Pro-Israel activists have launched a petition drive to defund a taxpayer-financed legal aid group — Bronx Defenders — after the union representing its lawyers drafted a pro-Palestinian statement that accused the Jewish State of being “genocidal” and supporting “ethnic cleansing” — while not mentioning Hamas’ terror attack.
“We condemn any attempts to create false equivalencies between the oppressed and the oppressor,” Bronx Defenders United Auto Workers Local 2325 said in an October 20 statement that also claimed claimed Israel’s “apartheid” laws are the “root cause” for the “violence unfolding in Palestine.”
Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind, founder of the group Americans Against Antisemitism, responded to the union statement by pushing the “Defund the Bronx Defenders” online petition and demanding Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams scrap aid to the group.
“There is no place for antisemites in our workplace,” the petition said. “DE-FUND THE BRONX DEFENDERS NOW.”
Bronx Defenders has received more than $300 million city and state funding over the past decade to represent poor defendants in criminal and civil cases.
Nevertheless, the group has come under fire in the past and previously was accused of fanning the flames of antisemitism and hatred against the police.
The group was condemned for participating in a “kill the NYPD” rap video in 2014.
A director’s email in 2021 blasting Israel and cops forced a Bronx Defenders’ apology and a $170,000 settlement for alleged discrimination against a Jewish staffer that included anti-bias and sensitivity training, The Post previously reported.
The Bronx Defenders’ union anticipated blowback for its statement, citing the 2021 settlement, which was consented to Bronx Defenders, but not the union representing the lawyers that work there.
“We will not be intimidated,” Bronx Defenders said.
Hikind told The Post Monday, “Back in 2021 we called out the Bronx Defenders for their nasty newsletter accusing Israel of ‘genocide’ and they settled a lawsuit subsequently brought against them by committing to undergo ‘bias and sensitivity training.’
“Surprise, surprise, here we are in 2023 after Hamas livestreamed their butchery and the Bronx Defenders Union had the audacity to indulge in an even worse version of their 2021 blood libel by accusing Israel of every worst crime while not even mentioning the hostages and victims of Hamas atrocities.
Hochul and Adams’ office had no immediate comment.
But The Bronx Defenders defended its pro-Palestinian, Israel-bashing statement Monday night and disputed claims that it’s antisemitic.
“On October 20, 2023, The Bronx Defenders Union – UAW Local 2325 issued a statement in support of Palestinians. We stand by that statement, and we reject the premise that supporting Palestinians is antisemitic. We vehemently oppose antisemitism and are deeply upset at the violence and civilian casualties,” said a statement released by Babatunde Aremu, chapter chair for The Bronx Defenders Union-UAW Local 2325, on behalf of the executive board.