Sickening Reactions to Real Grievances

A car set on fire by protesters in Tel Aviv on July 2nd (Jewish Press)

There is not a doubt in my mind that racial bias is alive and well in our time. Even among those of us that are committed to the words in the Declaration of Independence - so appropriate on this day, July 4^th, 2019:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal… 

Self evident but only in theory. In practice this is simply not true. If we are to be truly honest with ourselves at some level there is a degree racial bias - that might be ever so slight - against black people in all of us. Not only among whites. But even among blacks against other blacks. 

I firmly believe, for example, that if a black man driving a car is stopped by the police, all else being equal he will be treated differently than a white man would - no matter how unbiased the cop might otherwise be. I think this might be true even if the police officer involved is black himself.

Why this is the case is beyond the scope of the post. Suffice it to say that there is a long history of racial prejudice that predates slavery in America. A prejudice that was exacerbated during that period and carried forward to this day, despite the best efforts by those of us that fight for racial equality.

But that is only half the story. It is also a fact that given the chance black people have done quite well here. Many of them achieving the pinnacle of success in their field. As was the obvious case with President Barack Obama, the first black President of the United States. He was not the exception that proves the rule. He was just one of many such success stories. Another one of which is the increasing numbers of middle class black people whose lifestyle and values are virtually identical to their white counterparts.

This is truly a tribute to how far we have come as a nation. We are increasingly honoring those ‘hallowed’ words in the constitution about all men being created equal.  And yet, as noted - we are a long way off from being completely as fully color blind as we should be. 

I believe that black people feel that prejudice constantly. Whether consciously or subconsciously. They know for example that if they are stopped by police while driving a car, there will be more suspicion of wrongdoing than there would be if a white person was stopped. Unfair as that is.

Which brings me to police shootings of black people. There have been so many instances of that here that it has given rise to a movement called ‘Black Lives Matter’. Black people justifiably feel they are targeted by the police far more than their white counterparts. And are far more likley to be killed. 

While there is some overt racial bias, I believe most of it is subconscious. But it is there nonetheless. While this movement has become somewhat radicalized and has their own biases, what generated it is righteous. And they were right to call themselves by that name since it is black people that suffer the most by virtue of the color of their skin as evidenced in how the police react to them. The outcome of which is that black lives don’t matter as much as white lives do.

And this brings me to what is happening in Israel right now. Israel – one might say – is a microcosm of American ethics, values, and prejudices. While the genesis of prejudice might be different, the prejudice is the same. As are the successes of the black community there. Just a week or two ago a cover story was done by one of the Charedi magazines about an Ethiopian Jew that has become a respected doctor. Ethiopians are well integrated into all aspects of Israeli society. Whenever I am in Israel and see an Ethiopean soldier wearing a Kipa, my pride in this country swells. And yet the prejudice is still there. Just like it is in America.

A few days ago, 19-year-old Ethiopian Solomon Tekah was shot and killed by an off duty Israeli police officer. This tragic event mimics what has been happening all across America over the last few years. Young blacks have been shot by police in a variety of circumstances. That gave rise to the above-mentioned ‘Black lives Matter’. The outrage is real and justified. But that has resulted in what can only be seen as reverse prejudice against the police. 

The attitude about a cop shooting a black teenager among many otherwise good people - both black and white – seems to be, ‘Guilty until proven innocent’.  If a cop shoots a black teenager, he is a racist. Context be damned. I understand the sentiment. But it is the wrong sentiment. Both here and in Israel. I believe that - sadly -while there is a degree of latent racism in all of us, good people know it’s wrong and apply the sentiments expressed in the Declaration of Independence. I firmly believe that there are many - perhaps even most - instances where a black teen (or any teen) is shot and killed by a cop - that it is justified. Whether it was in self defense or in protecting someone else.

I don’t know what the case was with that cop in Israel that shot Solomon Tekah. I don’t think anyone can know unless they were there. And even then, the circumstances may not have been as they seem to the casual observer. From JTA: 

The officer was at a nearby park with his wife and children when he attempted to break up a street brawl. He said the teens threw stones at him and he believed he was in mortal danger.  

Was it justified? Was there racial bias involved that caused him to ‘shoot first and ask questions later’? Like I said, I don’t know. What I do know however is that the reaction by protesters is to assume the worst. As such those protests have become out of control and extremely violent. I don’t blame the protesters for feeling that way. History has proven their presumptions of racial bias to be all too often quite accurate. But that does not mean it is accurate here. Be that as it may, they have a right to protest. What they do not have a right to do is what has been described in the Jewish Press:  

(Public Security Minister Gilad) Erdan said that the level of violence the police saw yesterday across the country had not been seen for many years, and the scope of the demonstrations, in so many locales simultaneously, was unprecedented…

“They were throwing stun grenades and Molotov cocktails at police vehicles and on police stations in order to burn them down…” 

“MDA medics and paramedics provided medical treatment to a total of 83 injured, including 47 police officers, 26 demonstrators, 9 bystanders and 1 firefighter. Five of the injured were evacuated in moderate condition and the rest were mildly injured. In addition, MDA teams treated citizens who had been stuck for hours in traffic jams and were in need of help. During the demonstrations, 6 MDA ambulances and Mobile ICUs, and 4 medical emergency vehicles were damaged as a result of stone throwing.” 

Sickening. Yes! – Black lives do matter. But a protest that is characterized by that kind of rage is not the answer. It is the opposite of that. These demonstrations make the ones that happen all the time in places like Meah Shearim seem like a walk in the park by comparison. What these demonstrations are doing is destroying any legitimacy they might have had to their cause. 

It makes them the criminals. Not the police they are demonstrating against. That cop has not had his day in court. He may or may not be guilty. But the violent protesters are absolutely guilty of violent crimes that have physically harmed innocent people just doing their jobs. Harm that could have easily resulted in many deaths! And may still… God forbid!

I am disgusted by it. I know that there is pent up frustration just beneath the surface with how Ethiopian Jews have been treated in far too many instances. But there is no excuse for what is going on there. None! It will not solve their problems in any case. Making them worse by increasing the racial bias of onlookers. The violent protesters ought to prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. 

Meanwhile - as those protests go on, those throwing Molotov cocktails are in a class all by themselves. Their legitimate grievances do not justify anywhere near what they are doing.

Back in 1968, when the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, there were violent riots all over the country. Not all that dissimilar to what is happening in Israel today. Chicago’s Mayor, at the time - the late  Richard J. Daley gave police the authority to shoot to kill any arsonist or anyone with a Molotov cocktail in his hand…

It was a controversial statement at the time. But people die when fires are set. Killing an arsonist before he starts the fire will surely prevent that. I don’t think Mayor Daley was that far off.