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10 | JUNE 11 • 2020
promoting the area where
most JN readers live as a
thriving economic hub that
welcomed Jews. Patterson
did this while disparaging
Detroit and its citizens in
vile, heinous language, call-
ing the city “an Indian res-
ervation.” In his own words,
he said he would “rather join
the Klan” than help a group
of CEOs rebuild Detroit. As
the Oakland County prose-
cutor prior to becoming its
executive, he expressed simi-
lar sentiments.
It was clear Patterson
thought nothing of Detroit’
s
majority-black population; to
him, these black lives didn’
t
matter. In Patterson’
s eyes,
Oakland County, and the
many Jewish-owned busi-
nesses that helped power its
economic engine, could only
find success if Detroit failed.
We can’
t allow ourselves to
think like that anymore. We
must realize that our fates are
directly tied to those of our
black and brown brothers
and sisters, including Jews of
color, with whom we share
the Detroit Metro area, and
indeed this entire country.
We must help to heal this
deep wound in our society,
starting right here in Detroit.
Above all, please listen to
and acknowledge this pain
and anger. Rather than look-
ing for reasons to invalidate
it or finding ways to rational-
ize a violent police response
to it, take a moment to
understand where it comes
from. When it comes
to interactions with law
enforcement, our own histo-
ry demands we find a peace-
ful alternative to the struc-
tural prejudice that leads to
police violence against entire
groups of people.
We have local examples
to point the way forward,
consistent with Jewish val-
ues. In Flint, seeing a crowd
of protesters approaching,
Genesee County Sheriff
Chris Swanson disregarded
his training. He laid down
his baton and riot gear and
accompanied civilians on a
peaceful march.
And since protests began,
Sheriff Bouchard has sup-
ported Michigan Senate Bill
945, requiring mandatory
bias training for the state’
s
police forces.
Many more reforms are
needed. We may need to
completly rethink the rela-
tionship between our com-
munities and the police. But
amid all the horror, these are
positive steps. We all must
learn from history to avoid
repeating it.
Detroit police control
protestors in the
streets of Detroit.
ALEXANDER CLEGG/JEWISH NEWS
LEARNING FROM HISTORY continued from page 6
most read on the web
Each month, the JN will let you know the sto-
ries that were read most often online. If you
missed any, you can go to the jewishnews.com
and search for them by title. Here’
s what was
most popular in May.
TOP 10 ON THE WEB
1. Lansing Demonstrators Protest Whitmer with Hitler Signs
2. Gay and Jewish Jokes
3. Cap & Gown Gallery
4. Burt Hurshe Ends Decades-Long Career as High School
Sports Official
5. ‘
Rewind’
: Jewish Filmmaker Confronts his
Traumatic Childhood
6. A Shavuot Revelation
7. Highway to Challah: Cousins Ensure Families Can Enjoy
Fresh Challah on Shabbat
8. Rabbi Shaiall Zachariash: Service Well Beyond the
Call of Duty
9. Tamarack Camps Cancels All Summer 2020 Programming
Due to COVID-19
10. The Ex-Nazi Next Door
TOPS ON FACEBOOK
1. Tamarack Camps Cancel All Summer 2020 Programming
2. Ann Arbor Art Fair Canceled Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
3. Bagel Boys to the Rescue
4. DJN Business Profiles: Warren and William Frenkel
of UniVoxx
5. Cousins Ensure Families Can Enjoy Fresh Challah
on Shabbat
TOP 5 ON INSTAGRAM:
1. Community Helps Holocaust Survivor and His Wife Mark a
Milestone in Quarantine
2. Dealing with Dyslexia: Local Teen Shares His Journey to
Overcome Learning Challenges
3. Years After BBYO, One Friend Gives Another the Gift of Life
4. Graduation Without a Celebration
5. Flint Rabbi Delivers Food After Mid-Michigan Flood
Devastation