Correspondence - #19 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Alcala, Abigail From: Erika Gutierrez Preciado Taft < Sent: Tuesday, December 5, 2023 11:27 AM To: eComment Subject: December meeting, concerned constituent I find the interpretation this community has of the Jewish people deeply troubling. There is a massive blindspot for Jews in progressive spaces in particular, as there is a failure to recognize Jews as an ethnic group and only as a religious one. This oversight further alienates a vulnerable segment of our community, especially in times of conflict, like now. To have the school district's curriculim exclude Jews as an ethnic group based on the misguided ideas previously listed is problematic at best. This action would erase the lived experience of othering, discrimination, and racism that Jews face in this country every day. Antisemitism is racism. As a Mexican non -Jew in a multifaith marriage, it terrifies me to think about how my children will be affected if curriculums and other public measures continue to be pushed to outcast and discriminate against Jews. I love Santa Ana. I love that this city has such a pride in family values and hanging on to our Latino culture, but I know that if this blatant disregard towards growing antisemitism continues, my children won't get to experience the Santa Ana I grew up in and love, because they won't be safe here. I'm well aware of the working draft of the council's statement against Israel in regards to the war with the terrorist group, Hamas. This council needs to understand that Zionism is integral to the survival of the Jewish people, since without a nation they would be once again vulnerable to be subjegated to systemic targeting. Zionist Jews are not their prime minister (which majority of them want him out). Just like Palestinians are not Hamas. I urge this council to educate itself objectively on terminology I've seen grossly misused and to advocate for peace instead of more discrimination and alienation. Lastly, to have any sort of mention of the holocaust in regards to Isreal and palestine is incredibly tone deaf, insensitive, and cruel. Many of your Jewish constituents have had majority of their families wiped out by Hitler and his regime via systemic encarceration and mass execution like lambs to the slaughter. To have their elected officials even hint that because they believe Jews have a right to a Jewish nation, they are doing the same thing that was done to them is disgusting.