WEDNESDAY: Tell the Mets to Knock Racism Out of the Park!

Press Release

Orgs Demand Mets Cancel Citi Field Fundraiser for Israeli Settlers, 11/04/2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For Adalah-NY's video on the Hebron Fund Dinner CLICK HERE

For the letter sent to the Mets, CLICK HERE

New York, NY – Eleven organizations from the US, Palestine and Israel have called on baseball's New York Mets to cancel a November 21st dinner at the Caesars Club at Citi Field for the Brooklyn-based Hebron Fund. The dinner is a fundraiser for Israeli settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank City of Hebron. In a letter sent to the Mets on November 3rd, the groups said, “The New York Mets will be facilitating activities that directly violate international law and the Obama administration’s call for a freeze in settlement construction, and that actively promote racial discrimination, and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their homes in Hebron.” Seven hundred Israeli settlers, living amidst 150,000 Palestinians in Hebron, are expanding their hold on the historic old city by driving out the Palestinian residents.

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Press Release

NYers Tell Baseball Commish: 'Strike Out Israeli Settlements!', 11/18/2009

Protest Comes Day After Obama Spokesperson Says He is 'Dismayed' By New Israeli Settlements

CLICK HERE for video
CLICK HERE for photos

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY - Over fifty human rights advocates gathered outside the office of Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig in midtown Manhattan at lunch time today to demand that he prevent the New York Mets from hosting a Citi Field fundraiser for a Jewish group that supports violence and racism against Palestinians. The protest came two weeks after eleven organizations sent a letter to the Mets and Commissioner Selig asking them to cancel the event for the Hebron Fund at the Caesars Club, which is located directly above the Jackie Robinson Rotunda at Citi Field. The groups said that the event would “taint” the Mets and Major League Baseball’s commitment to diversity and equality, and insult the memory of Jackie Robinson.

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Press Release

Coalition Details Hebron Fund's Connections to Extremism Ahead of Citi Field Fundraiser, 11/20/2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY – One day before the Hebron Fund's controversial fundraising dinner at the New York Mets' Citi Field, a coalition of civil rights and peace organizations released new details about extremist statements by individuals associated with the Hebron Fund, and about its fundraising for illegal purposes. The statements were made by Yossi Baumol, the Executive Director of the Hebron Fund, Rabbi Dov Lior, the Chief Rabbi of the Jewish settlers in Hebron, and Noam Arnon, an honoree at the upcoming dinner. Other examples of racist, violent and illegal activities supported by the Hebron Fund were included in a November 3rd letter to the Mets.

On November 18th, the coalition brought fifty New Yorkers to Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig’s Office, protesting Major League Baseball's connection with the Hebron Fund. That event followed a letter-writing campaign that has generated over 2600 letters to the New York Mets, asking them to cancel the dinner with the settler organization.

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Document

NY Mets, Cancel Hebron Funds Dinner at Citi Field

 

TO:
Mr. Fred Wilpon, Chairman of the Board of the New York Mets

CC:
Mr. Bud Selig, Commissioner of Major League Baseball
Ms. Hillary Clinton, United States Secretary of State
Mr. George Mitchell, United States Special Envoy for the Middle East
Ms. Rachel Robinson, Chairman of the Jackie Robinson Foundation

 

SUBJECT:
Cancel Hebron Fund’s Fundraising Dinner at Citi Field over Group’s Support for Human Rights Violations & Discrimination

Date:
November 3, 2009

 

As diverse organizations working for human rights, social justice, and peace, we call on the New York Mets to cancel the November 21st fundraising dinner for the Hebron Fund that is scheduled to be held at the Caesars Club at Citi Field, the stadium of the New York Mets. By allowing the Hebron Fund to fundraise on its premises, the New York Mets will be directly aiding Hebron’s Jewish settlers, who are regularly described, both worldwide and among Israelis, as violent racists. The New York Mets will be facilitating activities that directly violate international law and the Obama administration’s call for a freeze in settlement construction, and that actively promote racial discrimination, and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their homes in Hebron. A review of last year’s and this year’s Hebron Fund dinners also shows that some dinner honorees support violence and the terrorizing of Palestinians (see below).

Finally, The Hebron Fund has been the subject of complaints to the I.R.S. regarding its tax-exempt status. The complaints request investigations of allegations that it raises funds for the development of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.

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Press Coverage

The Electronic Intifada

The New York Mets and the business of terrorism

Abstract: 

When I first learned that the New York Mets were hosting a fundraiser for the nonprofit Hebron Fund at Citi Field in support of the Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, I honestly assumed it was a joke, albeit a poor one. When I realized this was an actual, planned event, I still found it almost impossible to believe. This is because, even aside from the devastating impact of settlement expansion on the prospects for peace in the region, I have had the misfortune to see, repeatedly and at first hand, the fruits of the Hebron Fund’s labors.

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Press Coverage

WAFA

New Yorkers Tell Baseball Commish: Strike out Israeli Settlements

Abstract: 

Over fifty human rights advocates gathered outside the office of Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig in midtown Manhattan at lunch time to demand that he prevent the New York Mets from hosting a Citi Field fundraiser for a Jewish group that supports violence and racism against Palestinians.

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Press Coverage

New York Post

Israeli fund-raiser at Citi Field angers Palestinian rights group

Abstract: 

Adalah-NY, a group supporting Palestinian rights in the bitterly contested West Bank of Israel, is turning its sights on the New York Mets after the organization agreed to host a fund-raising dinner at its Caesar’s Club restaurant for a group that supports Israeli settlers in the same area.

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Press Coverage

New York Magazine

Mets Somehow Involved in West Bank Conflict

Abstract: 

As if the Mets didn't have enough to worry about, they're getting grief from a pro-Palestinian group because of a fundraiser taking place this weekend at Citi Field for the Hebron Fund.

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Press Coverage

Inter Press Service News Agency

Baseball Team Urged to Cut Ties with Israeli Group

Abstract: 

A coalition of 11 U.S., Israeli and Palestinian groups, including Adalah-NY, are calling on the New York Mets baseball team to cancel a fundraiser by the "violent and racist" Israeli Hebron Fund which is scheduled to be held at the Mets' stadium, Citi Field, on Nov. 21.

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Press Coverage

The Nation

Palestine in Queens

Abstract: 

Controversy is growing over a November 21st fundraiser at the New York Mets' new stadium Citi Field for the Brooklyn-based Israeli settlement group the Hebron Fund. Settlement supporters have called for letters praising the Mets for standing with the Hebron Fund, while justice and human rights groups including Adalah-NY issued an alert demanding cancellation of the dinner.

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Press Coverage

Ma'an News Agency

NY Mets embroiled in settlement flap

Abstract: 

Controversy continued to grow in the US over a fundraiser scheduled for Saturday at the New York Mets' Citi Field stadium for the Brooklyn-based Israeli settlement group The Hebron Fund. Settlement supporters have called for letters praising the Mets for standing with the fund, while human rights groups including Adalah-NY issued a public appeal this week that resulted in hundreds of emails, letters and calls demanding the event's cancelation.

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Press Coverage

Adnkronos International

Pro Baseball team embroiled in Israeli settlements row

Abstract: 

Controversy continues to grow over allegations that a top United States baseball team is supporting fundraising efforts for illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, according to Adalah-NY, a US-based non-governmental organisation involved in a campaign calling for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel.

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Press Coverage

JTA

Mets won’t strike out Hebron Fund dinner at stadium

Abstract: 

The New York Mets will allow the Hebron Fund to host its annual dinner at a club in the team's stadium despite a protest. Eleven organizations, including Adalah-NY, Jews Against the Occupation-NYC and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, had asked the Mets to cancel the Nov. 21 event at Caesar's Club in Citi Field.

More Info >>>

Press Coverage

Tablet Magazine

N.Y. Mets Go to Bat for Hebron Jews

Abstract: 

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse for the struggling New York Mets, the team now faces criticism from Adalah-NY and other human rights organizations for hosting a fundraiser for a right-wing, pro-Israeli settlement group at Citi Field.

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Wednesday protest
Tell the Mets & Major League Baseball Not to Support Violent, Racist Israeli Settlers
Cancel the Hebron Fund’s dinner at Citi Field

The Brooklyn-based Hebron Fund supports violent, racist Israeli settlers in Israeli-occupied Hebron who are taking over Hebron’s Old City in violation of international law, and driving out the Palestinian residents. The New York Mets are aiding the Hebron Fund’s activities by allowing the organization to hold a fundraiser at Citi Field on November 21st, despite a November 3 letter calling for the event to be cancelled. The fundraiser will be held above the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, an insult to Robinson’s legacy.

Join us on Wednesday to tell Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig to Cancel the Event!

Write to the Mets demanding that they cancel the dinner!
http://campaigns.adalahny.org/mets-submit or
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/301/t/9047/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1687

Protest organized by: Adalah-NY, CODEPINK Women for Peace, Jews Against the Occupation-NYC, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, Jews Say No!, and Jewish Voice for Peace

Adalah-NY's video on the Hebron Fund fundraiser: http://adalahny.org/video/369/ny-mets-cancel-hebron-funds-dinner-citi-field

Event Location: 

The office of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball
245 Park Avenue between 46th and 47th Sts, two blocks north of Grand Central Station
New York , NY

Event Date: 

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 - 12:30pm to 1:30pm

Our Work Sections: 

Content Type: 

Public Event

Shortlink: 

https://j.mp/3E8r1cc