MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM – JUNE 03: Graffiti artist Akse spray paints a mural of George Floyd in Manchester’s northern quarter on June 03, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. The death of an African-American man, George Floyd, while in the custody of Minneapolis police has sparked protests across the United States, as well as demonstrations of solidarity in many countries around the world. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) The Palestine Museum in Connecticut tweeted out an image of George Floyd wearing Palestinian keffiyeh and emblazoned with a Palestinian flag.
The museum tweeted on June 1, “United we stand against injustice. Palestinian artist Waleed Ayyoub honoring the memory of George Floyd.”
United we stand against injustice
Palestinian artist Waleed Ayyoub honoring the memory of George Floyd#georgefloyd #floyd #blacklivesmatter #icantbreathe #injustice #racism #apartheidisrael #apartheid #palestinianart pic.twitter.com/aWVu4gEZxY
— Palestine Museum US (@PalMuseumUS) June 1, 2020
Some on Twitter criticized the image, arguing that it politicized Floyd’s death.
“Cynical and sickening: Palestinian activists photoshop a nationalistic keffiyeh scarf onto the image of #GeorgeFloyd RIP in an attempt to appropriate his memory for their political ends,” StandWithUs Israel Executive Director Michael Dickson tweeted. “A cheap, hurtful stunt.”
Cynical and sickening: Palestinian activists photoshop a nationalistic keffiyeh scarf onto the image of #GeorgeFloyd RIP in an attempt to appropriate his memory for their political ends. A cheap, hurtful stunt. pic.twitter.com/juITJ2OQ1J
— Michael Dickson (@michaeldickson) June 3, 2020
Pro-Israel activist and international human rights layer Arsen Ostrovsky similarly tweeted, “The Palestinians did give birth to the global hijacking movement. Now, instead of planes, they’ve taken to hijacking other people’s grief. This is a new low!”
Well, the Palestinians did give birth to the global hijacking movement. Now, instead of planes, they’ve taken to hijacking other peoples grief. This is a new low! #GeorgeFloyd pic.twitter.com/IhSvwc6C31
— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) June 3, 2020
Pro-Israel writer Yoni Michanie also tweeted, “This picture has the fantastic ability to, simultaneously, whitewash the crimes of Palestinian leaders throughout the last century while also staining the memory of George Floyd. It robs all of Black America from their struggle to achieve equality, justice, and dignity.”
This picture has the fantastic ability to, simultaneously, whitewash the crimes of Palestinian leaders throughout the last century while also staining the memory of George Floyd.
It robs all of Black America from their struggle to achieve equality, justice, and dignity. pic.twitter.com/bYZy5nBXSO
— Yoni Michanie (@YoniMichanie) June 3, 2020
Bryan Leib, former national director of the Americans Against Anti-Semitism watchdog, tweeted, “Apparently #GeorgeFloyd is now a martyr for the Palestinian people. What’s next? Will Hamas name a street, school & a rocket after him so his name is associated with terrorists who have murdered Jews? Sick!”
He added: “How dare the Palestinians cheapen the murder of an innocent man!”
Apparently #GeorgeFloyd is now a martyr for the Palestinian people. What's next?
Will Hamas name a street, school & a rocket after him so his name is associated with terrorists who have murdered Jews? Sick!
How dare the Palestinians cheapen the murder of an innocent man! pic.twitter.com/1F882QcTDm
— Bryan E. Leib (@BryanLeibFL) June 3, 2020
The Palestine Museum did not respond to the Journal’s request for comment.
Floyd, 46, an African American, died on May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer was video recorded pressing his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is charging the officer, Derek Chauvin, with second-degree murder and the three other officers present at the time of Floyd’s death with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.
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