Drew Angerer / Getty Images Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) described Marc Lamont Hill’s firing from CNN in 2018 after he made “from the river to the sea” remarks in front of the United Nations as an example of “cancel culture.”
Jewish Insider reported that in an interview with The New Yorker’s David Remnick published on February 14, Ocasio-Cortez called cancel culture an example of the right-wing creating “a sense of persecution or victimhood” concocted “to justify, animate, and pursue a political program of takeover, or at least a constant further concentration of their own power.” “Notice that those discussions only go one way,” she said. “We don’t talk about all the people who were fired. You just kind of talk about, like, right-leaning podcast bros and more conservative figures. But, for example, Marc Lamont Hill was fired [from CNN] for discussing an issue with respect to Palestinians, pretty summarily. There was no discussion about it, no engagement, no thoughtful discourse over it, just pure accusation.”
Hill said to the UN at the time, “We must promote non-violence at every opportunity, but cannot endorse narrow politics that shames Palestinians for resisting, for refusing to do nothing in ethnic cleansing” before then calling for a “free Palestine from the river to the sea.” Shortly thereafter, Hill was no longer under contract with CNN. Hill later wrote in an op-ed with the Philadelphia Inquirer that his comments were meant to “endorse radical change within Israel, not a desire for its destruction.” “Rather than hearing a political solution, many heard a dog-whistle that conjured a long and deep history of violence against Jewish people,” Hill added. “Although this was the furthest thing from my intent, those particular words clearly caused confusion, anger, fear, and other forms of harm. For that, I am deeply sorry.”
The progressive Zionist group Zioness criticized Ocasio-Cortez in a tweet. “2 weeks ago @AOC said, rightly, that people should take the lead from Jews when considering forgiving people for antisemitic comments,” they wrote. “Jews largely agree that Hill’s repeated genocidal comments about Jews are unforgivable. Why doesn’t AOC take our lead?”
2 weeks ago @AOC said, rightly, that people should take the lead from Jews when considering forgiving people for antisemitic comments.
Jews largely agree that Hill's repeated genocidal comments about Jews are unforgivable.
Why doesn't AOC take our lead?https://t.co/8f7TIaz4tn
— Zioness (@ZionessMovement) February 14, 2022
Others weighed in.
“@AOC thinks Jew hatred and calling for #Israel’s destruction, is an acceptable form of speech,” human rights lawyer and International Legal Forum CEO Arsen Ostrovksy tweeted. “With #antisemitism surging in U.S., elected officials like AOC are only pouring more fuel on the fire and enabling such hatred and violence.”
Of course she does. Because @AOC thinks Jew hatred and calling for #Israel’s destruction, is an acceptable form of speech. With #antisemitism surging in U.S., elected officials like AOC are only pouring more fuel on the fire and enabling such hatred and violence. https://t.co/ZPbrZ3Yk32
— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) February 14, 2022
Israeli activist Hen Mazzig tweeted, “Dear AOC, Please stop talking about Jews, hatred against us, and who you think should not be punished for their harm to our community. You’ve made it clear you aren’t on the side of justice. Signed, A Jew.”
Dear AOC,
Please stop talking about Jews, hatred against us, and who you think should not be punished for their harm to our community.
You've made it clear you aren't on the side of justice.
Signed,
A Jew
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) February 14, 2022
Israel War Room tweeted, “Marc Lamont Hill was not fired ‘for discussing an issue with respect to Palestinians,” @AOC. He was fired for repeating Hamas’s slogans.’”
Marc Lamont Hill was not fired "for discussing an issue with respect to Palestinians," @AOC. He was fired for repeating Hamas's slogans. https://t.co/voKZ3NBZCX
— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) February 14, 2022
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.