Friend,

The Jews for Salah Instagram account was just censored and shut down by Meta — so I’m going to show you the story they didn’t want you to see.

My name is Harriet McKinney, and I am co-chair of the Wisconsin Jews for Justice Steering Committee.

This past Sunday, my daughter and I joined fellow Jews and allies from across the Midwest at a Jewish vigil for Salah Sarsour — a beloved community leader and Palestinian activist who was taken by ICE in the name of so-called Jewish safety.^1,2

Outside the Clay County Jail, I told everyone gathered what I’m telling you now: in the words of Moses, our teacher, “Let my people go” for Salah Sarsour is my people.

Help us get to 10,000 signers: Add your name to the Jewish petition to release Salah Sarsour.

I am an observant Jew and Brother Salah is an observant Muslim, and he is my people. We are all connected — even when we are confused or frightened or disagree or are grieving. Even when we forget. We are all one soul, and an injury to one is an injury to all.

My daughter and I were able to exercise our rights to free speech this weekend. Salah wasn’t. Why? Because my four Ashkenazi Jewish grandparents escaped antisemitism and violence in Europe and made it to the US before racism, xenophobia, and restrictive immigration laws closed the borders.

Today, it’s our responsibility as American Jews to recognize the targeting of religious and political minorities as features of totalitarian repression. In the Trump regime, this repression targets Palestinians under the guise of fighting antisemitism. They use our safety — Jewish safety — as a smokescreen for their authoritarian tactics.

The detentions of Salah Sarsour, Mahmoud Khalil, Leqaa Kordia, and others for their free speech do not make Jews safer. In fact, it obscures the far right’s own antisemitism while eroding our shared freedoms. But we see through their smokescreen, and we’re rising up in solidarity to fight for each other and our democracy.

I’m inviting all of you – people of all faiths and backgrounds – to join me in demanding the immediate release of Salah Sarsour by adding your name.

Thank you for continuing to bring urgent attention to Salah Sarsour’s case. As Wisconsin community members have shared, “Our neighbor was taken from us, and then a bunch of angels appeared.”

In solidarity,

Harriet McKinney
Wisconsin Jews for Justice

Harriet McKinney is co-chair of the Wisconsin Jews for Justice Steering Committee. She had served in many leadership roles including director of cultural arts for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee and executive director of the Milwaukee chapter of the American Jewish Committee. McKinney, who is retired, now lives in Sherman Park and splits her time between her four grandchildren and her continued work on social justice issues including unlearning racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, sexism and other forms of oppression.

Sources:
1. Jewish groups rally in support of Milwaukee Muslim leader detained in ICE jail, Religion News Service
2. Activists Demand Release of Milwaukee Muslim Leader Salah Sarsour from Indiana ICE Jail, Democracy Now

Help grow our Jewish movement to defeat fascism

We each have a role to play in the fight to defeat fascism. Your gift today will help grow the Jewish resistance through mass mobilizations, political education, and organizing arm-in-arm with our partners.