The Holocaust documentary that was denied an official screening by the City of West Hollywood following the objections of some on City Council will be shown at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Congregation Kol Ami at 1200 N. La Brea.
Tuesday is Holocaust Memorial Day, also known as Yom Hashoa.
“See the movie some antisemites on the West Hollywood City Council didn’t want you to watch,” reads a promotional email sent out by ICAN, the Israeli-American Civic Action Network, which co-sponsored the screening of ‘J’Accuse!’
The documentary was originally scheduled to be shown in West Hollywood City Council Chambers, but City Hall informed ICAN that an unnamed City Councilmember had raised objections due to the appearance of Grant Gochin in the film.
Gochin is an internationally renowned Holocaust education advocate who participated in last year’s combating antisemitism summit in West Hollywood and asked tough questions regarding Councilmember Chelsea Byers’ past policy positions on Jewish issues.
ICAN leader Dillon Hosier, detailing the events in a recent opinion piece, wrote “Where no illegality occurred, this incident sets a dangerous precedent by some on the Council: specifically, if they don’t agree with or face criticism from a member of the public, then they will take action to silence those critics. This is a clear example of viewpoint discrimination, an obvious violation of the First Amendment, and their oaths of office.”
Click here to RSVP for the screening
ABOUT THE FILM
The Lithuanian Jewish community was decimated in the Holocaust: over 220,000 Jews, more than 95% of the population, were murdered. A key player in the massacre was Lithuanian nationalist Jonas Noreika.
Jonas Noreika, also known as General Vėtra, was a Lithuanian military officer and a member of the Lithuanian Activist Front, an organization that collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II. Noreika is a controversial figure in Lithuania, as some view him as a hero for his role in the Lithuanian resistance against the Soviet Union, while others view him as a collaborator for his actions during the Holocaust.
Noreika is accused of playing a role in the murder of Jews during the Holocaust while serving as the head of the Šiauliai district under Nazi occupation. According to Holocaust historians, Noreika signed documents authorizing the establishment of a Jewish ghetto in Šiauliai and ordered the confiscation of Jewish property. He also allegedly played a role in the deportation of Jews to concentration camps.
In recent years, there have been debates and protests in Lithuania over whether or not to remove monuments and street names dedicated to Noreika. Some Lithuanians argue that Noreika was a patriot who fought for Lithuania’s independence, while others argue that he was complicit in Nazi war crimes and should not be celebrated. Noreika is protected by the contemporary government’s official policy and infamous Lithuanian Genocide and Resistance Research Centre, which has been accused of engaging in historical revisionism, particularly with regards to Lithuania’s role in the Holocaust. Some critics have claimed that the LGGRTC downplays the extent of Lithuanian collaboration with the Nazi regime and the role of Lithuanian nationalists in the persecution and murder of Jews.
‘J”Accuse!’ follows the experiences of two dissident campaigners: Grant Gochin, whose family was murdered by Noreika; and Silvia Foti, a brave Lithuanian woman fighting for the truth and whose grandfather was Jonas Noreika. Together, the two push against Lithuania’s systemic Holocaust denial in an attempt to bring justice to victims and the truth to account.
This was an incredible story and inspired work. Thanks to Temple Kol Ami for hosting this screening. It was too bad it was not sponsored by the City of West Hollywood and shown in the City Council Chambers, but perhaps another time. It was too bad the residents were subjected to capricious censorship by our “Progressive” Council.
There are no anti-semites on the city council. I say this as a proud Jewish man.
The efforts of some to label people as such are harmful and inexcusable as Jewish people face real hatred throughout this country and the world.
The easiest way to disprove your assertion would have been for the City Council to have hosted the screening of this movie. But I agree that we should not be tossing around accusations of anti-semitism so casually. While Byers is undoubtedly pro-Palestinian, that does not per se make her an anti-semite.
Yes it does.
You’re wrong.
Sone sense finally.
Anti-Zionism is Anti-Semitism
BDS is Anti-Semitism
She has a decade of social media posts making her stance on those subjects clear
Correct! It doesn’t make Ms Byers anti-Semitic. Because Palestinians are Semitic. Unfortunately, we are in all these wars because of men. Not women. Men! Power hungry greedy men! The enemy elites.
West Hollywood’s policies espoused by several CC members are crushing to the human spirit.
I understand that Chelsea Byers is a true anti-semite–I expect that she will do her best to hurt Jewish people throughout her lifetime.
Sickening that she was elected due to the money of the corrupt Unite Here organization. They endorsed the three biggest losers that have ever sought public office.
I have no opinion about the veracity of your accusation against Ms. Byers but rather than hurling calumnies, some evidence is required.
Possibly you are new to this on going conversation, but there is no need for someone to have to re hash all that has been brought up before.