 AUGUST 6 • 2020 | 29

A

bout two dozen pro-
testers gathered in 
Bloomfield Township 
on Friday evening, July 17, to 
march to the Max M. Fisher 
Federation building and 
demand action from local 
Jewish leaders in response to the 
impending Israeli annexation of 
the West Bank. 
The protest was organized by 
IfNotNow (INN), a progressive 
activist group that opposes the 
Israeli occupation of the West 
Bank and Gaza Strip.
The protest coincided with 

a proposal from U.S. Rep. 
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 
D-N.Y., signed by dozens of 
members of Congress, including 
Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, to 
respond to Israeli abuses by con-
ditioning military funding. 
“We see them as champions 
of our cause,
” INN member Zak 
Witus said. “We hope that more 
progressive Jewish leaders like 
Andy Levin here in Michigan 
and Jan Schakowsky in Chicago 
step up to the plate.
”
Across the country, INN 
chapters have been protesting 

outside of the offices and homes 
of political leaders, promoting 
Ocasio-Cortez’
s proposal. Other 
“Day of Rage” protests, led by 
different pro-Palestinian activist 
groups, have targeted campus 
Hillel buildings and other 
Federation buildings in cities 
like New York and San Diego.
The mask-wearing protesters 
began in the parking lot of Leo’
s 
Coney Island on Telegraph 
Road and marched down 
to the Jewish Federation of 
Metropolitan Detroit headquar-
ters, singing songs and rally cries 
for solidarity against annexation. 
Once the group arrived at the 
Max M. Fisher Federation build-
ing, a Shabbat service was held 
with prayers and songs prior to 
sundown.
“
Any politician who is willing 
to take the risk of incurring the 
wrath of the Jewish community 
by standing up against annex-
ation and the Israeli military … 
I think that’
s great,
” said protest-
er Elissa Driker, 58. 

During INN member Lisa 
Tencer’
s speech shortly after 
arriving, she was interrupted by 
a counter-protester. The man, 
who said he was Jewish, born in 
Israel and served in the “mili-
tary,
” repeatedly shouted, “What 
do you know about the state of 
Israel?” The man left after about 
10 minutes and wouldn’
t give 
his name.
Rabbi Asher Lopatin, execu-
tive director of the JCRC/AJC, 
an agency of Federation, told the 
JN his group “respects the diver-
sity of opinions in the Detroit 
Jewish community regarding the 
possibility of the Israeli govern-
ment extending its sovereignty 
to parts of the West Bank/Judea 
and Samaria. Therefore, we seek 
to educate and inform, rather 
than impose one point of view 
… As always, we remain com-
mitted to the safety and security 
of the State of Israel, the only 
democracy in the Middle East 
and the sole Jewish state.
” 

IfNotNow Protests at 
Federation Building

DANNY SCHWARTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A few dozen protestors 
spoke out against 
annexation at the 
Federation building in 
Bloomfield Township.

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