An Ameinu-led delegation of 1000 Israelis and Jewish Americans marched together, calling for democracy in Israel at today’s NYC Celebrates Israel Parade.
Carrying Israeli flags and signs quoting from Israel’s declaration of independence, the Ameinu delegation marched wearing shirts that read, “Zionism Equals Democracy.” Today’s historical parade saw an unprecedented number of Israeli participants, many of whom were marching to save Israel’s democracy.
Ameinu was inspired to return to the parade after a hiatus of over a decade, following the organization’s success in leading the pro-democracy protests during April’s World Zionist Congress in Israel. These protests culminated with a march on Israel’s Supreme Court.
Nomi Colton-Max, Chair of Ameinu’s Executive Committee and Vice President, co-chaired the parade committee with Shany Granot-Lubaton, the US-based leader of the protest for Israel’s Democracy in New York City. Colton-Max said, ”We represent the majority of American Jewry. In light of the government of Israel's stated intention to cripple Israel's democracy and the fact that many anti-democratic, dangerous, and even racist members of the government were at the parade, Ameinu had to show that we love Israel while we vehemently oppose its current government."
Granot-Lubaton added, "As an Israeli currently living in New York, this new Israeli-Jewish American community that has formed over the past months has become my home away from home. The entire world hears it loud and clear when thousands of people are holding Israeli flags, marching on Fifth Avenue, and calling for "DE-MO-CRA-TIA.”
Several VIPs joined Ameinu walking up Fifth Avenue from 57th to 74th Street including former Consul-General Asaf Zamir and his wife Maya Wertheimer, Congressman Jerry Nadler, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, and Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism.
“Today was a huge success. We had an unbelievable turnout, and we were well received by the parade organizers and the watchers. We will continue to work within the mainstream Jewish community to bring about change while simultaneously calling the Jewish community to open their eyes about the situation in Israel," Colton-Max concluded.
To Learn More About Ameinu click here.
For more information, please contact:
Nomi Colton-Max: 347-512-7710
Shany Granot-Lubaton: +972 54 6665862
