From the Forward: L.A. Federation president Jay Sanderson, out of town on a visit to Israel, claimed to be unaware that the ZOA, a tenant with offices in the Federation building, was sponsoring the event featuring Geller.
\n\u201cWe were unaware until Friday that this was happening.\u201d He said his concern was that families visited the children\u2019s museum, located in the building\u2019s first floor, on Sunday mornings, \u201cand we didn\u2019t want the children and their families to be disrupted by politics.\u201d
\nZOA officials, which sponsored the event, noted that the event was posted on the federation\u2019s web site.
\n\u201cSanderson should read his own web site,\u201d said Steve Goldberg, ZOA\u2019s national vice chairman, who said he\u2019d spoken with Sanderson that morning and was unable to persuade Sanderson to allow ZOA to res-schedule the event. \u201cThe event has been posted there for the past two weeks.\u201d
\nAn interfaith coalition had earlier in the week issued a statement condemning the Federation for allowing Geller to speak, branding her an Islamophobe.
\nThe coalition included American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Council on American-Islamic Relations – Greater Los Angeles (CAIR-LA), Islamic Circle of North America – Southern California (ICNA), Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, Jewish Voice for Peace – Los Angeles (JVP-LA), LA Jews for Peace, Muslim American Society – Greater Los Angeles (MAS-LA), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), and Progressive Christians Uniting (PCU).<\/p>\n
Read more: http:\/\/forward.com\/articles\/158381\/anti-islamic-activist-blocked-from-la-speech\/#ixzz1yp9zKBWd<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
From the Forward: L.A. Federation president Jay Sanderson, out of town on a visit to Israel, claimed to be unaware that the ZOA, a tenant with offices in the Federation building, was sponsoring the event featuring Geller. \u201cWe were unaware … Continue reading