JVP-Central NJ chapter applauds Highland Park Library decision to stop censoring stories about Palestine

“I’m thrilled that my local library won’t be censoring stories about Palestine”

Highland, NJ (June 4, 2019) — The Central New Jersey chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace applauds the recent decision by the Highland Park Library Board of Trustees to reinstate the reading of the children’s book P is for Palestine.

JVP-Central NJ member Marion Munk said: “Palestinian stories deserve to be told and I am so glad the Highland Park Library has agreed to change their position and allow a reading of the children’s book “P is for Palestine” to proceed. As a proud Jewish member of this community, I’m thrilled that my local library won’t be censoring stories about Palestine.”

Following an aggressive intimidation campaign, the Highland Park Library Board of Trustees cancelled a scheduled reading of P is for Palestine, which had been sponsored by JVP-Central NJ. Palestine Legal, the Center for Constitutional Rights and the ACLU-NJ condemned the decision as a violation of the First Amendment and the New Jersey Constitution.

Palestine Legal senior staff attorney Radhika Sainath said: “The Library rightly recognized that the book event should go forward. That said, the event should never have been cancelled in the first place. Children have the right to hear about Palestinian culture without fear of government censorship.”

Additionally, a petition entitled Stop Ban of Palestine Children’s Book at Highland Park NJ Public Library garnered 6,000 signatures and was co-sponsored by a coalition of groups supporting Palestinian rights.

The strong community defense of the reading, including a large number of calls and letters to the library from Jewish Voice for Peace members, shows that there is a vibrant and growing Jewish community that supports Palestinian human rights — and the telling of Palestinian stories.

Ms. Munk is available to speak with the media.

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Jewish Voice for Peace is a national, grassroots organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for a just and lasting peace according to principles of human rights, equality, and international law for all the people of Israel and Palestine. JVP has over 500,000 online supporters, over 70 chapters and 15 student chapters, a Rabbinic Council, an Artist Council, an Academic Advisory Council, and an Advisory Board made up of leading U.S. intellectuals and artists.