Bernie Sanders: ‘I’m Proud To Be Jewish’ After Harlem Heckler Criticizes ‘Zionist Jews’ [Video]


While Bernie Sanders appeared at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, a heckler demanded to know his relationship to “zionist Jews.” John Prince, a member of the Black Lives Matter movement, asked the question while Sanders appeared on stage during a “community conversation” in the predominantly black neighborhood.

Prince accused Sanders of being a part of a Jewish conspiracy to push out blacks from their neighborhoods.

“You went to Israel for a year. As you know, Zionist Jews — I don’t mean to offend anybody — they running the Federal Reserve, they running Wall Street, they’re running everything. What is your relationship with your Jewish community?”

A video of the showdown revealed that the ethnically diverse crowd responded with boos toward Prince, and Sanders was visibly disappointed by his line of questioning. He responded in an attempt to calm Prince down and called him “brother.” The audience was loud, and it was difficult to understand Sanders’ words through the fray.

“No, no, no, no, no, that’s not what you’re asking. No that’s not what you’re asking. I’m proud to be Jewish. I may be Jewish, but you’re not going to find any candidate running for president, for example, to talk about Zionism and the Middle East.”

The crowd continued its loud yelling, but Sanders remained calm despite it.

“I am a strong defender of Israel, but we have got to pay attention to the needs of Palestinians. We’re going to have to treat both sides with respect and equality.”

Prince was apparently not interested in the Israel-Palestinian conflict, though.

“They’re buying Harlem.”

The Black Lives Matter member interrupted Sanders’ responses, shouting over him several times before Nina Turner took the mic. After the exchange, Sanders’ national press secretary, Symone Sanders (no relation), spoke to Prince and exchanged contact information with him. The Black Lives Matter member continued to demand why Bernie Sanders doesn’t discuss his religion often, and accused “Zionist Jews” of buying property in Harlem in a gentrification effort.

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 9: John Prince interrupts Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) during a Community Conversation at the Apollo Theater in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City April 9, 2016. The New York Democratic primary is scheduled for April 19th. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 9 (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

Prince obviously failed to see the irony in his statements. His accusations that Sanders was a part of the Jewish Zionist conspiracy simply because of his biological heritage parallels the issues people in the Black community face every day. Essentially, Prince expressed suspicion against the Vermont senator simply because he’s Jewish.

Prior to the exchange, the raucous audience often audibly verbalized agreement with Sanders’ statements that Bill Clinton ought to apologize to Black Lives Matter protestors and to the Black community in general for his policies that disproportionately affected them.

Sanders also vowed to end the era of “beating up on the poor” in order to win votes.

John Prince’s blatant attempt to tie Sanders to some Zionist Jewish conspiracy reveals an age-old anti-semitic belief that Jews control the banks and property. The Anti-Defamation League describes this myth as a centuries-old form of propaganda meant to demonize Jewish people.

“For centuries, anti-Semitic propaganda has demonized the Jew as a conspiratorial, manipulative outside, often with powers and designs of world domination.”

The ADL asserts that in 1962, the myth was rekindled when Omni Publications reprinted a 1931 attack on the Federal Reserve called “The Truth About the Slump.” In the publication, author A.N. Field pulls no punches in blaming Jews for hoarding money.

“The Money Power that rules the world today is centered in the hands of individuals of a particular race and creed … the United States was enslaved under this German-Jew engine of control.”

The myth of the money-hungry Zionist Jew, although widely rejected by most Americans, continues to influence some in their distrust of Jewish people. Perhaps Prince honestly believes that Bernie Sanders is a Zionist Jew. Or maybe he was a plant paid to fluster Sanders with his anti-Semitic remarks. Whatever the case may be, Sanders and his press secretary both handled the insults well.

The discussion panel included former Ohio Sen. Nina Turner, Harry Belafonte, and Erica Garner, the daughter of Eric Garner, who was killed when NYC cops put an illegal choke hold on him.

[Photo: Eric Thayer/Getty Images]

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