Opinion: Support the 7 Boulder Councilmembers Supporting the Jewish Community

Dear Readers: 

In just five days, Boulder City Council members Matt Benjamin and Mark Wallach, Nicole Speer and Ryan Schuchard, and Mayor Aaron Brockett and Tina Marquis, and Tara Winer published strongly worded Statements condemning a recent social media post by fellow member Taishya Adams for being antisemitic, and some members additionally objected to her pattern of offensive posts over the last 18 months. Wallach’s and Benjamin’s Statement demonstrated understanding of modern forms of anti semitism that have become the pervasive standard. Speer’s and Schuchard’s Statement acknowledged their biases and the deep learning they’ve done. Brockett’s and Marquis’ centered their Statement on the absolute unacceptability of antisemitism specifically and of all forms of bias and discrimination.

This is the kind of courage we need from elected officials and from civic and Jewish institutional leaders. The permission structure that makes Boulder a target for extremist rhetoric and action against Jews that culminated with the June 1 attack on the Run For Their Lives hostage walk must be collapsed, and that begins with leadership boldly coming out against it. 

Yet, and as expected, these council members are being pummeled with responses generally alleging that their Statements reflect ‘complicity in genocide’ or ‘racism against the only person of color on City Council.’  These City Council members are taking unpopular stands among Boulder’s extremist but influential political sector to make certain that Boulder’s “equity” value includes Jews, too. 

Please email these City Council members individually or collectively to support them in their action and copy the other City Council members and the City Manager. All of us need to mobilize for an open, secure and fully participatory life for Jews in Boulder County now and for our children’s children. 

Thank you. 

Here is Adams’ latest post :

Editor’s Note: According to Wikipedia, “While it is difficult to determine exactly how many Natives lived in Northern America (modern day US and Canada) before Columbus,^[23] most estimates range from 2.5 million to 7 million^[24][25] people, with one study estimating up to 18 million.^[26] “ The 100 million figure is an outlier estimate, but has been cited as the population of the entire Western Hemisphere before Columbus.