STATEMENT

Movement for Black Lives Statement on the Black-Jewish Entertainment Alliance

In response to evidence revealing that the Black-Jewish Entertainment Alliance is a front for Creative Community for Peace, the Movement for Black Lives issued the following statement:

Detailed evidence reveals the Black-Jewish Entertainment Alliance is nothing but a front for the anti-Palestinian lobby group Creative Community for Peace, which is itself run by the anti-Palestinian lobby group StandWithUs. From sharing anti-Black and anti-Palestinian content to retweeting white supremacist leaders online, these organizations and their staff and leaders are steered by a racist, right-wing agenda. Indeed, the current Israeli government – with which BJEA is aligned – is the most racist and far-right in its history.

To be clear: one cannot claim to be progressive while being racist or supporting oppression, nor can one claim to be anti-racist while justifying settler-colonialism and supporting apartheid. We must fight against anti-Palestinian racism at the same time as we fight against anti-Blackness and antisemitism.

Intersectional solidarity between Black Americans, Jewish Americans, and Palestinians is too important to be undermined by advocates of apartheid. Black movement is rooted in a tradition of radical love and resistance. It is that same love that calls us to rise in solidarity with oppressed people everywhere. That includes our Palestinian family because the fight for Palestinian rights and dignity is integral to the fight for human rights everywhere. 

We urge The Recording Academy to refuse any future collaborations with the Black-Jewish Entertainment Alliance. We urge all signatories of the Black-Jewish Entertainment Alliance to renounce their support immediately and join the growing global movement of creatives in solidarity with Palestinians and all people fighting racism and colonial violence. Collective liberation must always be our goal.”

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The Movement for Black Lives is a national network of more than 150 leaders and organizations creating a broad political home for Black people to learn, organize and take action. M4BL includes activists, organizers, academics, lawyers, educators, health workers, artists and more, all unified in a radical vision for Black liberation and working for equity, justice and healing.