Chappaqua hosts respectful demonstration for peace

More photos inside
January 16, 2009
by Susie Pender and Christine Yeres

Last Saturday, around 1:30 p.m., as a thick snow fell, 50 members of WESPAC Foundation began a silent vigil demonstration along the east side of South Greeley Avenue in downtown Chappaqua to protest civilian deaths in Gaza. As word spread of their protest, especially among the various synagogues in the area, around 30 pro-Israel counter-demonstrators soon gathered on the east side of the street in front of Pizza Station and Dunkin’ Donuts.

Signs held aloft by the WESPAC protestors stated: “We are All Gaza” and “Bombing schools is not self-defense.” While across the street, blue and white placards proclaimed: “We stand with Israel” and “Hamas are murderers.” Some in the crowd simply waved hand-drawn Israeli flags.

Peaceful demonstration fosters constructive conversation

WESPAC Foundation, a Pleasantville-based activist organization that advocates a pro-Palestinian position on its web site, www.wespac.org, and has many Jewish members, obtained a permit for its demonstration from the New Castle Police Department last week. The protest was planned for Chappaqua, explained Khusro Elley, a WESPAC board member and resident of New Castle, to draw on Hillary Clinton’s name to bring attention to civilian deaths in Gaza. “It was meant to be a silent vigil, both as a kind of silent mourning and to sympathize with all the people who had lost their lives. I felt that if people felt that they didn’t have to argue their point, in their hearts they could see the other side of the picture also. But it didn’t remain a silent affair.”

And that, according to Bruce Weinreb, a New Castle resident and member of Temple Bet Torah in Mt. Kisco who joined the pro-Israel counter-protesters on the Pizza Station side of the street, was one of the best things about this unusual event. “There was conversation, constructive conversation. People did walk back and forth across the street. It’s not as if there were barricades,” he recalled. “It was very peaceful and respectful. The people [protesting Israeli actions in Gaza] were not anti-Israel or anti-Semitic. Indeed, there were a lot of Jewish people on the WESPAC side. They wanted to see a peaceful solution and the end of suffering for the people of Gaza.”

Rabbi Joshua Davidson of Temple Beth El in Chappaqua, who held an Israeli flag during the protest, echoed Weinreb’s description. “It was intended to be a peaceful demonstration and it was a peaceful demonstration on both sides of the street. I think it’s important to note that the folks on the opposite side of the street were protesting Israel’s policies in Gaza, and not protesting Israel’s right to exist. We were supporting Israel’s right to self-defense; we were not protesting the Palestinians’ right to a state.”

Elley of WESPAC embraced the opportunity for dialogue as well. “I had a discussion with a passerby and I let him talk and he went on and on and on and after he felt that I was listening, he became more reasonable and started presenting a more even-handed argument and conceded that it was not all the fault of Hamas, and that he didn’t like all this killing. We parted amicably.”

Aggressive language on signs

Some of the banners of protest carried quite aggressive language. One large banner held by two people proclaimed: “Egypt and Israel working together to starve children in Gaza.” Two hand-drawn signs read: “When do we Jews notice that Israel is Insane?” and “800 Dead 3000 wounded, your tax $$ at work, end the occupation.”

There were rhetorical questions directed at Secretary of State-elect Hillary Clinton: “What about the Fourth Geneva Convention and its International Conventions for the Protection of Victims of War?” And one that called out for President-elect Barack Obama to act, even before being inaugurated as President: “Obama: Where is the Change We Can Believe In?”

“It is important for those who saw the rally and saw these groups standing on opposite sides of the street,” stressed Rabbi Davidson, “to know that there are those of us who regularly engage in dialogue and share a vision of the future of the Middle East, two peoples living side by side in peace.” Once a month, members of his congregation at Beth El sit down with members of the congregation of the Upper Westchester Muslim Society for a constructive dialogue about Middle East issues. “There is more to be gained from sitting around a dialogue table than from standing on opposite sides of the streets,” he posited. “While we disagree on who is responsible for what is going on right now, the loss of innocent lives is an utter tragedy.”

Lessons and lasting impressions

The WESPAC demonstrators included residents of New Castle and some from neighboring towns. The organization defines itself as a facilitator on behalf of “civic and religious organizations in greater Westchester who find themselves without a voice or support system for their progressive positions,” according to its web site.

In assessing the success of the demonstration, WESPAC’s Elley stated: “There are difficulties in acting as a group. In thinking it over, I do think that where we made an omission was in not having shown in our placards our concern about the Israelis and their children who also lost their lives and are equally innocent people.”

At around 3:00 p.m., Elley’s group decided to wrap it up.  “Our permit allowed us till 3:30 p.m., but it was very cold. I talked to the rabbi and said ‘We’re going to wrap up at three. I’m telling you as a matter of courtesy, in case you would like to leave also.’” 

“I believe, today,” said Elley, “that if the two parties were to sit across the table and negotiate for the next one hundred years, there is no way they will be able to come to a solution or accommodation; their positions are too fixed.  But with a third party, a neutral one, it could be done. And the only party that can do it is the U.S. But in order to qualify for that position, the U.S. has to be an honest broker. So far they have chosen to take sides. I do understand that Israel is a strong ally, but we’re not being good friends if we just turn a blind eye to anything they do. So first, we’re not being good friends, and second, we’re not being honest brokers. If the U.S. cannot accomplish this, then there is no hope.”

One of the organizers of the demonstration was Nick Petrie, a 2008 Greeley graduate who is currently a freshman at Wesleyan College in Connecticut. “Although I don’t agree with WESPAC’s position,” said Weinreb, “to him I say ‘You took a stand. Good for you. You protested; you raised your voice. This peaceful demonstration showed that we can have a conversation; we can disagree even over issues so central to our core, and it doesn’t have to be disrespectful or nasty.”

Weinreb concluded: “Some of the kids involved were what we once called ‘peaceniks.’ Idealistic. At some point, the kids started singing. It was a perfect response.” 

Khusro Elley

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