After it came to the public’s attention that there was going to be a reading at the local public library of Highland Park, New Jersey of a book called “P” is for Palestine which contains the phrase “I” is for Intifada, outrage ensued. “Intifada” is the violent outbreak of terror that engulfed Israel in the late 80s and early 2000s, claiming thousands of innocent lives. My own sons were studying in Israel during the waves of violent terror brought on by the intifada, so I can tell you how outrageous it is that this sick propagandist author has attempted to pass it off as child-friendly, and that they’re being accommodated in a public library no less!
After loud calls for protest were heard, the library realized what it had done and cancelled the reading, calling instead for a public hearing on the matter. Scheduled for today.
And then suddenly, it was cancelled. Shut down. Why? The official reason given was “about citizen safety and crowd control concerns posed by the meeting.” Now, instead of rescheduling the hearing so the voices of the community could be heard, they simply decided to schedule the book’s reading, completely disregarding the concerns of the local community. Oh, they threw us a bone: they will, “on the advice of counsel” attempt to “balance” the scales by also having a reading for a book titled “I” is for Israel. So the message they’re sending is simple: it’s OK to have a book that teaches children about the violent intifada so long as we also have one about Jews.
In short, the Highland Park Public Library sold its constituents out, and for real cheap. Shame on all of them for cancelling the hearing and stifling the voices of democracy! Starting with the Mayor Gayle Brill Mittler, a Democrat, and a coward, as well as the board of “trustees” that came up with this arrangement.
But this isn’t the last they will hear on this should that reading go forward. The Jewish community of Highland Park will exercise its Constitutional right of assembly and protest to make sure their voices of opposition to the horrific indoctrination of children set to occur in their backyard are heard. And I will be there to support them in every way I can. Because, “N” is for NO WAY!
APPENDIX A – STATEMENT FROM LIBRARY:
Notice of Cancellation of the June 5, 2019 meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Highland Park Public Library
After Library Director Jane Stanley’s consultation with Highland Park Mayor Gayle Brill Mittler and Highland Park Chief of Police Rick Abrams about citizen safety and crowd control concerns posed by the meeting of the Highland Park Public Library Board of Trustees scheduled for June 5, Library Board of Trustees President Bruce Tucker has concluded that the Library cannot in good conscience proceed with the meeting. While the Highland Park Public Library has the utmost confidence in the Borough Police Department, it has been decided that the June 5, 2019 meeting of the Library Board of Trustees is hereby cancelled.
Because there is no time in the foreseeable future when those conditions are likely to change, the Library Director, on the advice of counsel, is taking the following actions:
- The Library will reschedule the “P” is for Palestine author talk at a time that is mutually acceptable to the author and the Library.
- The Library will schedule a program around the book “I” is for Israel” by Gili Bar-Hillel and Prodeepta Das as soon as possible
