Title
Authorizing the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to hold a hearing to examine the exclusion of the Israeli food truck Moshava from a subsequently cancelled cultural fair in Philadelphia, to raise awareness of a recent rise in anti-Semitism, and to discuss best practices for organizations and cultural event planners facing similar situations in the future.
Body
WHEREAS, An event called A Taste of Home was scheduled for Sunday June 20th, 2021 in Philadelphia and meant to be a curated event celebrating diversity through food, art, entertainment, and community. The event was organized by local nonprofits Eat Up the Borders and Sunflower Philly and characterized as a tribute to the many owners and chef's journey from their homelands and a celebration and sharing of their cultures with others; and
WHEREAS, On Saturday, Moshava, a food truck serving Israeli food, announced on social media that it had been disinvited from participating in A Taste of Home due to threats received by the organizers of the event regarding the truck's presence; and
WHEREAS, Sunflower Philly subsequently announced the cancelation of the entire event on Sunday citing threats of protests and potential aggressions. They also noted that past events have required the presence of both Israeli and Palestinian vendors and because that was not possible on Sunday, Moshava was asked not to attend; and
WHEREAS, Moshava stated that it does not believe in this specific instance the decision of the organizers was rooted in anti-Semitism. But regardless of the motivations, an Israeli vendor was excluded from a public event at a moment where anti-Semitic incidents have been on the rise in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Threats to the safety of this event based on the presence of an Israeli food truck are anti-Semitic. Defined by the State Department, anti-Semitism arises when the targets of attacks, whether they are people or property - such as buildings, schools, places of worship...
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