Israel Lobby takes Credit for Nixing Kids Art Exhibit

From the Stop AIPAC blog:

The Tweet above is from the Jewish Federation of the East Bay organization and its success in censoring a children's art exhibit that was scheduled to be shown at the Museum of Children's Art in Oakland, California later this month. They would like to represent themselves as being "the" voice of the Jewish community of the East Bay, but in fact they are often the voice of anti-Palestinian extremism that is not representative of the whole Jewish community. This is yet another example of the efforts of that anti-Palestinian lobby censoring Palestinian cultural expression.

Here is a press release from Middle East Children's Alliance, that was working to bring this art to the people of the Bay Area.

Oakland Museum of Children's Art Shuts Down Palestinian Children’s Exhibit

Media Advisory

For Immediate Release

Berkeley, CA— The Museum of Children’s Art in Oakland (MOCHA) has decided to cancel an exhibit of art by Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip. The Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA), which was partnering with MOCHA to present the exhibit, was informed of the decision by the Museum’s board president on Thursday, September 8, 2011. For several months, MECA and the museum had been working together on the exhibit, which is titled “A Child’s View From Gaza.”

MECA has learned that there was a concerted effort by pro-Israel organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area to pressure the museum to reverse its decision to display Palestinian children’s art.

Barbara Lubin, the Executive Director of MECA, expressed her dismay that the museum decided to censor this exhibit in contradiction of its mission “to ensure that the arts are a fundamental part of the lives of all children.”

“We understand all too well the enormous pressure that the museum came under. But who wins? The museum doesn’t win. MECA doesn’t win. The people of the Bay Area don’t win. Our basic constitutional freedom of speech loses. The children in Gaza lose,” she said.

“The only winners here are those who spend millions of dollars censoring any criticism of Israel and silencing the voices of children who live every day under military siege and occupation.”

Unfortunately, this disturbing incident is just one example of many across the nation in which certain groups have successfully silenced the Palestinian perspective, which includes artistic expression. In fact, some organizations have even earmarked funds for precisely these efforts. Last year, regrettably the Jewish Federation of North America and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs launched a $6 million initiative to effectively silence Palestinian voices even in “cultural institutions.”

The free exhibit, co-sponsored by nearly twenty local organizations, was scheduled to open on September 24, and featured special activities for children and families, including a cartooning workshop and poetry readings.

The Gaza Strip, which has a population of 1.6 million, has been under siege since Israel imposed a blockade against it in 2006. The United Nations and many human rights organizations across the world have condemned the blockade as an inhumane and cruel form of collective punishment.

“Even while the children in Gaza are living under Israeli policies that deprive them of every basic necessity, they managed through art, to express their realities and hopes. It’s really very sad that there are people in the U.S. silencing them and shredding their dreams,” said Ziad Abbas, MECA’s Associate Director.

MECA is disappointed in the museum’s decision to deny Bay Area residents the opportunity to view Palestinian children’s art, and is committed to seeking an alternative venue.

“We made a promise to the children that their art will be shown and we are going to keep that promise,” said Lubin.

For media requests, please contact:
Leena Al-Arian
Communications Coordinator, MECA
Leena@mecaforpeace.org

510-548-0542
http://www.mecaforpeace.org

This is Not Over.
First, this art will be exhibited. MECA says it will be either inside or, if need be, OUTSIDE the museum. Even if the anti-Palestinian fearmongers see the kids art as an "existential threat to Israel" or whatever it is they are claiming, they will ultimately fail to prevent an exhibition of this art, and to an audience much, much larger than was originally envisioned. Stop AIPAC will work hard to expose the heavy-handed tactics of the groups that oppose any expression of dissent against Israel. We are already gearing up for protests of aipac in December, during their "membership meetings" in the Bay Area. This would be a good time to make a donation to make this bigger than ever.