Outstanding Jewish group advocacy organizations say they “unequivocally reject” calls to boycott companies in Newton, close to the place a Massachusetts veteran allegedly shot an anti-Israel protester who tackled him to the bottom at a rally final week.
The Anti-Defamation League of New England, the Jewish Group Relations Council of Larger Boston and the American Jewish Committee of New England launched a joint assertion Tuesday, condemning teams making the calls to boycott.
Calls have mounted after Caleb Gannon, 31, of Newton, charged at and tackled pro-Israel demonstrator Scott Hayes, 47, of Framingham, to the bottom at a rally in Newtonville final Thursday night.
Whereas Hayes was wrestling with Gannon on the bottom, his gun went off, in line with a GoFundMe that has raised greater than $250,000 for the Iraq Struggle veteran’s protection fund.
A coalition of 5 Jewish organizations took exception to how Newton Police instantly arrested Hayes on fees of assault and battery with a harmful weapon and violation of a constitutional proper inflicting harm – a cost dropped earlier than Hayes’ arraignment Friday.
Gannon was charged with assault and battery on a legal grievance inside 24 hours after the incident which Middlesex County District Lawyer Marian Ryan described as a “scuffle.”
“An assault and battery that does not occur in the presence of a police officer is not an arrestable offense,” the DA stated in a launch Friday.
However a number of Jewish organizations together with Individuals In opposition to Anti-Semitism, Jews Exiting the Democrat Get together, Betar USA, Magen Herut Canada and Shields of David launched a push to boycott companies in Newton and elsewhere in Middlesex County.
The coalition can also be “advocating a travel warning” to the realm.
In response, the ADL of New England, the JCRC of Larger Boston and the AJC of New England, stated in a joint assertion that the “call to action” is being “raised by a group or groups with no apparent relationship to Newton.”
“We unequivocally reject this tactic, which seeks to place ‘blame’ or ‘consequences’ on local businesses that are not responsible for either the incident or its prosecution,” the assertion reads. “Moreover, use of this tactic implicitly suggests that our criminal justice system is not capable of delivering justice through its time-honored processes.”
“We instead call on the community to join us in re-establishing dialogue and conversation,” it continues, “remembering the hostages still held in Gaza, and calling for an end to senseless violence.”
Hayes pleaded not responsible to the assault and battery with a harmful weapon cost throughout his arraignment at Newton District Courtroom. Choose Jennifer Queally set a $5,000 money bail which he met.
Situations for Hayes’ launch are that he wears a GPS monitoring machine, doesn’t have any weapons, stays away from the sufferer and the Metropolis of Newton, and is confined to his dwelling through the hours of seven p.m. to six a.m. every day.
His license to hold has additionally been suspended.
“When a decorated Iraq War veteran and an American citizen is prosecuted for defending himself against an individual who attacked him and openly supports a terrorist organization, it sends a chilling message: Middlesex County is not a safe place for anyone who values liberty, justice, and security,” Betar USA Govt Director Michael Sinensk stated in a press release Tuesday.
The Muslim Justice League postponed a “Vigil for Palestine” on the Boston Public Backyard Tuesday that may have included consciousness round Gannon, whom the group described as “a lifelong Newton resident and a Jew committed to Palestinian liberation.”
Newton state Sen. Cindy Cream and Mayor Ruthanne Fuller have denounced the calls to boycott metropolis companies.
“Boycotts will not mend division,” Cream stated. “Punishing local Newton businesses for events they were not involved with is not the solution. I hope you will continue to support our local businesses as I plan to.”
Fuller added, “The small businesses in Newton are not an appropriate target for those concerned with the charges filed in connection with this incident, nor do they deserve to be harmed.”
