(Jewish Group) U.S. Jewish Groups Mourn John Lewis, a Civil Rights Hero and 'Longtime Friend'

[MosheFeingold]

1. John Lewis was a complicated guy

He sought Jewish support early elections.

He used to always say he felt a personal affinity with the Jewish community because the word "Jew" had the same negative connotations as “n---r.” He compared the Jewish slavery days to black slavery. He recalled the strong alliances between the Black and Jewish community during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

As he got older, things changed. When the Jewish community asked him to reciprocate help, he never spoke out against the growing antisemitism on college campuses and in public schools. He just couldn't be bothered. He started openly hanging out with members of the black community who had, to be kind, dim views of Jewish people and Israel.

Then he started to become more overt: he boycotted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speech. Said some rather unpleasant (and untrue) things about Israel.

Most recently he sponsored H. Res. 496 introduced by Representative Ilan Omar, the purpose of which was to support the "Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction" of Israel.

So, while he was a great man, he ended on a poor note.