Statement by Together for an Inclusive Massachusetts
As the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism gathers for its second monthly meeting on November 19th, organizations and individuals participating in the statewide alliance, Together for an Inclusive Massachusetts (TIM), continue to be concerned about the process and content of the Commission’s work.
A request for feedback from K-12 students on the state of antisemitism was circulated in private Facebook groups and later posted by Commission co-chair John Velis on X, though never posted on the Commission’s site. Although the deadline for submissions was November 15th, a revised agenda was posted before the end of the day saying that only one student would be speaking. It is not clear what will be done with feedback provided by other students or the criteria used to select the one student speaker. This process lacks transparency.
As we have pointed out to many of the Commissioners and the appointing bodies, there is an important diversity of views about antisemitism that cannot be represented by a single speaker within the Jewish community. If the selected student speaker presents a perspective that amplifies the anti-Palestinian views that already dominate the 19-member Commission, the choice to again deny the expression of alternative Jewish views will further discredit the Commission and erode the possibility of a successful outcome.
Jews and others working with Together for an Inclusive Massachusetts came together around the belief that addressing antisemitism is essential, and that antisemitism should not be weaponized to silence Palestinians or support for Palestinian justice. We fully oppose antisemitism and we believe antisemitism should be fought within an inclusive and antiracist framework. It is our deep and unwavering commitment to equality and justice for all – including Jews and Palestinians – that propels our work.
Unfortunately, the Massachusetts Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism has gotten off on the wrong foot. The Commission has platformed discredited statistics from the Anti-Defamation League. Members of the Commission have conflated criticism of Israel with antisemitism, and have affiliations with organizations associated with the doxxing of teachers, promoting book banning, advocating for the disciplining and criminalization of constitutionally-protected free speech, and engaging in partisan behavior against students, educators and institutions who oppose war and demand equality.
We repeat: The Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism must commit to transparency, accountability and inclusion of the diversity of perspectives held by Massachusetts’ Jewish community. It must ensure that discriminatory accusations of antisemitism are not used to dehumanize and harm anyone, including Jews and Palestinians.
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Together for an Inclusive Massachusetts is an alliance of Jewish, Muslim, Christian, labor, education, student, civil rights, peace and other organizations and individuals. Our steering committee includes representatives from Boston Workers Circle, Massachusetts Peace Action, Jewish Voice for Peace Boston, Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine, Council on American-Islamic Relations Massachusetts, National Lawyers Guild-Massachusetts Chapter, and many others.
