Posted on 09/17/2014 5:58:25 PM PDT by Coleus
PATERSON — The raising of a flag at City Hall on Sunday was like any of the dozen or so similar events held in the city each year in a nod to its diversity. Except it wasn’t. That’s because the flag raised — for the first time in Paterson, and possibly at any city hall in the United States — was Palestinian. Symbols or assertions of Palestinian statehood are fraught with political sensitivities, and Khader Abuassab, the event’s organizer, said he received harassing phone calls before Sunday’s event.
But no problems were on display Sunday when the flag was raised in the rain before elected officials and about 150 people. People cheered, danced, shared sweets and shouted, “Long Live Palestine.”
“Palestine is our country and we are proud of that,” said Clifton resident Salwa Ramadan. “We’re happy [to be] recognized finally.”
Paterson had never held the event because no one had asked, Mayor Jeffery Jones said. The mayor read a proclamation proclaiming May 19 as Palestinian American Day in the city and honoring the group’s heritage and contributions.
He said he wasn’t concerned with potential political backlash. “If they’re citizens of the city of Paterson, they have every right to raise the flag,” Jones said. “There’s nothing that precludes them as long as they follow the process.” Turks, Haitians, Peruvians and other groups have had had their flags raised at City Hall.
Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-Paterson, and Assemblyman Thomas Giblin, D-Clifton, showed up — with Pascrell presenting a letter of Special Congressional Recognition and Giblin presenting an Assembly resolution marking the event. Shavonda Sumter and Benjie Wimberly, both Assembly members, and state Sen. Nellie Pou also sent a joint citation.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, said in a speech that the Palestinian leadership thanked the city for its gesture. He urged local Palestinians to be good citizens and to continue supporting the struggle for justice in Palestine. Many Palestinian Americans live and run businesses in South Paterson, area some call “Little Ramallah” after the West Bank city. Abuassab, a member of the Arab American Civic Organization, said it was time the community was recognized.
He put ads in Arabic newspapers about the flag raising and texted an invitation to friends, community leaders, politicians and law enforcement officials. He said he got some calls from blocked numbers cursing him. One text message, Abuassab said, came from Charles Meyers, business administrator in the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office and former acting sheriff. The text said simply: “Drop dead.”
Meyers denied sending it in an interview Friday, although he later answered the phone number that was the source of the text. “I look forward to an investigation to prove that it’s not true,” he said. Bill Maer, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office, said it was investigating the complaint.
Palestinian Americans say the flag-raising is timely, following a vote by the United Nations General Assembly last year to recognize Palestinian statehood. Local and national Arab-American leaders say they can’t recall any other U.S. municipality or agency endorsing a Palestinian flag-raising.
Samer Khalaf, a Paramus resident and member of the national board of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination committee, said that’s probably because no Palestinian groups had asked. “Maybe a lot of people haven’t because of fear,” he said.
The Arab American Institute, based in Washington, D.C., also was unaware of any Palestinian flags raisings at municipal buildings in the U.S.
“It’s great, and a testament to the growing influence of the Arab American community in Paterson as well as their importance as a political constituency," said James Zogby, the organization's president.
Mahmoud Attallah of Paterson, president of the Arab American Civic Organization, said he was opposed to holding the event this week — a sensitive time when Israel celebrates its establishment, while Palestinians mark what they call the Nakba, or their displacement from Palestine.
He said he and the organization hadn’t approved the event. “We are a peace-loving people and we recognize both states.” Attallah said. “Let’s not be provocative.” Although the flag-raising was dubbed a cultural event, there were calls for nationhood, for peace and for an end to occupation.
“We need the country, and not just the flag,” said Paterson resident Manny Simrino. “But it’s a good thing. It’s a start.”
Unless they are Christian Palestinians, it’s only an exercise in smoke and mirrors and taqiyyah.
Wherever Muslims are involved, remember that non-Muslims (you and I) are always considered the enemy.
Sheesh America, wake up before you get your throats cut.
by the day, this country sinks lower and lower....people watch and do nothing...it’s called incrementalism...kind of like thr frog in the pot of water on the stove....slowly we commit national suicide....pathetic.
Say what you want, but it’s one of the few places in the world where Muslims and Jews live together in peace, with businesses operating side by side.
Flame on ... but it’s a fact ... and that’s just one thing that makes America exceptional (and the rest of the world hate us).
I can only imagine the horrible music.
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