Polling Concerns
Birmingham Presbyterian church displays
anti-Israel posters to precinct's Nov. 2 voters.
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extend my apologies to Mr.
Schonberg, who was very upset.
This is my responsibility. We've
d Schonberg of Birmingham
always had polling places in
woke up early on Election
churches, but never before had a
Day, Nov. 2. He lined up
complaint or a concern."
with others waiting to vote at the
She said she is looking at all
First Presbyterian Church of
precincts and at necessary changes.
Birmingham, a block from his
"She assured me this situation
house. What he didn't expect were
would never happen again in
the political posters that he spotted
Birmingham," Schonberg said.
inside the church on the wall enter-
Political material of any kind is
ing the polling booth area.
not allowed while waiting in line,
"There was no way to
Kellman said. "As far as the
avoid seeing these posters,
ADL is concerned, the case
especially if there was a line
is closed," she said. "I was
and you had to stand out-
pleased that the city of
side the doorway that was
Birmingham did what it's
inside the church,"
supposed to do — satisfy
Schonberg said.
the citizen."
"The first was a picture of
The ADL, along with
the wall Israelis are building
the Jewish Community
with words like 'This wall is
Council of Metropolitan
bad, it divides faiths,"'
Detroit and the American
Schonberg said. "The poster
Jewish Committee-Metro
next to it described a
Detroit Chapter, is meet-
Presbyterian governing
ing this Friday to talk
council condemning Israel,
about the next step.
its occupation of Palestinian
Meanwhile, Sharona
[land] and saying that this
Shapiro, AJCommittee
Presbyterian body had
Detroit area director, visit-
begun
un divesting from all
ed the polling site after
companies that invested in
hearing complaints. She
Israel and urged others to
called Senior Pastor L.P.
Kellman
do the same.
Jones, who agreed to meet
Schonberg was really
with Shapiro and a delega-
upset when he saw the person in
tion of rabbis on Nov. 24.
front of him intently reading the
posters. He said he almost ripped
Anonymous Threat
them down but thought better of it.
"They have the right to express
Unfortunately, the situation is
whatever they want, but the city of
more complex than this issue,
Birmingham should not subject Jews Kellman said.
to seeing this," he said.
On Nov. 13, the Presbyterian
Birmingham City Clerk Nancy
Church (USA)'s Louisville, Ky.,
Weiss, who is responsible for polling headquarters received a handwritten
places, agrees with Schonberg, and
letter threatening arson attacks
met with him and Anti-Defamation
because of the church's policies
League-Michigan Region Director
toward the Middle East. The
Betsy Kellman to discuss the matter
Associated Press reported that all
several days later.
U.S. Presbyterian churches have
"Regretfully, nobody called
been put on high alert.
me about this on Election Day,"
The letter threatened to set
Weiss said.
Presbyterian churches on fire while
Schonberg did not call the ADL
people were inside in retaliation for
or Weiss until a couple of days later.
"anti-Israel and anti-Jewish atti-
"I could have taken care of it
tudes," said Jerry L. Van Marter,
immediately," Weiss said. "I did
director of the Presbyterian News
SHARON LUCKERMAN
StaffM•iter
12141 tICUV,
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