Guthrie's IfNotNow's AIPAC Resistance Fundraiser

Recently, I’ve been organizing with IfNotNow - a growing movement of young American Jews of all backgrounds to end the Jewish community’s support for the occupation. IfNotNow is grounded in the belief that the condition of Jews is bound up with other oppressed groups, both in this country and in Israel/Palestine. While this is a moment when we feel confused and often scared, IfNotNow is building a community of resistance through trainings, actions, and mobilizing wherever and whenever we feel the need.

The silence of American Jewish Institutions is deafening in the face of an isolationist and racist regime that has empowered racist and anti-semitic violence all over the country. The very same institutions which decry any critique of Israel as anti-semitism have remained silent on Bannon, an open anti-semite and racist. They have supported David Friedman, Trump’s personal bankrupt lawyer who funds settlements on occupied Palestinian land. IfNotNow stood with Palestinian activists at Friedman’s confirmation hearing, as you can see in this video and we have mobilized hundreds of American Jews against Bannon and Jewish moral complacency. It has become abundantly clear that the Jewish establishment will not provide ethical leadership, much less save us or other vulnerable communities from attack.

IfNotNow has brought together thousands of young Jews in action and we now have over 1,000 trained organizers. I hope that we can not only end American Jewish support for the occupation, but also provide support and solidarity to all communities under economic and political repression.

Following the largest protest in American history, the time has come to take the #JewishResistance to AIPAC’s doorstep. Against the grim backdrop of Trump’s violent policies, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) will convene in late March. We know that once again, AIPAC has invited Trump and his advisors – and that’s where we come in. March 19th, We are having a day of resistance bringing together our Bay Area and Los Angeles chapters outside AIPAC’s offices in LA. The next week, thousands of East Coast Jews of conscience will gather outside the AIPAC policy conference to declare our opposition to the occupations the moral complacency of American Jews.

Would you be willing to make a contribution to support this Jewish Resistance? We can’t make any of this happen without your support, and in particular, we need to raise funds to ensure that everyone – regardless of financial means – can join us in speaking out for freedom and dignity for all. I’ve elected to raise at least 400 dollars, and have already raised a quarter of this. Our West Coast AIPAC Protest needs about 15,000 so everyone can participate.

I’d be happy to chat more about IfNotNow and the work we’re doing. If you’re excited about that, let me know what would be a good time for you to talk next week.

I miss all of you in the Bay Area and hopefully we can connect on my next visit.