One Broward Commissioner turned away and another left the commission chambers altogether after a woman took the podium at today's commission meeting to stand in solidarity with the enemies of Israel. This comes after the terrorist group Hamas gunned down 260 Israelis at a music festival and abducted others in the course of a wider surprise attack on the Jewish state.
"I'm standing here in solidarity with the people of Palestine," said a woman wearing a black shirt reading "Stand With Black Women" in all caps who identified herself as community organizer Tiffany Burks. Burks said she helped organize a Juneteenth protest in Broward in 2020 to support defunding of the police and in honor of George Floyd.
‼️JUST NOW! Woman at Broward Commission Meeting who says she organized George Floyd protests DEFENDS HAMAS after their attack on Israel.
Commissioners @Michaeludine and Steve Geller walk out. pic.twitter.com/Kiq4zy1SOQ
— Chris Nelson 🇺🇸 🏝 (@ReOpenChris) October 10, 2023
"The organization that I organize with is the Black Futures Alliance which is formerly known as the Black Lives Matter Alliance Broward," said Burks before reading a statement from her group comparing Israelis to people who oppressed Black people in the United States.
"The injustices facing the Palestinians share the historical baggage of systematic and racial oppression of Black people in the United States," she said. "Malcom X once said, 'If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people being oppressed and loving the people doing the oppressing.'"
Burks gave her version of the history of Israel.
"After the conclusion of the holocaust.. Jewish people wanted their own country," said Burks. "Britain promised Palestine as their promised land and the national home of the displaced people, however the promise was made without consulting the people who already lived there."
Burks went on to claim Jewish people "demolished" the "Palestinian nation" and accused "Zionists" of "ethnic cleansing".
‼️FULL VIDEO! Tiffany Burks of Black Lives Matter Alliance Broward speaks AGAINST a Broward Commission resolution in support of the people of Israel and accuses the Jewish people of “ethnic cleansing”. pic.twitter.com/9mbsV12d43
— Chris Nelson 🇺🇸 🏝 (@ReOpenChris) October 10, 2023
Broward Commissioner Steve Geller turned in his chair and Commissioner Michael Udine left the chambers. Both Geller and Udine introduced resolutions in support of Israel.
"I'm not going to sit and listen to someone try to justify the behavior of militant terrorists who are chopping the heads off babies and equating that to anything," Udine told the Floridian. "I'm just not going to listen to that type of BS. There is no justification. It was barbaric torture and it should be condemned in the strongest way."
‼️WATCH! I asked Broward Commissioner @Michaeludine why he walked out of the commission meeting this morning! pic.twitter.com/9LcKRmBLPI
— Chris Nelson 🇺🇸 🏝 (@ReOpenChris) October 10, 2023
"The speaker was incorrect on the facts involving Israel and the Palestinians," Geller wrote to the Floridian in a written statement. Geller was a sponsor of the pro-Israel resolution and turned his chair away from Burks when she spoke. "Israel was not an invading colonial power – they had no army or Country from which to invade. The United Nations set forth lines dividing the area into two countries – Israel and Palestine. Israel accepted this, the Arabs did not and immediately tried to wipe out the nascent Nation of Israel. They failed."
"It’s important to remember that prior to the 6 Day War in 1967, all of the West Bank, Gaza, and many other areas were not controlled by Israel – they were controlled by Jordan or Egypt, Arab countries that could have given the Palestinians a State," Geller wrote. "They chose not to do this. It is becoming very clear that the Palestinians have thus far rejected any peace plan that leaves Israel in existence. Those who mindlessly chant 'From the River to the Sea, Palestrina will be free' are explicitly calling for the destruction of Israel. As Golda Meir stated, 'If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence. If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel.'"
Geller said he decided to turn in his chair when he recognized the direction Burks was going in with her comments.
"When I heard the remarks that were being made, I showed my opinion of the remarks by turning my back to the Speaker," wrote Geller. "It is the official position of the United States Government, the State of Florida, and Broward County that Anti-Zionism is Anti-Semitism. The Anti-Defamation League feels the same. So do I."
Broward County voted to put a Racial Equity Task Force in place in 2020 which includes members of Burks' organization.
