Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Weekly Anti-Israel Demonstrations In Front Of Michigan Synagogue

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Beth Israel Congregation in Ann Arbor, Mich., has been the site of a weekly anti-Israel protest since 2003. (WIkimedia Commons)

ANN ARBOR, Mich (JTA) — A member of an Ann Arbor synagogue has filed a federal lawsuit against anti-Israel protesters and the Michigan city over weekly demonstrations that have been held since 2003.

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Marvin Gerber, a member of the Beth Israel Congregation, filed an 85-page complaint last week in U.S. District Court, mlive.com reported.

The lawsuit, which claims the demonstrations amount to anti-Semitic hate speech, asks the court for an injunction to stop the protesters, calling the demonstrations “harassing conduct,” or to place limits on them.

He also is requesting a jury trial and is seeking damages from the protesters and the city for emotional distress.

The groups have been named as Deir Yassin Remembered and Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends. Five demonstrators also were named as defendants.

The six to 12 protesters who show up between about 9:30 and 11:30 during Saturday morning services and stand on the sidewalk outside of the synagogue each week plant signs on the grass that read “Resist Jewish Power,” “Jewish Power Corrupts,” “No More Holocaust Movies,” “Boycott Israel,” “Stop U.S. Aid to Israel” and “End the Palestinian holocaust,” according to the report.

City officials have said they can not intervene, citing free speech rights.

The Southern Poverty Law Center in 2017 identified Deir Yassin Remembered as a Holocaust-denying hate group. The Palestinian village of Deir Yassin was the site of a massacre by Israeli troops in 1948.

Protest leader Henry Herskovitz said in 2013 that his group was not blaming the synagogue for Israel’s actions, but was holding the congregation accountable for supporting the State of Israel.


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Kahane was right
Kahane was right
4 years ago

Henry Herskovitz, a Jew self hating capo de tutti capo…
I sure pine for Meir Kahane who always called out this type of Jew and stood tall for Jewish pride.
This isn’t freedom speech it’s abuse and intimidation by filthy yids no less.

PaulinSaudi
PaulinSaudi
4 years ago

Some people have odd hobbies.

Moshe
Moshe
4 years ago

probably friends of shmuky schumer and adan shift & jerry nadler

Triumphinwhitehouse
Triumphinwhitehouse
4 years ago

Sounds like a soros funded group

Sambatyon
Sambatyon
4 years ago

Are these Neturei Karta crazies who are mechalel shabos?

John smithson
John smithson
4 years ago

Should be beaten

Kahane Was Right
Kahane Was Right
4 years ago

Israeli govt will soon rue the decision to label him a terrorist. He wanted to buy out Arab homes and send them elsewhere which was the normal thing to do. Now the Arab voters will gain 16 then 40 seats and then what?
The libotards are ruining Israel and their comrades in lunacy are ruining America.

Liberalism is insanity
Liberalism is insanity
4 years ago

Phineas: First join the ADL, New Israel Fund and J Street– all Soros shnorrers , and you’re good to go.

Eric Holder
Eric Holder
4 years ago

What would happen if a group would gather and demonstrate in front of a MUSLIM mosque? Would the Thought Police in the media remain silent?