Oakland Museum Shuts Down Palestinian Children’s Exhibit

[dana_b]

Media Advisory

For immediate Release

Berkeley, CA— The Museum of Children’s Art in Oakland (MOCHA) has decided to cancel an exhibit of art by Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip. The Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA), which was partnering with MOCHA to present the exhibit, was informed of the decision by the Museum’s board president on Thursday, September 8, 2011. For several months, MECA and the museum had been working together on the exhibit, which is titled “A Child’s View of Gaza.”

MECA has learned that there was a concerted effort by pro-Israel organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area to pressure the museum to reverse its decision to display Palestinian children’s art.

Barbara Lubin, the Executive Director of MECA, expressed her dismay that the museum decided to censor this exhibit in contradiction of its mission “to ensure that the arts are a fundamental part of the lives of all children.”

“We understand all too well the enormous pressure that the museum came under. But who wins? The museum doesn’t win. MECA doesn’t win. The people of the Bay Area don’t win. Our basic constitutional freedom of speech loses. The children in Gaza lose,” she said.


http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2011/09/09

I don't know if this should be in the Israel/Palestine group (so mods, please do what you will) but I found it interesting and sad.

[ceile]

1. Politicizing children's art...

just wow...

[Mz Pip]

2. Why should anyone be offended

by children's art? It's just sad.

[hifiguy]

3. That is so utterly revolting on every conceivable level

and just plain heartbreaking. How petty can some people be?

[hlthe2b]

4. What a sucky sucky thing for those pro-Israel groups to do...

Don't they realize this is just adding to the coming backlash? Support for Israel is fine. But there are limits. Damn. Disgusting.

[AverageJoe90]

7. Many of these hard-right Zionists don't seem to realize.........

that not only does this hurt good Israelis, and even non-fascist non-Likud Zionists, but it even helps jihadi groups like Hamas & HIS-BULLah(yes, misspelling was intentional.)

[sufrommich]

5. Your link says "page not found". nt

[sabrina 1]

6. True, it's not working. Try this one:

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2011/09/09

Shame on the museum for caving to such pressure. The article says they will not break their promise to the children and will find another venue. I doubt they will have any problem doing so.

Petty, stupid thing to do and does the opposite of what was intended by the censorship. I do not like our country's 1st Amendment rights being assaulted by any special interest groups. All this will do is gain more support for the children.

[dana_b]

9. thanks Sabrina

I'll fix the post. I don't know why it isn't working.

[MadHound]

8. Punishing kids,

How very grown up of them:eyes: