Dillon Hosier’s public comments at West Hollywood’s City Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 16. Hosier is the Chairman and CEO of ICAN, the Israeli-American Civic Action Network.
First and foremost, I wish to thank Councilmember (Lauren) Meister for taking the lead in introducing a resolution ensuring that West Hollywood stands with Israel against terror. I also wish to thank Mayor Shyne for your vocal support and Councilmember (John) Heilman for speaking with and consoling members of our community over the past week.
Unfortunately, we’re seeing some ignorant statements from those who are defending terrorist attacks. Tonight, I’d like to clear up some misinformation that has spread, thanks to anti-Semitic activism promoted by Chelsea Buyers and facilitated by John Erickson.
I’d like to focus on one key fact: Israel did not steal land from Palestinians. Jews were the indigenous peoples of the region thousands of years ago. In fact, at the same time, the Tongva people were the first peoples of this land where West Hollywood sits now.
Chelsea, you were one of the founders of Students for Justice in Palestine and spent over a decade lying about Israel and the Jewish people. Even after last weekend’s terror attack, that same organization is saying that the murders were justified. I used to think that the people of West Hollywood deserved to know where you stand, but after last week, it’s clear that we all know.
John Erickson, your behavior has been unacceptable. You harassed and threatened Jewish candidates during the last election, and you’ve done the same to Jewish and Israeli business owners. We have confirmed that you were overheard in public saying that you are not going to let six whiny Jews affect the election.
Chelsea Buyers, you have spoken out about the racist LA City Council members, but you’re just the same, if not worse. Make no mistake, Israel has not yet begun to fight, and neither have we.
So, over the past week, I have conferred with my national leadership, and as an organization, we have come to the following decision: Any elected or appointed official who directly or indirectly supports Hamas in Gaza, boycotts against Israel, or any person, body, or government that attempts to undermine the peace and security of the state of Israel, we will oppose them in an unprecedented scope and scale and work to ensure that they never hold public office again. In short, we will do to your political careers what Israel is about to do to Hamas.
Supporting known terrorists organizations is a tip-off for who likes which players in conflicts such as the one we witnessed in “The Holy Land” last. week. I was recently asked why people HATED the Jews?’. I wrote a long list as an answer – some of it tongue in cheek, some of it absolutely serious. . It was about Jews. Not Zion. There may be confusion about zionism and antisemitism, but they do go hand in hand. You can’t hate Jews and then support their desire for a homeland. Before there were the groups that history brought us earliest –… Read more »
I would like to see an official investigation of Unethical Erickson over the anti-semitic comments. He is not fit to be mayor of this very Jewish community. Shame on you, Abbe Land, for bringing this dangerous person into our city government.
As a Jew can I say STOP MIXING UP ANTI-ZIONIST WITH ANTI-SEMITIC!!!!
Saying Israel stole land is not the same thing as saying Jews stole land. Secondly being against the Israeli government is not the same thing as being against Israelis. Third, Being pro-Palestine is not the same thing as pro-Hamas.
These are all such absolutely stupid things to say, its sad that a grown ass adult could say that stuff and mean it.
Learn some critical thinking skills people. Its not that hard.
Where have you been?
Miri, anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism. Period. And while I believe this to the deepest depths of my being, I cannot take credit for first saying this. Indeed, that famous statement was authored and spoken by none other than the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I’m going to side with Dr. King rather than Miri, the Jew-hating Jew. Being Jewish doesn’t give you the right to side with Jew-murderers. It just makes you a hateful sow
See this is the problem. You are critical of the Israeli government suddenly you are labeled a self hating Jew. Now THAT is anti-Semitic. Labeling all Jews in the same box. And I didn’t even say I wasn’t anti Zionist. Just that they aren’t the same thing. Being told I’m not allowed to be critical of the Israeli government is just a huge step towards fascism, which Jews ran to Israel to escape. Not all Palestinians are Jew murderers. Painting an entire group with the same broad stroke is the definition of racism. Most are not. We need to be… Read more »
Wrong, Miri. Hamas runs Gaza. Palestinians put them in power. And these same Palestinians danced and cheered in the streets while the brutalized bodies of grandmothers who had been raped by these Palestinian terrorist monsters were dragged through the streets. These same Palestinian terrorists blew up their own hospital with an errant rocket that they were aiming towards Israel, yet blamed Israel and continue to do so (and you can check the footage on Al-JazeerA, which is probably a station you rely on regularly). This is not about being critical of some misinformed policy decisions that have come out of… Read more »
Chelsea wondering why she bothered to go on that jape at all. LMAO
Every day, news be a retelling of The Scorpion and the Frog.
Wow! The Zionist lobby drops the mask of civility.
Here is an opportunity for you Mr. Hosier, to sit down with Ms. Byers and Mr. Erickson to find some true common ground.
“John Erickson, your behavior has been unacceptable. You harassed and threatened Jewish candidates during the last election, and you’ve done the same to Jewish and Israeli business owners. We have confirmed that you were overheard in public saying that you are not going to let six whiny Jews affect the election.”
Where is there any evidence of these claims? This is a serious accusation. Is anyone who criticizes Larry Block an anti-semite now? Seriously? Which Jewish/Israeli business owners was harassed?
Larry Block did not run in the last election. Nor did Dillion use his name. You comment was posted despite its inaccurate information.
WEHOville published articles about Byers’ college activities during her campaign for Council in 2022; indeed, the speaker’s comments align very closely with the content of those articles.
The clown show turns into monsters in Weho. Please ask yourself,residents and neighbors
Who voted for these hypocrites.
I have asked myself this question for over 30 years. And I have called it from the start “The Little Rascals are Having a Show”. The part of Darla this time around is being played by Sepi Shyne.
‘Atta boy! Go for it! Byers is a disgrace and Erickson, frankly, is just not very bright.
Erickson is a fool, but I didn’t realize his anti-semitism ran so deep. It’s hard to understand why Abbe Land chose to endorse these two anti-semites–I’m assuming that they just fooled her.
I agree Heilman and Land have left us with a legacy of some truly awful people, but I suspect some of these people lied and faked their way into endorsements/appointments, just to get their little foot in the door. I had always thought I could disagree with these people, but they were still bright people. Turns out I was wrong. They got bamboozled, and so did the residents, land owners and taxpayers around here. I remind people John Heilman has been on the city council, virtually all of the last almost 40 years. Read that last sentence again, folks.
Please follow through on these 2 disgusting terrorists.
Much appreciated very strong words! It’s both disgraceful that she sits on council and that Erickson endorsed her. Whiney Jews John? So it turns out to be true. You and your gal pal Lindsey are shameful for the parts you both have played in ushering her into our City.
What a bunch of snowflakes.
Meanwhile, you probably crumble to pieces if someone unintentionally misgenders you.
Wow, accidentally misgendering someone isn’t transphobic, but mocking someone over gender dysphoria certainly is. Bigot.