knew about it. Why wasn’t this advertised all over the place?
With such a large community we should have had a few thousand people.
The speakers spoke well. hashem yerachem. We need to be more involved keep calling the elected officials.
where was every person in this community???? we post wonderful words on facebook, share videos and pictures on tisha b’av but when our brothers and sisters and OUR OWN LIVES and our childrens world is at stake we show up
At events like these your absence is keenly felt. You were always at the front lines organizing protests in Manhattan, in Washington or in 770–wherever, whenever and whatever was needed.
Please post
Everyone spoke so well. Can someone please post phone numbers for senators we should call? TY