Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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Thank you, Fran. I had an excellent conversation with Melanie. When you and I eventually have our
breakfast/lunch/coffee we can look back at this incident as an illustration of a potentially damaging
incident defused.
May I share your email with JCRC and Federation leadership?
Best,
Batya
PS How does May look for you for that potential "breakfast/lunch/coffee" ?
From: Frances Levine [mailto:flevine@mohistory.org]
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2015 2:21PM
To: Abramson-Goldstein, Batya
Subject: Re: Response to program
Thanks Batya for bringing this to my attention. Melanie says she spoke to you and is back in touch with the
students. This is not the program that she approved originally. She has given them some choices to bring the
focus back where it was in Ferguson or to take the program back to their campus space. Not sure why they
wanted it here anyway ...
Fran
From:, Batya <babramson-goldstein@jcrcstl.org>
Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at 1:31 PM
To: "Dr. Levine" <flevine@mohistorv.org>
Subject: RE: Response to program
Fran,
Thank you for your reply and thank you for looking into it. The conflating of the issues is disturbing. The
parallels being made, likewise. The panel is seen as "stacked". The plan to base a documentary on the
event raises the level of concern RE the harm this program may cause.
Batya
Batya Abramson-Goldstein
Executive Director
Jewish Community Relations Council
Batya I will have to check with the programming staff. I don't know about this.
Fran
http://www .stud Iife .com/fa rum/ op-ed-su bm issio n/20 14/10/08/p rofesso rs-e ndorseme nt -of-is rae!boycott-deserves-condemnation/
Batya Abramson-Goldstein
Executive Director
Jewish Community Relations Council
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>
> I wanted to give you a quick update. The program will definitely not take place at the History
Museum.
>
>The students have started a twitter campaign against the museum and are planning a protest for
tomorrow evening at the museum. The museum put out a statement about our decision to cancel the
program because it was not the original program we agreed upon back in February.
>
> I will keep you informed as things develop.
>
>Thanks.
>
>-----Original Message----> From: Abramson-Goldstein, Batya
> [mailto:babramson-goldstein@jcrcstl.org]
>Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 8:11AM
>To: Melanie Adams
>Subject: Re: Your guidance
>
>Thanks. If there is no change-Would this status be ok to share with the Board?
>
> Batya Abramson-Goldstein
> Executive Director
>JCRC
> 314 442-3838 (o )
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>
I am still waiting to hear back from the student. At this point I have given them two options. Remove
the Palestine group from the program or find another location. Based on their initial response I think
they are going to find another location. I will let you know when I hear from him.
>>
It will be taken off our website today until a decision is made.
>>
Thanks.
>>
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Hi Melanie, and thanks for sharing. I'm aware now-- and wonder if you have contacted Metro
PD to let them know you may need additional personnel.
However the decision was made to cancel the program, I very much appreciate the allyship.
This is a tough time on so many levels, whatever you need from me, don't hesitate to call.
Talk soon. Karen
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Batya (babramson-goldstein@jcrcstl.org)
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dear Fran .... let me know if you want to talk about the protests planned for tomorrow night. not
sure how I can help but i will if i can. my cell phone is
.. giving a talk at 7 be done
by about 9.
talk to you soon! love, susan
Sent from my iPad
On Mar 9, 2015, at 4:29PM, Frances Levine <flevine@mohistory.org> wrote:
Thank you so much. I just sent a message to Jen too asking ifthis fits your calendar. Aver (we
will see is what we say in Spanish).
Fran
From:
Date: Monday, March 9, 2015 at 4:26 PM
To: "Dr. Levine" <flevine@mohistorv.org>
I would love to do this. Thanks for thinking of me. I have to check the timing on a memorial
service but I think it will work out. I am out of my office but I will copy my assistant so she can
check.
I look forward to working together and I so appreciate all you are doing
Love
Susan
Sent from my iPhone
On Mar 9, 2015, at 5:08 PM, Frances Levine <flevine@mohistory.org> wrote:
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Jj11!)
JJj;J_!!)
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Please see what was sent to us from the Interfaith committee on Latin America and that I also
shared the MoHist response. Betsy
From: Cohen, Elizabeth
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2015 2:45PM
To: 'Eileen Wolfington'; Ko, Vinfung; Bob Fox
Subject: RE: #Selective History Museum Solidarity Statement and Press Conference
You might like to read the History Museum's response:
http://mo history. org/node/5664 7
From: Eileen Wolfington,
Sent: Thursday, March 19,2015 2:42PM
To: Cohen, Elizabeth; Ko, Vinfung; Bob Fox
Subject: Fwd: #Selective History Museum Solidarity Statement and Press Conference
Event Title: "Ferguson to Ayotzinapa to Palestine: Solidarity and Collaborative Action"
An event was scheduled this evening at the History Museum to leam about the parallels between
three social movements by local community leaders. I just received this notification that it has
been cancelled. This press release may be of interest to you.
---------- Forwarded message ---------From: St. Louis Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America <ifcla@ifcla.net>
Date: Tim, Mar 19, 2015 at 1:03PM
Subject: #Selective History Museum Solidarity Statement and Press Conference
Eileen--
THE
, ,(,
l:r{
IHSTORV MUSEUM
March 19,2015
A Statement of Solidarity with the St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee
A panel entitled "From Ferguson to Ayotzinapa to Palestine: Solidarity and Collaborative
Action" was planned for Thursday, March 19 at the Missouri History Museum. Two days
ago, the Missouri History Museum informed organizers of the panel that the Museum could
not host the event unless the topic of Palestine and the participation ofthe St. Louis Palestine
Solidarity Committee were removed from the panel. We, the undersigned, condemn this
silencing of part of our community and this brazen attempt to divide communities of color.
Instead of talking about solidarity, we find ourselves actualizing solidarity by rejecting the
Missouri History Museum's demands. We stand by our Palestinian partners and are
postponing the original panel until an altemative location can be confirmed.
The panel is being organized to explore intersections among our distinct struggles. We are
baffled by the decision of the Museum, a publicly funded institution, to censor discourse. The
Palestinian narrative has for too long been silenced and needs to be heard. The St. Louis
Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) was formed in 2009 by a group of grassroots activists
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in the St. Louis, Missouri area to respond to Israel's devastating war on Gaza in the winter of
2008-09 and advocates for freedom from Israeli occupation, equality for Palestinians and
Israelis, and justice for Palestinian refugees. We question what factors contributed to this
decision to censor the panel. Shouldn't an institution dedicated to intellectual inquiry and
research be open to all viewpoints?
Our conversations leading to this panel demonstrate that we have much to learn from one
another. Our stories of oppression and resistance are understood by us all. We recognize the
overlapping state and economic forces that contribute to our trauma. While our histories and
struggles are unique, deep in our hearts we know that no one is free until everyone is free.
This attempt to divide us hurts us deeply and must be condemned.
We call on all people of conscience and heart to join us in telling the newly dubbed
"Selective History Museum" that their decision to silence us is wrong and contributes to
the deep racial divisions in St. Louis. Join us to tell the Museum that justice is not
selective and solidarity means we must stand together. We invite you to join us on
Thursday, March 19 at 7 pm in front of the "Selective History Museum" at 5700 Lindell
Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63112 for a press conference and presentation of a plan of action to
hold the Museum accountable for its shameful decision.
AltaVoz
Organization for Black Struggle
Latinos en Axion STL
Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America
Declaracion de Solidaridad con el Comite de Palestina en St. Louis
El Panelllamado "Desde Ferguson a Ayotzinapa a Palestina: Accion Solidaria y Colectiva"
estaba planeada para este jueves 19 de Marzo en el Museo de Historia de Missouri (Missouri
History Museum ) ayer, el Museo de Historia de Missouri informa a los organizadores del
panel en el Museo no podni llevarse a cabo a menos que el tema de Palestina asi como la
participacion del Comite de Solidaridad de Palestina en St. Louis (St. Louis Palestine
Solidarity Committe fueran removidos del panel. Nosotros, los que abajo firmamos,
condenamos el silenciamiento de una parte de nuestra comunidad y este descarado intento de
dividir a las comunidades de color. En vez de hablar de solidaridad, nos encontramos ahora y
en solidaridad rechazando las demandas del Museo de Historia de Missouri (Missouri
History Museum.) Nosotros apoyamos a nuestros aliados Palestinos y estamos posponiendo
el panel original hasta que encontremos una ubicacion altemativa que podamos confirmar.
El panel estaba organizado para explorar las intersecciones en las distintas luchas. Estamos
desconcertados por la decision del Museo, una institucion financiada con fondos publicos,
para censurar un discurso. El tema de Palestina ha sido por mucho tiempo callado yes
necesario ser escuchado. El Comite de Solidaridad de Palestina en St. Louis (PSC) fue
formado en el 2009 por un grupo de activistas comunes en el area de St. Louis, Missouri para
responder a la guerra de Israel contra Gaza en el inviemo del 2008 -2009 y aboga por la
libertad dela ocupacion Israeli, igualdad para los Palestinos e Israelitas, y justicia por los
refugiados Palestinos. Cuestionamos que factores contribuyen a esta decision de censurar el
panel. (,No deberia una institucion dedicada ala investigacion y ala investigacion intelectual
a estar abiertos a todos los puntos de Vista?
Nuestra conversacion de llevar a cabo este panel demuestra que todavia tenemos mucho que
aprender los unos de los otros. Nuestras historias de opresion y resistencia son entendidas por
todos nosotros, N osotros reconocemos que las fuerzas estatales y econ6micas que so plan
contribuyen a nuestro trauma. Mientras nuestras historias y luchas son (micas, en lo profundo
de nuestros corazones sabemos que nadie es libre hasta que todos seamos libres. Este intento
por dividimos duele profundamente y debe ser condenado.
Hacemos un llamado a todas las personas de conciencia a unirse a nosotros en Ia recien
denominada "EI Selectivo Museo de Historia " que su decision de silenciarnos esta mal
y contribuye a las divisiones raciales profundas en St. Louis. Unete a nosotros para
decirle al Museo que Ia justicia no es selectiva y que solidaridad significa que debemos
estar unidos. Te invitamos a acompaiiarnos el Jueves, Marzo 19 a las 6:30pm en frente
del "Selectivo Museo de Historia" Localizado en el 5700 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO
63112 para una conferencia de prensa y presentacion de un plan de accion para exigirle
cuentas al Museo por esta vergonzosa decision.
Alta Voz
Organizaci6n for Black Struggle
Latinos En Axion STL
St. Louis Inter-Faith Committee of Latin America
Yep- done. I think there are some very good people in town who can be counted on to take a hard,
honest look at the situation.
Very important what the title is- and people need to be able to address hard questions from those who
will inevitably be there to challenge.
All good.
Karen Aroesty
I Regional Director
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Website
g+ in
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Slog
Pod cost
I've also updated our statement to hand out to the press when they arrive. Of course, we will be giving
interviews, but I always like to give them something in writing as well. It can be helpful when they go back to
edit or write their piece to have our main points written in front of them.
Please let me know what everyone thinks. I just want us all to be on the same page with what we are telling
media. We can make changes before this evening.
Thanks,
Leigh
Key Messages
As we have been going through strategic planning, we have been looking closely at
all the programs and community partners that we work with. We are striving to
have an increased emphasis on programs that relate to our exhibits and our
collections.
As we looked at the changes to this program with this new focus in mind, we
determined that the adding of a third topic diluted the event too much from
talking about Ferguson. Ferguson is the part of the event that relates to our
collection and our local history, and thus, our mission.
The issue was never with talking about Palestine. The issue was with adding
a third topic to the discussion.
We asked the organizers to go back to the event that had been originally
proposed.
This has been teachable. We're looking into a more formal proposal process to avoid
this in the future.
We are completely open and interested in doing programming related Palestinian
and Israeli history. We would want to do it in the moderated panel discussion
format for which we have become well known.
The Missouri History Museum is considered a national model for facilitating
programs exploring difficult topics in the community including issues of race and
class.
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From:
Laura Cohen
To:
Anne-Marie Armbruster
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As you know, there are some members of the public who are angry that we canceled an event scheduled for
last night. We understand that protest organizers have planned a phone campaign. They plan to have as
many people as possible to call us and tell them they are upset about this. That is okay. As always, we are
willing to listen to concerns from the public.
We expect most of the calls to come to guest services, but we wanted to make sure everyone was prepared
just in case. I have attached some information about taking these calls and talking points. Please print them
out and have them available in case you get any phone calls. If you are uncomfortable using the talking
points, just ask for their name and number and tell them someone else will call them back.
The important thing to remember is to keep calm, even if the caller isn't. Always be polite, even if the caller
isn't.
At the end of the day, please just let me know how many calls you received (if any) and their names and
numbers (if possible).
Thanks,
Leigh
From:
To:
Anne-Marie Armbruster
Letter to Editor: The History Museum has Nothing to Due with Truth
Re: Missouri History Museum stops panel including Palestinian presence
From: Howard Sachs
Washington DC- interested reader
March 20 2015
Thank you for your well written piece. I respond with respect but passionate
disagreement:
If lies are not confronted and dispelled they lead to the worst of human evils. And that
is what needs to be confronted about this issue regarding the Museum program. The
lie is that America and Israel are bad. The lie is that such bad needs to be brought to
public attention at such Museum programs. The lie is that fighting against the values
of America and Israel are the noble moral thing to do. These lies are rampant on our
college campuses because American values have been rejected by many and the
values of leftism embraced.
Zach and Megan, Ferguson has nothing to do with the moral character of our great
country. Ferguson only has to do with a young man with terrible American values who
robbed a store and then went on to assault an honest hardworking policeman.
Ferguson has only to do with the decay in American values primarily due to young
men with little self -control. Secondarily , but still vital, is that it has to do to huge
numbers of our boys being raised in broken families with no father around. That is the
moral tragedy of Ferguson. These are some of the worst problems America is facing,
not racist policemen.
And then to link what happened in Ferguson to Israel is morally vile. The middle East
is simple but hard to solve. Israel is the good, free, tolerant, democratic people of the
Jewish state wishing to live in peace but hated and distained by her intolerant,
despotic, viciously violent neighbors. Six or seven times Israel has reached her hand
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Please keep track of all the calls we receive. If possible, get their name and
number.
Always be polite. It may be difficult when someone is angry and disrespectful
with you, but its important to keep your cool. If they start to get hostile, just
thank them for their concerns and hang up the phone.
Remember that really they just want someone to listen.
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Anna Baltzer
National Organizer, US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
Local Organizer, St Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee
Homepage: www.AnnalnTheMiddleEast.com
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/fbanna
Twitter: http://twitter.com/anna baltzer
Low-Volume Email List Sign-Up: Click here
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To: flevine@mohistory.org
Subject: Palestinian Exclusion
PS If I wanted to see the Palestinian voice eliminated from an event or exhibit, I would make a
visit to an Israeli Museum (which have in done in my lifetime).
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As a member of the Saint Louis community and a supporter of free speech and human rights, I
condemn the Missouri History Museum's silencing of Palestinians voices. While the issues in
Mexico, Palestine and St. Louis city and county are deep-rooted and complex, all three cases
are unified by a theme of police brutality.
The museum's decision to ignore the ties between these cases and remove the Palestinian
voice from the solidarity event on Thursday is a form of censorship of the Palestinian narrative,
something that is all too common in mainstream America's understanding ofthe conflict in the
Middle East. I'm embarrassed that my local history museum is implicit in perpetuating this onesided account ofthe events in Palestine/Israel.
Instead of embracing an opportunity to educate the public about universal issues of state
oppression and racial injustice, the Missouri History Museum chose to deny its existence. As an
educational institution, I consider this decision a failure in the mission of the museum. The Saint
Louis community is comprised of Palestinian-American citizens who deserve a platform to
publicize their struggle. I'll leave you with this quote:
"The Missouri History Museum seeks to deepen the understanding of past choices,
present circumstances, and future possibilities; strengthen the bonds of the
community; and facilitate solutions to common problems."
Sincerely,
Alexandra Newlon
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