Anti-Israel Activist Voted Off Women’s March Board After Two Days
She has repeatedly denigrated Memorial Day, U.S. Troops
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Zahra Billoo/ Twitter Screenshot Zahra Billoo, who has been outspoken about her hatred of Israel and Memorial Day, was voted off the board of the Women's March Wednesday night after serving only two days.Billoo, the executive director of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, took to Twitter early Thursday to announce the Women's March severed ties with her. In her 25-tweet thread, she blames an "Islamophobic smear campaign" and "right-wingers" for the scrutiny she and her colleagues have received."This followed an Islamophobic smear campaign led by the usual antagonists, who have long targeted me, my colleagues, and anyone else who dares speak out in support of Palestinian human rights and the right to self-determination," Billoo tweeted.
This followed an Islamophobic smear campaign led by the usual antagonists, who have long targeted me, my colleagues, and anyone else who dares speak out in support of Palestinian human rights and the right to self-determination. 3/The past 48 hours have been a spiral of bad news and smear efforts. Part of the smear campaign is motivated by opponents of the Women’s March, because the organization has traditionally challenged the status quo of power and white supremacy in our country. 4/37 people are talking about thisShe went on to say the campaign against her was "driven by people who oppose me and my work challenging the occupation of Palestine, our country's perpetuation of unjust and endless wars, and law enforcement operations targeting the American Muslim community."Billoo praised the cofounders of the Women's March, including Linda Sarsour and Tamika Mallory, for putting "their lives on the line" and "winning power for all women in all of our diversity," but she also expressed a lack of confidence in the new leadership, saying it is not demonstrating "strength." Sarsour and Mallory were forced to step down from the Women's March board last month due to their own anti-Semitic statements. Billoo went on to say it "breaks my heart" to see the new leaders caving to "right-wing pressure" and "casting aside a woman of color."She acknowledged anti-Semitism is a "growing and dangerous problem in our country" but then listed several other groups that are being marginalized.To be clear, anti-Semitism is indeed a growing and dangerous problem in our country, as is anti-Blackness, anti-immigrant sentiment, Islamophobia, ableism, sexism, and so much more. 13/I condemn any form of bigotry unequivocally, but I also refuse to be silent as allegations of bigotry are weaponized against the most marginalized people, those who find sanctuary and hope in the articulation of truth. 14/47 people are talking about thisIn response to the scrutiny of her past tweets, she acknowledged they were written "passionately" and she would phrase her words differently today. However, she said she stands by her words, including her tweet accusing the FBI of recruiting "mentally ill young people" to join ISIS.In looking at the tweets in question, I acknowledge that I wrote passionately. While I may have phrased some of my content differently today, I stand by my words. 15/I told the truth as my community and I have lived it, through the FBI’s targeting of my community, as I supported families who have lost loved ones because of US military actions, and as I learned from the horrific experiences of Palestinian life. 16/34 people are talking about thisBilloo, who has been a vocal supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), has sent out several controversial tweets over the last decade, including tweets attacking U.S. troops, Memorial Day, and Israel. Back in 2016, she quote-tweeted a Twitter user asking her whether she believes it's "wrong" for the United States to honor soldiers on Memorial Day. She replied, "You think we should honor people who commit war crimes?"Back in May, she tweeted a long thread attacking Memorial Day and U.S. troops."There cannot be any honor earned through participation in dishonorable wars," she wrote."Many of our troops are engaged in terrorism," she also wrote in a 2012 tweet. In a 2014 tweet, she said she rejects Memorial Day and "all days dedicated to genocidal warmongers & their compliant foot soldiers."The root cause of terrorism is US foreign policy.See Zahra Billoo's other TweetsBilloo has also been outspoken about her opposition to Israel. The New York Post's Jon Levine compiled several of her tweets covering for Hamas. In a 2014 tweet, she said she "will not renounce jihad, khilafah or sharia." She also refers to Israel as "Apartheid Israel" several times on her Twitter account and claims Israel "commits war crimes as a hobby" and "kills children as a hobby."ONE MORE TIME FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK: Israel is an apartheid, racist state, which engages in terrorism against Palestinians.See Zahra Billoo's other TweetsRabid opposition to Israel isn't a new viewpoint for the Women's March. Sarsour, Mallory, and some of the other cofounders have received scrutiny for their anti-Semitic views and ties to anti-Semitic Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, the Washington Free Beacon reported.Mallory also came under fire for her friendship with anti-Semitic Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. She has referred to him as the "GOAT" or "Greatest of All Time" and attended an event where he spoke. Asked on The View if she condemned his numerous bigoted remarks, she said it wasn't her "language" but refused to explicitly condemn them. Bland, according to Tablet, joined Mallory and Perez in defending Farrakhan's anti-Semitic language in a phone call with march organizers, citing his work on behalf of minorities.Sarsour, a Palestinian-American known for her rabid opposition to Israel, has since joined the presidential campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) as a surrogate. Sarsour supports the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement against Israel, which has been condemned as anti-Semitic by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.).Sarsour also has ties to Farrakhan, and has stated "nothing is creepier than Zionism." She also defended Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) even as Democrats rebuked the congresswoman this year for repeated anti-Semitic comments.Teresa Shook, the original founder of the Women's March, called for Sarsour, Bob Bland, Mallory, and Carmen Perez to resign in a Facebook post last November, saying they allowed anti-Semitism and homophobia to become mainstream in the group "by their refusal to separate themselves from groups that espouse these racist, hateful beliefs."
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