MLK Echoes Of The Past

When JFK was shot, I remember playing around with my sister who was in her play pen while my mother ironed shirts for my father and three brothers. While she was standing watching the old black and white TV, we could not afford color, I remember her standing and crying, watching the news.

When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot I was in third grade in school when our Principal Mr. Kusgee came in and told our teacher. Mrs. Hersh was a stern teacher and that was the first time I saw her cry. Once again, we walked home to find my mom and her friends around the TV watching Walter Cronkite and crying.

The same thing happened when Robert Kennedy was shot. Our parents did not talk a lot about it, but my brothers did around the dinner table. I do remember vividly standing on the train bridge in Trenton watching the Robert J. Kennedy train pass. Hundreds of people stood weeping and waving to show solidarity.

These points in history, even as a young child, had a lasting impact on me as a young person. I did not attend a segregated school in Levittown. I know there were areas just like it in the south that were African American, but I was never exposed to racism and bigotry growing up. My best friend and neighbor were a Jewish boy, Andrew. I do not recall what his father’s profession was, but his mom was a hairdresser. I loved going to his house and watching her do hair. Where I grew up was drastically different to what children my own age experienced in South Florida.

When I moved to south Florida my eyes were open to a different reality. As recently as 1991 the confederate flag still flew on Young Circle. Thanks to Judge Ken Gottlieb who was a Hollywood Commissioner it was brought down. It was not unusual to see blatant signs of the hate of the past that I thought would certainly be gone.

This truly made me question whether I wanted my children to grow up around such hatred. While we are seeing a doubling of antisemitic acts of aggression on Jewish houses of worship, Jewish businesses, and multiple killings of Jewish people simply for being Jewish. We need to be reminded that it is up to every one of us to stand up. These acts are not just the KKK or Alt right from days past we are seeing them from Americans that simply have been indoctrinated with misinformation and simply do not understand history.

We are blessed to have a great city. There have been incidents of antisemitism such as graffiti and incidents involving harassment of one of our Rabbis. Our City Commission and our Police Department have a firm commitment to stand up against these acts. It is up to us all now to stand up. If you see something, say something. If you read something online, correct it.

My biggest call out is the land of Israel was Judea before it was taken over. It was taken over and then called Palestine. Jews have and should always have the right to their land. The other is antizionist. These means anti Jew plain and simple. Zion was the age-old name for Jerusalem and Israel. There is a famous quote from Yusuf Diya al-Khalidi “Who can challenge the rights of the Jews in Palestine? Good lord, historically it really is your country.”

In 1899 the Arab ottomans had invaded and taken over Israel and he was the “Mayor of occupied Jerusalem.” This was before the British came in to occupy Israel. It was not until the Israeli Independence War.

Just like the history of the Rights Movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. the fight of the Indigenous people of Israel to live in their country, history matters. The correlation between the fight for African American freedom and equality and the shared Judeo-Christian values is a unique bond. Now more than ever it is critical that we continue to unite against hatred.

The Neo Nazis, Skinheads, Alt Right and White Supremacists have now partnered with those of the extreme left. We need to not be the quiet majority but the vocal majority for peace, unity, and love. Only love can conquer hate.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As always, I am available anytime for your questions, concerns, and ideas to make our City a better place on my Phone/Text at: (954) 632-5700. Or you can email me at: jcooper@cohb.org. Please visit me on my Facebook page at: Mayor Joy Cooper. Like! Follow! And share!