The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) has called upon President Barack Obama,  Congress and other public figure to explicitly condemn the manifestations of anti-Semitism that have figured prominently in the demonstrations of the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ protesters. Until now, President Obama, Congressional leaders and others have been silent on this deeply worrying aspect to the protests.

Several reports have focused on the number of anti-Semitic placards that have appeared for days at these protests. One protester was filmed saying, “I think that the Zionist Jews who are running these big banks and the Federal Reserve, which is not run by the government, they need to be run out of this country” (‘Anti-Semitic Protester at Occupy Wall Street – LA,’ Youtube, October 14, 2011). An Emergency Committee for Israel video shows demonstrators with placards declaring, ‘Google: Wall St. Jews, Jewish Billionaires, Jews & FedRsrv. Bank’ and so on. Various protesters are seen addressing the assembled crowds saying such things as “Jews control Wall Street,” ““the core ethnic Jewish population in this country they have a firm grip on America’s media, finances,” while another protester is seen berating a Jewish man wearing a kippah with the words “Bum Jew … you’ve got the money, that’s why you’re fighting [ridicules man by supposedly mimicking his stammering to find a reply] you can’t even speak English. Are you Israeli? Go back to Israel.” Ignoring such occurrences at the protests, President Obama is shown saying of the protests only that “I think it expresses the frustration of the American people,” while House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi states, “I support the message of the protesters (‘Hate at Occupy Wall Street,’ Youtube, October 13, 2011). Other political leaders, including Democratic National Rep. Debbie Wasserman Shultz and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, have made statements supportive of the protests.

Also, Occupy Boston protested U.S. support of Israel’s presence in “Palestine” in a march called ‘Occupy Boston-Not Palestine.” Protesters, some of them anti-Zionist Jews, told the student newspaper that Israel uses U.S. tax dollars to occupy Palestine, and that the new Middle East will marginalize the United States over its relationship with Israel. One of its participants, Nancy Murray, said, “We need to build houses in the U.S. instead of destroying houses in Palestine … The occupation has gone on for so long because the U.S. vetoed 41 valid U.N. Security Council resolutions. They’ve given Israel the green light to abuse human rights” (‘Occupy Boston – Not Palestine March Held,’ Jewish Telegraphic Agency, October 19, 2011).

ZOA National Chairman of the Board Dr. Michael Goldblatt said, “We are frankly appalled and concerned that President Obama and Congressional leaders have not quickly and publicly condemned the numerous manifestations of anti-Semitism that occur regularly at the Occupy Wall street protests. This failure is all the more serious when the President and Congressional figures have spoken sympathetic words about these protests. When people start publicly blaming Jews and Israel for their problems, it is time for our political leaders to speak out.

“This contrasts sharply with the way Democratic leaders were quick to condemn alleged anti-black racist remarks and actions by Tea Party members on the basis of reports later proven to be false. They were willing to condemn the Tea Party even though two of its most repeatedly invited speakers have been African-American figures, Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain and Representative Allen West (R-FL).

“We strongly urge President Obama and Congressional members to publicly condemn the disturbing, blatant expressions of anti-Semitism.”