Tomorrow is the 2019 Women’s March, but some people who believe in the underlying message are staying home all the same.

The sad part is that it has nothing to do with the march itself, but rather its leadership.

In December, Tablet Magazine published an article highlighting allegedly anti-Semitic sentiments amongst the Women’s March’s head organizers. Of the three leaders called into question—Tamika Mallory, Linda Sarsour, and Carmen Perez—Tamika Mallory has stood out in particular. All three women have been attempting to make amends, but public relations went south after Mallory refused to renounce Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan’s remarks during an interview on The View.

The main controversy surrounds Mallory’s attendance of a Farrakhan Nation of Islam rally in February, during which he spewed extremely anti-Semitic and homophobic rhetoric about the “Satanic Jew,” and how powerful Jews were responsible for all sorts of evils in the world and also promote homosexuality. Mallory posted positively about the event on social media. Two years prior, she called Farrakhan the “GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time) in an Instagram post.

When questioned about her support of Farrakhan, Mallory claimed she didn’t agree with all of his views, but believes he has done a lot to help the black community. “I didn’t call him the greatest of all time because of his rhetoric. I called him the greatest of all time because of what he’s done in black communities.” When pressed by Meghan McCain on whether or not she would “condemn” his statements about Jews, she refused, saying “it’s not my language.”

The resulting fallout has lead the Democratic National Committee and the NAACP, along with multiple other progressive organizations, to drop their sponsorship of the Women’s March.

Prominent female figures have also spoken out, including comedian Sarah Silverman.

Right now Jewish women, and perhaps all inclusive people who despise anti-Semitism, are in a precarious position in regard to the 2019 Women’s March. Do they hit the streets for a cause they believe in, despite the fact that its organizers might hold (or at the very least, enable) incredibly harmful views? Or do they stay home in protest? Moreover, if the answer is the latter, what are the best ways to keep the activism going under a new banner with new leadership?

The answer isn’t clear, but one thing is: diverse, inclusive movements are a nasty place for anti-Semitism to rear its ugly head.

Dan Kahan is a writer & screenwriter from Brooklyn, usually rocking a man bun. Find more at dankahanwriter.com

POP⚡DUST | Read More…

Every “Man” Angry About Gillette Needs His Diaper Changed

The John Wick: Chapter 3 Trailer Is Out and It’s Fucking Perfect

Production Finally Completes on Avatar 2 and 3