New York–The Coalition Against the Met Terror Opera (CATO), The Death Of Klinghoffer, is calling for a a massive protest at Lincoln Center on Monday evening, Sept. 22, at 5 PM, at Broadway & West 65th St., the night of the gala opening of the Metropolitan opera season. They are expecting thousands of protestors to raise their voices against the performance of an opera promoting terrorism, antisemitism, and anti-Zionism, The Death of Klinghoffer.

CATO believes that incontrovertible evidence exists in the libretto by Alice Goodman, and in remarks made by Gelb and the composer, John Adams, that the opera supports sympathy for terrorists and hatred for Jews and Israel. The story of the execution of Leon Klinghoffer by PLO terrorists in 1985, on the hi-jacked Achille Lauro, is well known. The handicapped Klinghoffer was selected to be murdered because he was a Jew. The terrorists shot him and threw him overboard in his wheelchair. The story is seen an omen of the terrorism to come.

Acknowledging that the Klinghoffer opera could arouse anti-Semitic, pro-terror demonstrations across Europe and America, Peter Gelb agreed to cancel the HD showings of the opera. He apparently believes that NYC can cope with the heinous message of the play despite the fact that 3000 plus innocent victims of Islamic terror fell on Sept. 11, 2001. Our coalition strongly disagrees and we argue there can be Zero Tolerance for Terrorists.

The Coalition Against Terror Opera (CATO) is made up of AFSI, AMCHA, CIPAC, COPMA, HRCARI, JAA, JCC Watch, Mothers Against Terrorism, OZ, Stand With Us, Strength to Strength, Westchester HS, ZOA. The Rambam Mesivta H.S., Shalhevet HS for Girls, and the Westchester Day School have spearheaded the effort to bring students to the protest. An impressive roster of speakers is in formation, including victims of terrorism, first responders, rabbis, pastors, educators, and public servants. All concerned citizens are urged to participate.

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