Despite the steady rain on Hoshana Rabba, more than 100 people showed up to protest the Highland Park Public Library’s reading of “P is for Palestine,” a children’s alphabet book by Golbarg Bashi. Originally scheduled for late spring of this year, the reading was postponed after members of the Jewish community pointed out the offensiveness of the book’s anti-Israel themes.�

When the event was to be rescheduled, community members requested notification from the library board in advance of the date being set, stating they wished to be informed of the reading so they could participate and prevent false and anti-Semitic narratives about the Middle East from being propagated. Letters were sent to the library board and mayor requesting consideration of the Jewish holidays; nevertheless, the event was scheduled on a date when it would be difficult or impossible for observant Jews to attend.

Regardless, many community members joined the protest on erev Shemini Atzeret. Michael Gordon of Highland Park was pleased with the turnout. As one of the event organizers, he was concerned that the weather and holiday celebrations would keep people away and the short notice did not give a lot of time to spread the word. The event was called for 1 p.m. to correspond with the book reading in the library. With approximately 50 people at the start, the crowd quickly doubled in size within the hour.�

Many protesters held signs stating “P should be for Peace,” “Don’t Expose Our Children to Hate,” or “Poor Choice for our Children.” There were also hand-made signs calling out Bashi’s anti-Israel position and stated support for BDS.

A significantly smaller handful of people supporting the right of the book to be read stood across the street. They were joined by a group of Neturei Karta who vastly outnumbered the local supporters. Some of these individuals felt the book reading was protected under the First Amendment freedom of speech, and thanked the library for holding the program.

Many of the protesters questioned why the library felt it had to support the reading of a book that so many in the Jewish community found offensive, and felt sure that a book that denigrated any other group would not only not be read as children’s programming, but would be removed from the shelves. Also overheard was discussion about the other viewpoint in the Orthodox community that it would be preferable to be quiet and not make a fuss, as the book supporters are just looking for publicity.

John Kovac of Highland Park said he came to the protest because he was concerned about the message that support for the book showed and how it enables BDS supporters locally. He sees how the climate for Jewish students has changed at Rutgers and is concerned that the anti-Israel and anti-Jewish message is now being spread to high schools and middle schools—even to the elementary grades.

When asked why he came out on such a rainy, busy day, Max Wisotsky of Highland Park quoted Edmund Burke, the 18th-century Irish statesman and philosopher, saying, “All that is necessary for the triumph of�evil is for good people to do nothing.” He noted that it was important to show our objections, adding we can’t let something like this go on without protesting. “Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.” (George Santayana).��

The Highland Park Police blocked off the street in front of the library from traffic based on the large number of people who came to protest. Exercising the right to assemble, the protestors were told they could assemble, but they could not block the sidewalks or head into the street. Generally quiet, the group was led in chants, such as “P is for Peace” and others, protesting the reading and Library Board President Bruce Tucker. The group also sang songs such as “Am Yisrael Chai” among others.

On October 4, 2019, Zachor Legal Institute sent a letter to the mayor of Highland Park, Gayle Brill Mittler, and Bruce Tucker, president of the Highland Park Public Library Board of Trustees, stating that the library “appears to be in violation of federal law, including the anti-discrimination provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the federal prohibition on providing material support to designated foreign terror organizations” by holding the reading. The letter added that “two of the primary promoters of the reading, Samidoun and Jewish Voice for Peace, have ties to organizations that are discriminatory and provide support to terror organizations.”

A reply to Zachor from the attorney for the Borough of Highland Park said, “The mayor and council of the borough of Highland Park have contacted the board of trustees and library director to express its concerns and objection to the program, ‘P is for Palestine.’ Both the board and library director are aware of the mayor and council’s position objecting to the presentation of this program.” However, since the Highland Park Public Library is a self-governing entity and not under the control of the mayor and council, there is nothing they can do.�

The Highland Park Borough Council is scheduled to vote on an anti-BDS resolution at its meeting on October 29, 2019.

By Deborah Melman

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