The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) foundation, a leading left-wing think tank for the German Social Democratic Party, withdrew its Human Rights Award to the Women’s March USA while it investigates allegations of anti-Semitism. The decision to award the Women’s March faced much criticism, including from doctoral students associated with FES who “accused the organizers of the march of hardcore antisemitism and support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign targeting the Jewish state.” The award ceremony, which was supposed to be held on November 12, was suspended, since “the FES is unable to assess with certainty the validity of the charges against individual members of the organization’s leadership.”

The Human Rights Award is typically awarded to “individuals and organizations in different parts of the world that have made outstanding contributions in the field of human rights.” Their decision to honor the Women’s March was based on the “the organization’s outstanding commitment to social justice, democracy, and gender equality, as well as its ability to mobilize people around the world.” However, members of the Working Group of Scholarship Holders of the FES, “Critique of Antisemitism and Jewish Studies,” criticized the decision to honor the Women’s March, saying that it “does not meet the criteria of this award, as its organizers have repeatedly attracted attention through antisemitic statements, the trivialization of antisemitism and the exclusion of Zionists and Jews since Women’s March USA’s establishment in 2017. Women’s March USA does not constitute an inclusive alliance.”

Their letter went on to state that:

“Since its inception in 2017, Women’s March USA has attracted media attention due to the antisemitism of its board members and chair women. Linda Sarsour, a member of the board and former president of Women’s March USA, is notorious for her propagation of antisemitism toward Israel. This transpired not only through her statement from March 2017 claiming that feminists could not be Zionists simultaneously and that Zionists were Nazis, but also through her demonization and delegitimization of Israel, as well as the application of a double standard. She also calls herself a ‘very staunch supporter of the BDS movement.’ These forms of antisemitism were also visible at the Berlin Women’s March in January 2018. The organizers did not show any attempt of critique or disassociation.”

The academics also pointed out that Sarsour “spreads anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that resemble the classic anti-Semitic trope of blood libel. In September 2018, for instance, she claimed that when US police officers shoot unarmed black people, Jewish persons responsible would lurk in the background.” Ultimately, “An organization that may support feminism, but discriminates against Jews and Zionists and denies Israel’s right to exist should not be honored by a democratic foundation that advocates diversity and speaks out against discrimination.”

While Jewish groups have long claimed that Sarsour and other leaders of the Women’s March have engaged in anti-Semitic rhetoric, it seems that others are now calling out the anti-Semitic sentiment found within the movement. Actresses Alyssa Milano and Debra Messing have recently come out against the Women’s March, demanding that the Women’s March leaders denounce anti-Semitism. Milano, who is an advocate for the #MeToo movement and spoke at the 2018 Women’s March, said she will refuse to speak at the next march if asked by Sarsour or Tamika Mallory. Both Sarsour and Mallory have defended Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan’s bigoted anti-Semitism. Farrakhan is infamous for pushing anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, such as Jews having control over the government or being involved in the 9/11 attacks. He frequently refers to “satanic Jews” in his speeches and recently tweeted: “I’m not an anti-Semite. I’m anti-Termite.” Milano said, “Any time that there is any bigotry or anti-Semitism in that respect, it needs to be called out and addressed. I’m disappointed in the leadership of the Women’s March that they haven’t done it adequately.”

On November 13th, LDB President & General Counsel Alyza Lewin will address LDB students at UCLA School of Law on her work litigating the “Jerusalem Passport Case” in front of the Supreme Court. Recently appointed to the position of President and General Counsel at the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, Lewin is also a partner in Lewin & Lewin LLP, where she specializes in litigation and government relations. She is the former President of the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists (AAJLJ) and has served on the boards of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington and the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia.