Vol. 81/No. 8      February 27, 2017

 

Letters

 
Protest Jew-hatred
The New York meeting to celebrate the life of Fidel Castro was a rousing, standing-room-only event that enthusiastically gave tribute to one of our greatest leaders.

One flaw in the event, though, occurred when pianist Dayramir González, who performed there, gave extended remarks. At one point while talking about the problem of rising rents, he referred to how all the money was going “to the top 1 percent, the Jews.” It was a shocking thing to hear, and there was an audible gasp from a section of the audience. No one from the speakers platform answered this remark. I hope people spoke to the musician afterward and explained the danger to the working class in Jew-baiting.
Craig Honts
New York, New York

Editor’s note — Thank you for noting the jarring anti-Semitic comment at the meeting to celebrate the life and political contributions of Fidel Castro. I was there, but didn’t hear much of the program as I was involved in the defense. I agree other speakers or the program organizers should have disassociated the event from González’s comments. Such remarks are particularly outrageous at a meeting in tribute to Fidel Castro, who was outspoken against Jew-hatred and in favor of the right of Israel to exist. “I don’t think anyone has been slandered more than the Jews,” Castro said in a 2010 Atlantic magazine interview. Taking issue with comments by then president of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who denied the fact of the Holocaust, Castro “explained why the Iranian government would better serve the cause of peace by acknowledging the ‘unique’ history of anti-Semitism and trying to understand why Israelis fear for their existence.”
John Studer  
 
 
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