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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kristin Kiernan, Member of the Public from Hunter College
4:02:30
·
141 sec
Kristin Kiernan from Hunter College testified about the implications of conflating antisemitism with anti-Zionism, arguing that this conflation is harmful to Jewish students and dangerous to free speech in academic environments. She cited polling data and expert opinions to support her position.
- Discussed the majority of American Jews' views on criticism of Israel, based on J Street polling
- Highlighted concerns about adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism in academic settings
- Argued that conflating Judaism with Zionism contributes to antisemitism while victimizing Palestinians
Kristin Kiernan
4:02:30
I'm Kristin Kiernan.
4:02:31
I'm also from Hunter College.
Felix Matos Rodriguez
4:02:33
Thank you.
Kristin Kiernan
4:02:34
I wanted to talk about actually the the implications of a lot of this rhetoric that conflates antisemitism with antisemitism and its implications for the student population, at CUNY Colleges.
4:02:48
Yeah.
4:02:48
The completion of Judaism and Zionism is both antisemitic and dangerous to Jewish students whose identities are being co opted by the genocidal Israeli regime to further their far right agenda in Palestine.
Eric Dinowitz
4:02:59
Can you pause for a sec?
4:03:00
There are to be no disruptions from the from the audience.
4:03:05
Everyone is entitled to say their peace.
4:03:08
Thank you.
4:03:09
You may continue.
Kristin Kiernan
4:03:10
According to recent Jay Street polling from 2024, the majority of American Jews do not think that the criticism of the state of Israel is anti Semitic and, in fact, agree by a 24 point margin that the United States should stop arming Israel with offensive weapons for as long as this war continues.
4:03:27
There are bad actors in among our ranks, but overwhelmingly, the movement for peace in Palestine is inclusive and calls for all people of conscience to speak up about the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
4:03:39
I'd also like to talk about
Eric Dinowitz
4:03:41
Can you pause one more time?
4:03:43
If you're unable to be respectful of these people speaking, you're unable to stay in this room.
Kristin Kiernan
4:03:52
I'd also like to talk about Kenneth
Eric Dinowitz
4:03:53
I just wanna make sure you have your time she has your time back.
4:03:55
Okay.
4:03:55
Thank you.
Kristin Kiernan
4:03:56
I'd also like to talk about Kenneth Stern who drafted Irish definition of antisemitism and his concerns about using it in an academic environment.
4:04:04
In work that he's written for The Guardian, he says that it poses dangers to free speech and human rights work.
4:04:09
Stern himself recounts that the adoption of the Irish definition, of Irish definition of antisemitism has led to the silencing of anti Zionist Jewish organizations.
4:04:19
European Jews for a just beast was barred from a working group on antisemitism that they themselves had organized because of their criticism of the state of Israel.
4:04:28
This silences the voices of Jewish activists who call for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Eric Dinowitz
4:04:34
Thank you.
4:04:34
Please finish your final thought.
Kristin Kiernan
4:04:35
Thank you.
4:04:37
Netanyahu's rhetoric that complaints the Jewish people with the state of Israel contribute to the growing profit of antisemitism despite the global rise of far right extremism that threatens Jewish peoples, our elected leaders are choosing to victimize Palestinians instead of protecting their Jewish constituents.