OPINION

OPINION When You Hear a Dog Whistle, Pay Attention

Let’s dis- pense with the COVID-19 myth/slogan: We are all in this together.

We have not been, we are not now,

Dave Schechter

From Where I Sit and in recent times there has been ample reason to suggest that any change is un- likely. We are us and them, them and us.

COVID-19 has become yet another is- sue by which to measure the gulf between segments of society. Consider this quote from a Washington Post article in midMay about Georgia businesses reopening, from a man enjoying an afternoon at the Avalon mall in Alpharetta: “When you start seeing where the cases are coming from and the demographics – I’m not wor- ried.”

That was followed by a quote from his friend, who sipped a beer and said, “I know what people are going to say — ‘Those selfish idiots are killing our old people!’”

Starting with the geography, the Georgia Department of Public Health re- ports that the largest number of COVID-19 cases in the state have come from four metro Atlanta counties: Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett and Cobb. (Fulton and Cobb rank first and second in the number of deaths attributed to COVID-19.)

A map created by the Atlanta JournalConstitution identified the greatest metro area concentrations of cases per 1,000 population as coming from zip codes in- side the I-285 perimeter, and from west and southwest of downtown Atlanta.

The Fulton County Board of Health says that Alpharetta has accounted for less than 2.5 percent of its cases. So, “where the cases are coming from” is not in the vicin- ity of the Avalon mall.

Moving on to the demographics, Georgia is roughly 60 percent white and 32 percent African American. According to the DPH, as of June 4, African Ameri- cans made up nearly 32 percent of the state’s COVID-19 cases but 48.5 percent of the deaths.

The state classifies close to 28 percent of COVID-19 cases as “unknown” when it comes to racial identification. Using census percentages to redistribute those cases, African Americans clearly are even further over-represented.

Maybe “demographics” means they’re not like us, and if they’re not like us, why worry?

If you say “demographics” to get your meaning across without using another, well, less polite word, that’s known as a dog whistle. Maybe that wasn’t what the guy quoted in the Post meant to do, but numerous people who read that comment heard a whistle.

As for “killing our old people,” twothirds of the COVID-19 related deaths in Georgia have been people age 70 and older. Older people are more likely to have health issues worsened by the coro- navirus and are the population of nurs- ing homes and assisted-living residences, where about a half of the state’s COVIDrelated deaths have been recorded.

The myth that “We’re all in this to- gether” is refuted all the more when you read a Facebook page that advocates open- ing all Georgia businesses and removing all restrictions – now. There, COVID-19 has been a “HOAX from day 1” and is re- sponsible for “the continuing destruction of our Constitutional rights.” People wear- ing masks are ridiculed as “sheep” and the medical establishment, including the Cen- ters for Disease Control and Prevention, derided as know-nothings or on the take.

Elsewhere on social media, of course, any number of mask-wearing, socialdistancing, guideline-following people contend that those folks are themselves a threat to public health and welfare.

The “us and them” gulf is evident in the response to the aftermath of an Afri- can American man under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. This column was in the works before “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to peti- tion the government for a redress of grievances,” as enumerated in the First Amendment, became enmeshed in a tangle of vandalism and violence, of politics and policing.

It did not take long for posts to appear on that reopen Georgia from COVID-19 page, blaming the violence – “irrefutable evidence” one said, without presenting any – on George Soros, accusing the Holo- caust survivor, Hungarian emigre and fi- nancier of hiring the people who smashed windows and looted stores. The constant invocation of Soros’ name is a dog whistle, though I have no doubt that the people do- ing so would deny there being even a hint of anti-Semitism in their suggestion that a wealthy Jewish person is the puppet mas- ter behind such activity. ì

OPINION Publishers Note

I would like to personally and publicly thank Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for her leadership, courage and strength

Michael A. Morris

Publisher over the last two weeks. Here are some excerpts from her speech late Friday night, May 29: “This is not a protest. … This is chaos. When you burn down this city, you are burning down our community. We are better than this. We are no longer talking about the murder of an innocent man, we art talking about how you are burning police cars in the streets of Atlanta. Go home!”

I commend her ability to lead this city, not just downtown Atlanta, during a very dark time period. I am amazed at how deftly she has handled the pressure from her constituents, who include the peaceful protestors, rioters, bystanders and onlookers; owners of small Atlanta businesses and large corporations as well as looted and non-looted storefronts all over the city; journalists, the police and a host of other law enforcement; and all of us watching, in person, on CNN or on local channels.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms had little time to prepare, yet her words spoke volumes, her message struck at every Atlantan’s core (maybe not the criminal elements in our society), and she demonstrated leadership for which we could unite and follow. I am a proud Atlantan and I am proud to call Keisha Lance Bottoms our mayor.

The incidents that led up to the riots are dreadful. I am glad to see charges filed against all of George Floyd’s attackers and bystanders. I appreciate the right, in America, for people to congregate, protest and ensure their feelings and voices are heard. I also abhor the violence that has ensued. How unfortunate that the criminal riots overshadowed an extremely important protest.

People have been asking me, in the Jewish community, is this a Jewish issue? This is a human issue, therefore it is a Jewish issue. This is a minority issue, therefore it is a Jewish issue. This is an Atlanta issue, therefore it is an Atlanta Jewish community issue. This is an issue which our Torah specifically addresses, therefore it is a Jewish issue. I want to thank the various Jewish organizations that have been speaking out and supporting the protests, equity and equality under the law in this great country. I appreciate those that are using the Atlanta Jewish Times as one of their platforms.

There are a few people I want to specifically call out. I want to recognize the police and other law enforcement that kneeled with the protestors. I want to recognize the protestors that have protected the police during the riots. I want to recognize all the peaceful protestors that are exercising their rights and are reminding the rest of us how important equality is in America. I think all of these actions remind us that we are all in this together and we will all get through this, together.

I want to end by thanking the police and other law enforcement for doing their job, a very difficult job, a job that is often not black and white, but gray. Most of us are not willing to become law enforcement because it brings about a certain amount of risk. Most of us have not been presented with the situation of whether or not lethal force is imminently warranted. I count myself as one of these people; therefore, I feel as though it is my duty and honor to support, maintain and thank those that do. It goes without saying, on every tree, there are a few bad apples. I do not condone, respect, nor thank those who serve without honor and integrity. I believe – and hope – there are very few of them. That is why I publicly salute the police on these pages and when I see them in the street. ì

My View

P r o t e s t s and a pandemic are a lot to swallow all at once. Shoot, it is a lot to swallow within one year’s time, let alone one month. Yet

Kaylene Ladinsky

Managing Publisher & Editor here we are.

I find myself watching and listening to the world around us with my jaw on the ground. I am not confused by anything that is going on around me. I am more concerned. There are so many feelings that I am trying to sort through. Yet, I have my feet planted firmly in the direction that I want to lead the AJT. The most prominent word that comes to my mind is “UNBIASED.”

As editor of this newspaper, it is my goal to publish content that does not divide, nor censor. So, I thought that I would share just a few of my thoughts with respect to the current issues that our community is facing.

I believe in the right to peaceful protests. Protesting is an expression of our freedom as Americans and gives our society an outlet necessary to demonstrate like-minded beliefs or ideas. It is a fundamental right that no citizen should ever be denied the opportunity to exercise.

We cannot ignore the destruction that comes from riots, nor can we ignore the cause of them. The riots that have broken out across our country are the climax of a problem or conflict that must be addressed. The recent deaths involving police brutality have ignited a problem that has surfaced time and time again over recent years. The riots we witnessed are the result of the lack of attention to these issues over time. The world’s reaction to George Floyd’s death has marked the beginning of real change.

I do not agree with demonizing the civil servants that put their lives on the line to protect and serve our communities. The officers that cross the line need to be dealt with and punished. Although, I also believe that there is more to fixing the problem than just firing and punishing the officers involved. Reform needs to start at the root. Training and understanding need to play a bigger part in police reform. When officers are placed in intense and dangerous situations, a proper response is essential to the safety of everyone involved. It should never take three officers to subdue a suspect, not if they are properly trained.

Social injustice and racism are part

of our society and we, as a community, need to address them. Whether it is racism against someone because of their color, religion or sexual orientation, it is just as real to those that are experiencing it as anti-Semitism is to Jewish communities around the world.

Our Jewish heritage has survived many attempts made on our people to oppress and annihilate us. It is my opinion that we have a responsibility to support the black community in its efforts to make a change. There is an obvious issue of oppression that arises daily. As a community, we can relate to the climax of frustration and anger that they are experiencing.

I wanted to publish the picture I have featured here on our cover for this issue. I was discouraged and told that it was upsetting, that there would be “backlash” from you, our readers, because it looked like I was depicting “hoodlums” destroying our town, and that we were only focusing on the negativity of the protests.

What I see is the truth behind the emotional outcry of injustice and racism that our country is now confronting. The man on this police car doesn’t have a bat or hammer in his hand, but a guitar. It screams emotion, strife and anger that he is feeling. I wanted to put this photo on our cover because I felt as if it depicts the climax that resulted in a disturbance that will hopefully make a change in our society for the better. Unfortunately, I went along to get along and pulled this photo from the cover.

It is my mission to make my best efforts to stay away from anyone’s political agenda and give our community a reasonable and responsible platform to share diversity in thoughts, beliefs, opinions and ideas. If I am not doing a good job, then I will try harder.

It’s also okay to disagree. It is so upsetting when we get calls and angry mail from readers because we reported on something that someone disagrees with, especially when they are angry and emotional about someone else’s thoughts or opinions and shame us for sharing those views. I prefer to read opinions and thoughts that I do not agree with, even if they challenge my own beliefs and views. That is one of the most interesting aspects of life for me.

Most importantly, I want to report the news, unbiased and factual news. We are a small newspaper and we make mistakes, but I can assure you that we are doing our very best to produce an engaging and interesting publication that will continue to “Keep Jewish Atlanta Connected.” ì

OPINION Why Are Georgia Roadways Honoring Anti-Semites?

It is not u n c o m m o n for streets and highways to be named after prominent members in the community, and that is how CynAlex Blecker thia McKinney Guest Opinion Parkway and James E. “Billy” McKinney Highway came to be.

Billy McKinney was a longstanding state representative and his daughter, Cynthia, was believed to be the first black woman ever elected to represent Georgia in the U.S. House. Unfortunately, both also have a troubling history of antiSemitism.

When Billy McKinney was still serving as a state representative in 2002, he publicly stated that Cynthia’s congressional election was rigged because “Jews have bought everybody. Jews. J-E-W-S.” While his comments likely contributed to the loss of his house seat the same year, the James E. “Billy” McKinney Highway was already dedicated to him. It is a part of I-285 that runs between I-20 and I-75.

Cynthia McKinney has also received backlash after her repeated obsession over conspiracy theories. Notably, she called for the impeachment of President George W. Bush after she implied his administration knew about the 9/11 terrorist attacks before they occurred. But once again, the Cynthia McKinney Parkway was already dedicated to her prior to the revelation of her true character. The road is part of Memorial Drive, which runs from Stone Mountain to downtown Atlanta.

A failed effort was made in 2007 to rename both of the roadways following these incidents, but the General Assembly was unable to reach enough votes to remove their names from our city. But while a push to erase their names from Atlanta has stopped, Cynthia McKinney remains controversial.

Since the failed 2007 resolution, she has followed in her father’s footsteps of anti-Semitic behavior by preaching the

James E. “Billy” McKinney Highway is a part of I-285 that runs between I-20 and I-75.

“Dancing Israelis” conspiracy theory on nity should not be overlooked. With this her Twitter account, which asserts that in mind, the replacement street names the Israeli intelligence agency was bemust be carefully thought out to not punhind the 9/11 attacks. On top of this, the ish the black community for the McKinADL notes that “McKinney has a history ney family’s actions. While it does seem of using anti-Israel rhetoric, including only fitting to return Cynthia McKinney accusing the pro-Israel lobby of sabotagParkway to its original name of Memoing her political career and alleging that rial Drive, the recent murder of Ahmaud Israel is committing genocide, apartheid Arbery in Brunswick, Ga., should be a and war crimes.” call to rename James E. “Billy” McKin

Even more recently, on May 16, ney Highway to something like Ahmaud she made it clear on Arbery Highway. This Twitter that she was way, Arbery’s tragic against the Senate death will never be voting to fund a Holoforgotten. caust education webBy rewarding site. A day later, McKtwo anti-Semites inney took to Twitter with namesake roads, once again to deny the Georgia is conveying number of Jews who that anti-Semitic bewere killed in the Hohavior is acceptable locaust, inferring the when it comes from commonly accepted prominent members 6 million figure was of our community. overinflated because Maybe I am naive, but a Jewish person first I do not believe most cited it. Overlooking the irony of her proving that Holocaust Cynthia McKinney Parkway is a part of Memorial Drive, which runs from Stone Mountain to downtown Atlanta. Georgians or Americans would knowingly praise anti-Semites. education must be Given Cynthia McKfurthered, her vocal anti-Semitism is inney’s continued history of spewing troubling. anti-Semitism, either directly or through

McKinney’s recent statements anti-Israel activism, it is disturbing that should be a clear signal for the Georgia her name has remained on our roads for General Assembly to once again vote to this long. remove her father’s name and hers from The renaming of Cynthia McKinney our city roads. While freedom of speech Parkway and James E. “Billy” McKinney rightfully exists and the content of one’s Highway might be long overdue, but that Twitter page is up to them, we can and doesn’t mean it is too late to correct this should control whose names our streets error. Lawmakers need to say “no” to bear. As a Jewish Georgian, their stateanti-Semitism and “no” to the McKinney ments are incredibly upsetting, and acfamily. ì tion must be taken.

Despite the blatant anti-Semitic Alex Blecker is a rising sophomore at history of the McKinney family, their Oglethorpe University double majoring in accomplishments for the black commueconomics and political science.

I have been attending multiple Black Lives Matter protests in downtown Atlanta the past week and will continue to do so once I hear back about a negative COVID-19 test. I would like to mention my experience, why I am doing it, and educate you as to why you should care as a Jewish publication.

Being Jewish, I find it imperative to stand with other minorities because at the end of the day we are all targets of white supremacy. Even though I am able to “hide” behind my skin color and my grandma was able to “hide” in Southern France for having blonde hair during the Holocaust, I will stand with those who are not able to hide.

At the protests I have seen nothing but peace from protesters and the police and military agitating us. I had to watch as my 20 friends and I were tear-gassed, alongside many other peaceful civilians, right outside of the capitol as military officials started closing in on us. Let me also make it clear that it was 7:45 p.m. Monday night [June 1] (1 hour and 15 minutes before curfew) and nothing was thrown at the cops then.

On that note, I’ve seen water bottles thrown at cops. However, a police officer is standing in a $3,000 protective suit, they can handle a water bottle. Even then, a water bottle should not equate to being tear-gassed the same way that being black should not be a death sentence in this country.

Today is Thursday [June 4] and I have had time to process being tear-gassed with my friends who were there, family and therapist. One thing it reminded me of was the Holocaust, being enclosed while having “authority” gas us for no reason. Obviously, the Holocaust gassing was lethal in a room while this was outside. 1) Tear gas is not even used in war (war crime) 2) We are in a pandemic that attacks the lungs.

I hope I made it clear that I’m not making a direct comparison, but rather experiencing generational trauma. As a Jewish publication you have a voice, and right now the voices of the unheard need to be heard. Being a Jewish publication, you need to recognize who has also fought with us (black people) and who has been our enemy (anything upholding white supremacy). By not using this voice, you are not acknowledging our history with other minorities and just using our white skin to defend white supremacy. Let’s not forget how white supremacy also hates us. Don’t be another media outlet that lets authority get away with harming their citizens.

Gabby Weis, Atlanta

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For any American Jew to stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter is to embrace its anti-Semitic platform.

Just read the platform of BLM. It could have been written by Hamas; its charter in Article 7 demands the murder of every Jew on earth, and it sounds like “Mein Kampf.” It declares that the Jewish people of Israel perpetrate genocide against Palestinian Arabs and that Israel is an apartheid state. That same BLM platform supports Omar Barghouti’s anti-Semitic genocidal BDS movement. Barghouti, the co-founder of BDS, has said the SOLE purpose of BDS is the euthanasia of the Zionist dream of Israel. A student of history, Barghouti knows full well that the Nazi T4 Euthanasia Program was the foundation of the Final Solution of the Jews as enacted in the Wannsee Protocol in January 1942. Barghouti’s use of the word euthanasia leaves no doubt he co-founded BDS to continue the anti-Semitic eliminationist mission formalized by Reinhard Heydrich and Adolf Eichmann at the Wannsee Conference.

There are many worthwhile civil rights organizations in the United States that do not wallow in anti-Semitism as BLM does. At this time of unrest, it is worth remembering an op-ed by Congressman John Lewis in the San Francisco Chronicle in January 2002. In that op-ed commemorating Martin Luther King Day, Congressman Lewis recalled the wise and prescient words of Dr. King spoken at Harvard University a few weeks before his death: “When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews; you’re talking antisemitism.” For a Jew to support BLM is to have the myopic mentality of the judenrat. We all know how that worked out.

Richard Sherman, Margate, Fla.

Letter to the editor,

“’It’s a War Crime’: Thousands Rally in Tel Aviv Against Netanyahu Annexation Bid,” Atlanta Jewish Times (online), June 8.

People certainly have the right to make their views known in public. But I must disagree with the claim that Israel is committing a war crime by extending Israeli civil governance to Jewish communities on land of religious and historic importance to Jews, land of strategic importance to Israel, land that was liberated from an illegal occupier (Jordan) in a defensive war.

When I think of war crimes, I think of Hamas firing missiles at Israeli population centers from Gazan population centers! I think of Hamas building tunnels to facilitate the abduction and murder of Israelis, using Israeli-supplied cement intended for the repair of Gazan houses damaged when Israel was forced to respond to Hamas’ attacks on Israeli civilians. I think of terrorists using helium taken from Gazan hospitals to float incendiary devices into Israel, sometimes attaching balloons and ribbons in the hopes of attracting Israeli children to exploding objects.

When I think of war crimes, I think of the Palestinian Authority inciting its people to attack Israelis and giving handsome stipends to murderers (and/or their families) when the murderers answer the call for violence. I think of the BDS movement, acknowledged by one of its founders (Omar Barghouti) to be an effort to “euthanize Israel.” And I see BDS not as a response to Jews’ building on land that the Oslo Accords designated for eventual Israeli control, but as an attempt to shut down businesses employing both Israelis and Palestinians and serving both Israeli and Palestinian consumers. What BDS truly opposes is the idea that Israelis and Palestinians might get to know each other and (horrors!) actually begin working to achieve Two States for Two Peoples, meaning a Palestinian state (the first ever!) co-existing with the nation-state of the Jews.

The organizers of the Tel Aviv rally oppose Israel’s attempt to move unilaterally on what was to be part of a negotiated process. But what could be more unilateral than insisting that everything must be settled via negotiation and then refusing to negotiate? Viewed in this light, Palestinian leaders are the prime exemplars of unilateralism. Palestinian leaders need to stop trying to destroy Israel and begin building the infrastructure needed by a viable state, one in which the Palestinians (including those claiming descent from Arabs who fled or were displaced by Arab-initiated violence decades ago) can become productive citizens.

Toby F. Block, Atlanta

The AJT welcomes your letters. We want our readers to have an opportunity to engage with our community in constructive dialogue. If you would like your letter to be published, please write 200 words or less, include your name, phone number and email, and send it to editor@atljewishtimes.com.

My Formal Response to the TikTok #AutismChallenge

I am a teenager with autism, and am also an avid TikTok user. You might be wondering what TikTok is. TikTok is a social media platform that has exploded in the past year and especially during the pandemic. The content that is created on the app is mostly dancing videos that can range from 15 to 60 seconds. It’s very entertaining and sometimes addictive, and is also [believed to be] the most downloaded app in the world. As much as I appreciate who I am as a person with autism, I also appreciate TikTok being a huge part of my social media life. It is a place where I can watch funny content all the time, as well as express myself through dance trends and storytelling.

However, I recently stumbled across a TikTok challenge called the #AutismChallenge. Sadly, it was not started by people on the spectrum or promoted to spread acceptance or understanding. In fact, it was started and promoted by neurotypical people to make fun of autistic people.

The actions that were shown in the #AutismChallenge videos assumed what all autistic people look and act like. Even more offensive, a lot of these videos were being used with the “Let’s Get Retarded” parody song. As someone who has autism, I was completely hurt when I learned about this.

First, not all autistic people look and act like the way users that participated in the challenge depicted. Second, I would not be where I am today without my family, friends, teachers, therapists, doctors, and anyone who helped me make it this far.

Thanks to dedicated disability advocates, TikTok removed the #AutismChallenge from their platform. I personally want to thank TikTok for taking action and supporting people with disabilities.

For participants of the challenge to be depicting autism in the way they did was not acceptable. Not only does it impact me and the autistic community to see that, but the entire disability community itself.

Every day I am grateful for who I am as a person. I celebrate disability diversity and acceptance every single day. I will keep fighting to make sure people with disabilities are more represented and included in this world along with everyone else.

I personally want to thank every single person who has been by my side and has made an impact on me. Family, friends, teachers, you know who you are! So thank you!

Perri Schwartz, 17, The Cottage School ì