Letter to the Editor: Gabby Weis, Atlanta

Letter to the editor,

I have been attending multiple Black Lives Matter protests in downtown Atlanta the past week and will continue to do so once I hear back about a negative COVID-19 test. I would like to mention my experience, why I am doing it, and educate you as to why you should care as a Jewish publication.

Being Jewish, I find it imperative to stand with other minorities because at the end of the day we are all targets of white supremacy. Even though I am able to “hide” behind my skin color and my grandma was able to “hide” in Southern France for having blonde hair during the Holocaust, I will stand with those who are not able to hide.

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At the protests I have seen nothing but peace from protesters and the police and military agitating us. I had to watch as my 20 friends and I were tear-gassed, alongside many other peaceful civilians, right outside of the capitol as military officials started closing in on us. Let me also make it clear that it was 7:45 p.m. Monday night [June 1] (1 hour and 15 minutes before curfew) and nothing was thrown at the cops then.

On that note, I’ve seen water bottles thrown at cops. However, a police officer is standing in a $3,000 protective suit, they can handle a water bottle. Even then, a water bottle should not equate to being tear-gassed the same way that being black should not be a death sentence in this country.

Today is Thursday [June 4] and I have had time to process being tear-gassed with my friends who were there, family and therapist. One thing it reminded me of was the Holocaust, being enclosed while having “authority” gas us for no reason.

Obviously, the Holocaust gassing was lethal in a room while this was outside.

1) Tear gas is not even used in war (war crime)
2) We are in a pandemic that attacks the lungs.

I hope I made it clear that I’m not making a direct comparison, but rather experiencing generational trauma. As a Jewish publication you have a voice, and right now the voices of the unheard need to be heard. Being a Jewish publication, you need to recognize who has also fought with us (black people) and who has been our enemy (anything upholding white supremacy). By not using this voice, you are not acknowledging our history with other minorities and just using our white skin to defend white supremacy. Let’s not forget how white supremacy also hates us. Don’t be another media outlet that lets authority get away with harming their citizens.

Gabby Weis, Atlanta