Anti-Rezoning Activists’ Flyers Have Anti-Semitic Undertones
The Movement to Protect the People (MTOPP), an organization opposed to any and all efforts to rezone areas in Crown Heights for further development, has recently distributed flyers rallying members of the African-American community to disrupt an upcoming Community Board-9 meeting at which the rezoning proposal will be voted on.
The flyers, which can be seen below, bear heavy anti-Semitic and anti-white undertones. They insinuate that the only area under review for rezoning is the one populated by blacks – because the neighboring Jewish area is “protected” – and accuses black community leaders of “selling out” their brethren to “white developers.”
The flyers use the epithet “Uncle Tom” against these African-American board members – a reference to the slavery-era novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin – which is commonly employed against African-Americans who “sell out” their fellow blacks in order to please their “white masters.”
In an e-mail sent along with the flyers, an organizer for MTOPP named Alicia writes about the rezoning proposal: “This is the entire Black Community and it contains none of the Jewish Community!” “We will not allow our community to be sold to the White Man, for whatever pay off they are gaining!” and “The Jewish Community is not being included in this study and thus has protection!”
Community Board-9 will be meeting this coming Monday night, January 26, at 890 Nostrand Ave. at 7:00pm, and will meet again Tuesday night, January 27, at 650 Bedford Ave. at 7:00pm.
********************************************************************************
The "white man"
Some African Americans are more racist than the KKK. Racism goes in both directions, and nowadays it is overwhelmingly against whites.
Is it true?
First thing to explore is if this is true. Just because there is an undertone of anti-semitism, and large overtone of anti=white, doesn’t mean it’s not true. So..is it? do they have a legitimate gripe?
Antisemitism
There is no good reason for this group to invoke the race or religion of anyone. If they have a problem with rezoning, then complain about rezoning. Don’t turn this into a black/white, Jew/non-Jew issue.
There are Jews living all over Brooklyn. So when they claim that “it contains none of the Jewish Community” they are singling out Jews and obviously trying to turn this into a racial issue.
Just left them a voicemail...
Rather than alienate with hostility or emotionally react to someone else’s fearful and misinformed perceptions, I simply said that most of us are feeling a squeeze from rising rents and that it would behoove us to consider a united front. We have to stay on message and assert our humanity. I’m not naive, but I don’t underestimate anyone’s ability to empathize, either.
Let us not forget...
Not excusing this grotesque conspiracy theory, but… We have our own Uncle Tom’s. Or our own money über alles types, anyways…
I forgot...
I’m curious. What is a Jewish Uncle Tom?
The truth hurts.
The fact is they are right. We live in a racist community where we judge people for the color of their skin. We look to kick out the shvratzes and don’t realize how ironic it is that us out of all people act in such a way to other human beings. Just remember, when you want to pull out the anti semite card remember the following “there are two types of anti semites. One that God makes and one that we do” now when we treat these people the way we do, which one do you think they fall under?
anon
it is not us who cause the hatred. when every other day there is a story about a jew getting jumped by these people there is a reason for the hatred, they earned it
Anonymous
They are not normal.
NOT SHOCKING!!!
unfortunately this is nothing new, the black community has a major anti semitic problem, but no one will ever call them out, because they fear they will be accused of racism.
Justice
It seems to me that the “white people” of Crown Heights, i.e. the Jewish community, might think about joining up with these people. The majority of Jews in CH are not wealthy, not home owners. They will be pushed out just like the poor of the neighborhoods mentioned. Don’t let the black skin and poor rhetoric fool you: this movement is for the Jews of CH also. All the Jewish homeowners and wealthy are going to get a piece of the “white man developers” pie. But the average ;Yossel? Where is the CHJCC in all of this? Where is affordable housing in CH? How much of the luxury development is being put aside for affordable housing? Don’t sleep over this one guys.
resident
they dont realize that us jews are being priced out too. MY FRIENDS, WAKE UP!!! OUR OWN LANDLORDA AND MANY OTHER CHASIDIC LANDLORDS FROM WILLIAMSBURG ARE OUTPRICING US. WE NEED A STRONG COMMITTE TO HELP SAVE THE NEIGHBERHOOD. PAYING CLOSE TO 3K for a THREE BEDROOM!! WE NEED TO ACT NOW!! STUDIOS FOR YUPPIES ONLY ADD MORE DAMAGE!!! OUR CHILDREN ARE MINGLING WITH THESE PEOPLE ALL DOWN FRANKLIN AVE!!
racist
Notice how they put race into the flyer “white developers” but then claim THEM to be “racist Rezoning patterns”
To "the truth hurts"
So “we live in a racist community where we judge people for the color of their skin”, is that so? Did you take a poll? If you did, you didn’t ask me, and I’m a community member. I do not judge anyone by the color of their skin, I judge them by their character and their actions, black or white, and so do my friends and family in the community. Please don’t malign an entire community for the failings and/or perceived failings of some.
yakov
isnt Eric Adams the guy who removed all Jews from the community board also black and it is HE who is in bad with developers, but I guess they dont want to attack a brother.
HESHY
Hey I lived in that community before blacks or chassids .They overtook the area driving us “normal” folks away. Look at the deterioration of the public schools ,its a shame. Chassids dont want to be assimilated and blacks cant be assimilated.
.look in the mirror
already sold your soul to the white man..welfare. food stamps. ,