What's on Our Mind 7-23-2021

 

JAC is proud to endorse Shontel Brown for Congress. She is running to fill the vacated seat of Rep. Martha Fudge (OH-11), who was appointed Secretary of Housing & Human Development by President Joe Biden.

 

Shontel has expressed her strong support for Israel and will work to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship. She vehemently opposes BDS because it "seeks to weaken, isolate, and delegitimize Israel." She believes it is "also counterproductive to peacefully resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

 

She also shares JAC's issues on other important issues such as reproductive freedom, gun violence prevention, and climate change.

 

This special election on Aug. 4th can impact future Congressional support for Israel. This is a solidly Democratic seat. Therefore the winner will most likely be the next Representative in Congress.

 

 

Her opponent, Nina Turner, has divergent and troubling views on Israel. Among other things, she favors conditional aid to Israel — something JAC vehemently opposes. Turner has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Reps. Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA). She has not publicly denounced BDS.

 

Support in Congress for Israel can not be taken for granted. At a time when Israel is facing growing threats in the region, U.S. support must remain rock-solid. We must work to elect candidates who value and understand the special relationship between the U.S. and Israel and the antisemitic nature of the BDS movement. Elections have consequences. 

 

As an African American woman and strong supporter of the U.S.- Israel alliance, Shontel said that she would also work with Jewish community to "strengthen our bonds and the relationship between the United States and Israel."