Today’s cancel culture frequently holds people accountable for remarks they made years ago. By that standard, Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement and now millionaire could be criticized for calling for an “end” to Israel, describing the Jewish state as an “imperialist project.”
The remarks come as support for BLM plummets amid all demographics in the United States, including among Black Americans.
Cullors made the inflammatory remarks during the 2015 panel discussion “Globalizing Ferguson: Racialized Policing and International Resistance,” a forum hosted by Harvard Law School.
READ: BLM is anti-Israel says Black Israel supporter
“Palestine is our generation’s South Africa,” she said. “And if we don’t step up boldly and courageously to end the imperialist project that’s called Israel, we’re doomed.”
At the time, Cullors had recently returned from what she described as a “historic” 10-day trip to Gaza. She told the audience there could be “a whole conversation about the settlements that we witnessed and the stories of murder and death at the hands of Israelis and Zionists.”
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She went on to describe Palestinian solidarity as a “crucial” aspect of the Black Lives Matter movement, even encouraging people to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign designed to cripple Israel economically and diplomatically
Cullors also urged those at the forum to research and support Rasmea Odeh, a convicted terrorist sentenced by Israeli courts to life in prison for a bomb attack that left two students dead. Odeh was released in 1980 as part of a prisoner exchange and went on to commit immigration fraud in the United States.
Then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described BDS as “anti-Semitic” in November 2020, calling the controversial movement “a cancer.”
READ: What else does BLM believe?
The resurfaced footage of Cullors comes not long after the official Black Lives Matter movement tweeted its commitment to “ending settler colonialism in all forms.” BLM two weeks ago expressed their support for the terrorist group Hamas as it fired almost 5,000 rockets at Israeli civilians. Black Lives Matter also stated it will “always” side with Palestinians.
BLM and other claims that Israel is an “apartheid” state again came under ridicule as this week the country’s Arab party officially reached a power-sharing agreement. It would make the country’s 1.9 million Arab citizens part of a new ruling coalition.
“That’s not exactly the definition of apartheid,” laughed one social media user in response to BLM.
Cullors announced she was stepping down from Black Lives Matter last week, amid controversy over her $3 million-plus real estate purchases.
Hank Newsome, the head of Black Lives Matter Greater New York City, called for an ‘independent investigation’ into the foundation’s finances. The two organizations are not affiliated.
Cullors, a self-described Marxist, denies receiving a salary from the foundation, but critics claim she is using donations to the foundation to line her pockets.
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice
