Brooklyn, NY – A freshman city councilman who found himself at the center of a social media firestorm is about to become the focus of a protest rally over his remarks about Palestine.
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City Councilman Kalman Yeger created the hullabaloo on Wednesday with a tweet saying “Palestine does not exist. There, I said it again. Also, Congresswoman Omar is an anti-Semite. Said that too.” Yeger, who was taken to task last year for similar remarks in a Bklyner article (http://bit.ly/2TLSaKs) by journalist Zainab Iqbal, finished his tweet by thanking Iqbal for following him on Twitter.
A rally to protest Yeger’s remarks is called for 6 PM this evening at the councilman’s office at 4424 16th Ave in the heart of Borough Park. Among those supporting the protest are Bay Ridge for Social Justice, Jewish Voice for Peace, Black Lives Matter Brooklyn, South Brooklyn Democratic Socialists of America, NYC Democratic Socialists of America, New York Progressive Action Network, Union of Arab Women and Yalla Brooklyn.
Linda Sarsour, who is expected to be at the rally, tweeted her thoughts yesterday on Yeger’s comments noting, “This is an irresponsibly, bigoted and dangerous tweet from a NYC Councilman. I hope @NYCCouncil & NYCSpeakerCoJo take action. There’s no place for this kind of hate in our city government.”
Former Assemblyman Dov Hikind took to Twitter to announce another gathering scheduled 15 minutes earlier at the same location saying, “COME OUT TO COUNTER-PROTEST AGAINST ANTISEMITE LINDA SARSOUR WHO’S TRYING TO CHARACTER-ASSASSINATE COUNCILMAN KALMAN YEGER.” A second tweet by Hikind said that he had spoken with Yeger who said that he had been receiving death threats.
Yeger did not respond to multiple requests for comment from VIN News.
As of this afternoon, Yeger’s tweet had been retweeted approximately 2,000 times and drew nearly 8,000 likes. Among the approximately 5,000 comments on Yeger’s tweet was one that advised “I see him all the time. I know his favorite sandwich shop. I can follow him for a mile and he would have no idea. Probably wouldn’t be tough to find his home. Or his family. I’ll say hi next time, Kalman.”
New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer pulled no punches with his criticism tweeting, “I condemn this irresponsible and divisive rhetoric unequivocally. We will only achieve peace if we acknowledge each other’s inherent dignity. Council Member @KalmanYeger should apologize now.”
Speaking at a press conference today, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson called for Yeger to be removed from the council’s immigration committee, reported AM New York (http://bit.ly/2TF9GzY).
“My personal viewpoint is those comments make me uncomfortable with having someone with those viewpoints on a committee that’s supposed to work with immigrants,” said Johnson.
As of Thursday afternoon, Yeger was still standing by his remarks saying, “What I said was truthful.”
He should apologize when Mullah Omar from Somalia apologizes.
Thanks Yeger,
We don’t have enough Antisemites, we need more, when is your next Tweet coming up
The fact is there has been no “Palestine” since the end of the British mandate in 1948 and there was never a Palestinian people or nation. Can anyone provide information on a Palestinian government prior to the British mandate?
He is absolutely right on target .All jews born in the mandate time also had passports with that title palestine .and there were a sizable amount of them. Even though that word was not liked by the zionists it should have been incorporated somehow .
Typical Dimwit!
We are in golus and this guy mouths off for no good reason.
Maybe he can help some real people and not just big parties that back him…
Hikind is known for doing what Yeger did now.
Hikind being a flaming right wing Zionist knows what hes doing and that his intention. (But i still love Hikind becuase he does help lots of INDIVIDUALS not as other politicians who are helping ONLY the Mosdos etc.)
Yeger on the other hand is a naive childish person who has no clue what he did.
He has no clue that his silly words are riling up anti-Semites
Perhaps this is more fun & interesting for him than doing the work he was elected to do.
Let him do the work he was elected to do. Don’t become another Dov Hikind!
A disgraceful chilul Hashem by our own people. How in the world can a Yid throw such an abhorrent comment and not think of klal yisroel? How provocative and self hating can you be?! Shldnt a Yid know bounds and not meddle into unsafe territory??
This is not ur line Mr councilman. You were elected to do ur job not to throw us under the gutter. RETRACT YOUR DISGUSTING COMMENT! Its not too late.
As a councilman in the city of New York, Yeger represents all New Yorkers in his district. He represents New Yorkers who are Arab, as well as those who are Jews. Congresswoman Omar is as antisemite, but lumping that comment together with remarks targeted againts constituents he represents shows arrogance, lack of awareness that we are in galus, gross insensitivity to Arab constituents and is inflammatory and plain wrong. He is bigoted and increasing hate for constituants of all religions, including Jew, Arab and Christians. The truth of his comments is not the point. Sone true things are better left unsaid.
I agree with #2 & #6 . Yeger’s comments only serve to increase anti- semitism.