NY Democrats accuse Nixon of BDS support and silence on antisemitism

In the light of growing U.S. artists' support for settlement boycott, Nixon hasn't publicly commented on the accusation.

By JTA
Updated: SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 23:40
Actress Cynthia Nixon announces that she is running for Governor of New York at a campaign stop in Brooklyn, New York, March 20, 2018 (photo credit: SHANNON STAPLETON / REUTERS)
Actress Cynthia Nixon announces that she is running for Governor of New York at a campaign stop in Brooklyn, New York, March 20, 2018
(photo credit: SHANNON STAPLETON / REUTERS)
The New York State Democratic Party in a mailer accused gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon of supporting the BDS movement and being silent on the rise of antisemitism.
Nixon, who is gay and attends Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, an LGBT synagogue, announced her bid for the Democratic nomination for New York governor in March. She faces incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the September 13 primary.
“With antisemitism and bigotry on the rise, we can’t take a chance with inexperienced Cynthia Nixon, who won’t stand strong for our Jewish communities,” the mailer said. It also states that Nixon is “against funding for yeshivas,” supports “BDS, the racist, xenophobic campaign to boycott Israel” and has been “silent on the rise of antisemitism.”
The mailer says it was paid for by the New York State Democratic Committee.
Cuomo campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith tweeted: “Governor Cuomo didn’t approve of or have any knowledge of the mailer in question. He disagrees with the language in it, believes it is inappropriate, and urges voters to focus on the real issues in this race.”
Nixon has not publicly commented on the mailer.
Sharon Kleinbaum, spiritual leader of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, and the rabbi’s wife, teacher labor union leader Randi Weingarten, defended Nixon and condemned the mailer in a statement posted on Facebook, calling the mailer “beyond the pale.”
“For many reasons, we have both maintained our neutrality in the primary between Governor Cuomo and Cynthia Nixon. We know them both well, and Sharon is Cynthia’s Rabbi,” the statement said. “Cynthia is no antisemite. It’s a baseless lie.”