Every June since the 1950s — just a few years after the United Nations moved into its New York headquarters, and spurred by the work of UN advocate/ secretary to Eleanor Roosevelt/Westport resident Ruth Steinkraus Cohen — we have welcomed ambassadors, government officials and staff members to town.
On a (hopefully beautiful) early summer Saturday, we offer hospitality and friendship. There’s a breakfast and low-key greeting ceremony. Then our guests, their families and volunteer hosts spend the day in a variety of ways: at the beach, Earthplace or Wakeman Town Farm; playing golf, tennis or soccer; shopping, dining and relaxing.
Through the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the end of colonialism and the rise of new global powers, the tradition has endured.
It’s one of those things that makes our suburban community different from many others.
jUNe Day flags fly on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge. It’s named for the founder of the annual Westport event.
This year, jUNe Day was different.
Over 100 people protested, on Jesup Green.
They were fully respectful. They were totally silent.
But their t-shirts, signs and flyers sent a message. They were angry about the UN’s “egregious bias against Israel, and the fact that our tax dollars are being used to host representatives of the United Nations, particularly this year, after the horrific events of October 7, and the consistently glaring antisemitic/anti-Israel efforts to delegitimize the only Jewish state.”
They cited many other reasons why they believe they UN has become “a highly politically divisive organization.” Inviting employees here, they said, “is simply no longer acceptable to us….We are all for international hospitality, but we should be hosting an organization that stands for universal equality for all.”
jUNe Day protestors, on Jesup Green. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Bill Hass disagrees.
As president of the United Nations Association of Southwestern Connecticut — the organizer, with Westport officials and volunteers, of jUNe Day — he firmly believes in the organization’s mission.
And he wants our town’s tradition to continue.
Hass told “06880”: “For nearly 60 years, Westport has supported jUNe Day as an opportunity for Westporters to offer hospitality and friendship to UN staff and delegates.
“This derives from a recognition that the United Nations is the only organization created to maintain global peace and security in which nearly all the countries of the world are represented. In a world of deeply divergent interests, it is essential that lines of communication be kept open concerning current conflicts and other global challenges. And, in this age of nuclear weapons, global peace is not only a lofty ideal, it is critical for the survival of the human race.
“Westport is a welcoming and diverse community with many residents also having lived and worked abroad. Many here realize that what affects those halfway around the world can also impact us.
Bill Hass speaks at this year’s jUNe Day welcoming ceremony. First Selectwoman Jen Tooker is seated at left. (Photo/Dan Woog)
“In 1962, the world came very close to experiencing the terror of nuclear war during the Cuban missile crisis. At that time, the UN Security Council and Secretary-General U Thant provided a breathing space that made it possible for the Soviet Union and the United States to step back from the brink of disaster and allow back channel and other quiet diplomacy to resolve the crisis.”
(Thant’s daughter Aye-Aye is a longtime Westport resident.)
“We sometimes hear that the UN is doing nothing, but the Secretary-General’s use of quiet diplomacy is an essential tool for helping to resolve difficult situations and crises.
“Earlier in the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Secretary-General quietly negotiated an agreement to permit the export of Ukrainian grain to countries in desperate need. Also, a multitude of UN agencies maintain peace in areas attempting to recover from conflict, provide disaster relief, and address key global issues such as climate change, immigration and the plight of refugees.
“Expenses for jUNe Day are borne by the United Nations Association of Southwestern Connecticut, the UN Staff Union and modest reservation fees. We are very grateful to the town for opening many of our recreational facilities to UN guests as well as the Wakeman Town Farm, and for the warm welcome extended by our First Selectwoman. Earthplace is also much appreciated as a favorite destination of our guests.
“Our jUNe volunteers observed that UN guests who represented so many member states deeply appreciated Westport’s hospitality, and noted the right of people to protest peacefully.
Enjoying jUNe Day at Jesup Green, not far from the protest. (Photo/Dan Woog)
“It is important to acknowledge the concerns of those who protested on jUNe Day. Some even may have relatives or friends who were killed or injured on October 7, or at other times in Israel’s history.
“On October 7, 2023, in response to the attack by Hamas on Israel, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned ‘in the strongest terms the attack by Hamas against Israeli towns.’ He also extended his ‘deepest condolences to the families of the victims” and called for “the immediate release of all the abducted persons.’ Finally, he stressed that ‘violence cannot provide a solution to the conflict, and that only through negotiations leading to a two-State solution can peace be achieved.'”
“Some Westport protestors alleged bias by the UN against Israel. It is important to distinguish between the UN organization and the position of some of its member countries.
“The Secretary-General and the staff are required by the principles of the UN Charter to treat Israel and, indeed all UN member countries, with dignity and respect and without discrimination. There exists honest disagreement on many issues related to this conflict. It is a disservice to the UN to construe its disagreement with some of the policy choices of the government of Israel as antisemitic.”
You’d think opposing the United Nations would set off an alarm bell for these protesters that they might be on the wrong side of history. Unfortunately, it is consistent with the tactics of the Israeli state and US Israel lobby which seeks to paint any criticism of the country or government of Israel as anti-Semitic or even criminal. It’s the equivalent of burning books that contain ideas you disagree with.
Sad to see Westport’s long history of progressivism tarnished by a small group of ideologues. Happy that they seem to be a minority and cooler heads will prevail.
It’s hardly a group of ideologues. In fact, this demonstrates the very problem with the right/left dichotomy.
What you actually have is a group of concerned American Jews and some supporters who recognize the decades of UN double standards when it comes to Israel.
Most recently the UN has hired Hamas supporters and members to work under the auspices of UNRWA– a gross practice after October 7.
I would be considered left of center by most political gages, but, I support this protest and their message. Has Israel been perfect? No. Is the current government of Israel problematic? Highly.
None of this changes the fact that Israel is constantly held to a different standard to neighboring countries that:
• Support and fund terrorism
• Oppress women
• Outlaw and punish homosexuality (sometimes by death)
Bringing this back to Westport, I like to think I am part of the long history of progressivism in Westport. Or at the very least, as a Staples Graduate, the progressive ideals I learned in high school have been a guiding force in my life.
Locally, Israel has been used as a proxy to say hateful things to Jewish children in this community. And some haven’t even bothered with proxies wearing their antisemitisim proudly.
According to ABC: “The phrases that were being used were, ‘We must exterminate the Jews…. Or that my son was invited to join Camp Auschwitz, where ‘they had great showers.”
I wonder, Mr. Johnson, if you feel these actions here in Westport also tarnish our long history of progressivism?
Progressives are no monolith– Especially when it comes to Jews. We’ve somehow been excluded from the tenants of intersectionality, being deemed a “trigger” for simply displaying an Israeli flag.
The thing is, I’m glad that progressives are not monolithic. Calling for conformity when it comes to the UN– or any other debatable matter is not what progressivism is. I’m certain you’d preach diversity of thought. Accept it in your own community.
I highly suggest you listen to the Sam Harris Making Sense podcast episode, “Anti-zionism is antisemitism.” You may be surprised at what you learn. Start around 20 minutes in. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hass, for reminding us that the opinions of some of some should not be conflated with the opinions of all
Where else in the world but the UN can nations come together in the quest for global accord?
Following that logic then we cannot criticize any organization at all, period (relatedly, I wish people would apply some of that logic to Israel itself – no one blames Russian citizens for the Ukraine war, but I can’t remember anyone ever criticizing Israel without blaming every single Israeli)
Robert Neumann (one of the protest’s organizers)
Thank you Mr. Haas for a throughtful and respectful reply to the aims of the protesters. But we do feel compelled to reply. We rather suspect that in our determination to be silent and respectful, we actually didn’t make our point strongly enough.
We all acknowledge the body of good work the UN has done over the years and continues to do, in providing aid, mediation, and as a forum for debate and negotiation.
But we refuse to overlook the harm it continues to do to Israel, and by extension to world Jewry. We strongly disagree with Mr. Haas’s central argument that we must distinguish between this world body whose charter requires it to treat all nations with dignity and respect, and the repeated anti-Israel actions of some of it member nations. This is an unrealistic and impossible distinction.
First, the U.N. charter’s protection of member states is toothless, whatever its noble intent, as evidenced by this repated, obsessive mistreatment of the world’s ONLY Jewish state . Israel is NOT treated with dignity and respect, at least not since 1975, when the U.N. first equated Zionism with racism. In recent years, the U.N. Human Rights Council and the General Assembly have passed twice as many resolutions condemning Israel as the rest of the world. A world, which, we remind people, consists of North Korea, Syria, Iran, and China, to name just a few human rights violators.
The U.N acts, regarding Israel, in the tyranny of the majority. That is not a fact that can be wished away or washed away. If not for the US veto, this body WOULD have strangled Israel diplomatically, economically, and militarily. Mr. Haas might then be technically correct to say it would not have been the work of the UN itself but of its member nations – but what solace is this to Israel and world Jewry? “It wasn’t the U.N. – it was its members!”
What would our black brothers and sisters say if member nations of a world body that did good work in Asia and the Americas censured only African nations and characterized Black Lives Matter as racist? What would women say if member nations of a world body that helped impoverished men rejected women’s rights and accused them of making up grievances?
We know exactly what they would say. They would tell the world body – your member states are out of control.
To the UN: We miss what you once were, and perhaps still might be. Live up to your charter, and we’ll look forward to seeing you back up here.
“The Secretary-General and the staff are required by the principles of the UN Charter to treat Israel and, indeed all UN member countries, with dignity and respect and without discrimination.” From Mr. Haas’s statement. These are hollow words, as a cursory examination of UN actions over the decades will prove. For one current example, simply look at the actions and behavior of Francesca Albanese, the official UN Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Even her title gives away the game.
I Agree with Michael Kassen and Robert Neumann.
As a Run4Their Lives member noted:
“For decades, the UN has singled out Israel – the indigenous homeland of the Jewish people – for treatment that no other nation has received, applying double standards that perpetuate Jew-hatred around the world. Every year, the General Assembly passes more resolutions (about 20) specifically targeting Israel, with only 5 or 6 covering the rest of the world – including countries like North Korea, Iran, and Syria, which are generally regarded as the worst abusers of human rights and international law.
This targeting carries over to the creation of committees and special inquiries that target Israel – a democratic country with a vibrant culture of inclusion – while ignoring issues like slavery, gender inequality, religion-inspired violence, and poverty that are prevalent in many countries, especially in the Middle East.
The UN gives hereditary refugee status to Palestinians – and to no other group. This hereditary status has prevented integration and forced many Palestinians into subservience to UN groups like UNRWA, ostensibly a relief agency that has done more to perpetuate the cycle of violence than to help people. UNRWA schools in Gaza have been used to shelter terrorists and weapons of war, even as students study from UNRWA-provided books filled with antisemitism and the glorification of martyrdom in the fight against Israel. UNRWA employees and affiliates are also alleged to have facilitated or participated in the terrorist attacks on October 7th, even holding hostages in their homes.
Despite all of this, the UN lacks any remorse or contrition for its Jew-hatred and continues to pursue a one-sided approach that at every turn tries to hinder Israel’s right and obligation to defend itself and secure the release of hostages. Indeed, the UN pays lip service to the fact that Hamas continues to hold hostages, but does nothing to help secure their release or to take action against the multiple violations of international law committed by Hamas and the humanitarian crisis it created and perpetuates.
Today, we are informing our community about the reality of what the UN is and what it does, even as people associated with it walk our streets and enjoy our freedoms and liberties – things that cannot be enjoyed by the many hostages still held captive in Gaza. All Americans need to understand that the UN is no longer an instrument of peace or good, and that continuing to fund it only perpetuates violence and suffering in the Middle East. We are fighting to #EndJewHatred, and that includes the systemic Jew-hatred festering within the United Nations.”
Dating back to the Vietnam and Black protests of the 60’s-70’s, I never thought they did any good. The Vietnam protests began in 1965 and we didn’t get out of there until 1975. The Blacks are still fighting racism despite some good legislation. The Gays et al seem to have found quick traction in their protest, by going to Court. The structure of the UN prohibits it getting anything meaningful done but has done some wonderful humanitarian endeavors.
While our choice to make this a silent protest, out of respect to the town, was deliberate, there are some critical points worthy of mention here.
The UN’s reaction and lack of response to the events of October 7, 2023 have made it evident that the UN no longer adheres to the principles upon which it was created. Its silence on the mass rapes of women on October 7th is absolutely abhorrent. Likewise, its lack of effort to mobilize to help bring our hostages home is unforgivable. The UN has disgraced itself with its blatant disregard for the Jewish people, a people that it was originally created to protect.
Mr. Haas has tried to make a distinction between an organization’s mission and the people who serve it. This distinction does not hold merit. After all, it is the continued passion for and support of an organization’s members that make an organization successful in the long run. Just as we protesters were extraordinarily passionate about our our reasons for protesting, the members and supporters of the UN Association of Southwestern CT, and by proxy the UN, must be equally passionate about the the UN’s mission, despite its clear anti-Semitic rhetoric. We however, cannot and will not be supportive of jUNe Day’s celebration of a biased organization, that will stand in silence for the butcher of Tehran, but do nothing to help save the hostages that Hamas has so brutally held for over 278 days, and we cannot accept that our wonderful community, which has such a vibrant Jewish population, can in good conscience continue to lend its support to this event either.
I am proud to be a Jew and a Westporter. Every Jew I know, as well as every established and well-respected Jewish organization, does not see criticism of Israel’s policies as antisemitic. Unfortunately, that is not what we have seen from the UN, and mentioning thst “criticism of Israel is not antisemitic” in the above article is irrelevant and, frankly, a huge part of the problem. JEWS DO NOT BELIEVE THAT CRITICIZING THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT IS ANTISEMITIC. Singling out Israel, the world’s only Jewish country, and holding it to different standards than any other country IS antisemitic. We have seen UN biases against Israel which include UNWRA complicity, silence on sexual violence that took place on and after Oct 7th, refusal to condemn Hamas, and false charges of Genocide. That is why we were there. Hopefully it will bring awareness to the antisemitic madness American Jews and Jews around the world are currently experiencing.
Lancet published an article yesterday estimating 186,000 killed in Gaza. That’s what we should be protesting about.
The Lancet and its editor-in-chief, Richard Horton, have a history of biased, anti-Israel pieces (see Open letter for the people of Gaza, 2014). If we’re going to cite biased pieces, here, I’ve got one for you from the other side:
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/how-gaza-health-ministry-fakes-casualty-numbers
The Tablet? C’mon now.
This was in fact a letter or correspondence to the editor not a peer reviewed article unfortunately published in the Lancet. This number alleges a possible future death toll. One of the authors, Professor Martin McKee, later retracted the number estimate claiming they were “purely illustrative” and “our piece has been greatly misquoted and misinterpreted.” Reminiscent of the Lancet’s publishing of the falsified and later debunked article claiming the MMR vaccine causes autism. Unfortunately, this speculative pseudoscience has been used by not only you, but by the UN itself (Francesca Albanese), to falsely spread the ongoing lies regarding this war.
Yes- this jUNe Day was different. A “bunch” of Jewish “ideologues” dared to politely draw attention to the harsh reality of antiSemitism here in Westport. By the tone of this blog and the selection of Bill Hass as the mouthpiece of the UN, it would seem that the jUNe Day protesters were unjustified in leveling any critique at the UN.
Considering how egregiously the UN practices the double-standard against Israel and the Jewish People, I’d say we behaved too respectfully.
The vast majority of resolutions passed by the UN have been against Israel. The crimes against humanity by many other nations (Iran, China, Russia, North Korea, Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan,etc) go unnoticed relative to the Jewish State facing a perennial existential threat. David becomes the Goliath.
The October 7th attack – on Life itself- is vivid proof of that. Moreover, the attack has peeled away the innocent veneer of UNRWA, finally exposing the killing machine which Hamas built 15 stories under Gaza with a little help from friends – Qatar, Iran, and UNRWA. It is the diversion of UN funds which have been used to educate, hide, and support Hamas. UNRWA has been infusing hate into every school and camp (over 400 of them) for over 4 generations.
Now that the intentions of the UN are in plain sight, is there any reason to discuss the lack of “progressive” thinking?
The only proper response is utter indignation, that we have to explain our perception of antisemitism?
Tiptoeing around antisemitism….is antiSemitism!
Thank you Mr. Hass for clarifying what jUNe day is about
…and what it is not about. Fundamentally it is about Westport and the the the uniquely global diversity represented here . Where else is there a forum like the UN where everyone is invited, where else would we go to be heard.. around the world… without it.
I’d like to clarify some issues to avoid conflation and possible misunderstandings. The UN is actually six different organizations – Security Council, General Assembly, ICJ, ECOSOC, Trusteeship, and Secretariat. Of these, the jUNe Day tradition during the past 60 years has been to invite solely the “small potatoes” of the UN, those doing the daily administrative work of the Secretariat and its associated agencies, who otherwise never get to experience anything outside the confines of Manhattan.
Although it’s certain that various elements within the UN may be biased against Israel, protesting against this jUNe Day group may be the wrong target, for the simple reason that the guests at this event are almost completely apolitical professionals out for a pleasant day in celebration of a unique Westport history of welcoming those who believe in peace and inclusion. Several of those guests felt intimidated, unwelcome, and confused as to why they were being protested, which is counter to the vision of our UNA-USA and IHC founder, Ruth Steinkrauss-Cohen.
Ruth, as personal secretary to Eleanor Roosevelt, her personal inspiration, was dedicated to bringing foreign guests to Westport (the first town in Fairfield County to actively welcome Blacks, Jews, and other minorities into their town and organizations) to experience the “real America” of diversity, and by so doing perform its small part in preventing future conflicts. In those 60 years, over 50,000 guests have experienced the special ambience and traditions of Westport, with its open-hearted welcome to those of all points of view.
A defining moment for Ruth’s organizations (International Hospitality Committee and UNA Southwest CT) happened in 1960, when many African nations became independent of their colonial past. With heady enthusiasm, they came to Manhattan to join the international community, only to find Ku Klux Klan flyers under their pillows on their very first night (Manhattan was still systemically racist at that point).
Dag Hammarskjold held court the next day with many African delegates threatening to get on the next plane out of town. His call went to Ruth (who then and in future years had direct access to the Secretaries-General) to see what she might do to help. She immediately arranged a formal ball for the ambassadors and their wives at Longshore, inviting many friends and colleagues from Westport and Weston to attend. It was a huge success, and demonstrated the power of person-to-person hospitality of which Westport-Weston should be mightily proud for the past 60 years.
Not to belabor the point, but I might suggest that a more effective approach in future would be for protestors to not only support this grand Westport tradition, but also their own cause, by instead participating in jUNe Day, acting as volunteers or guests (tennis, etc.) and mingling person-to-person with those whose views may or may not be in sync, to make their case in healthy dialog. A win-win for community while furthering a more effective process to peace.
A simple response is a commitment to a safe, secure, respectful two state solution … the history is tragic … the future is yet to be realized. The energy now focused on a military resolution cannot bring peace and a future of hope for anyone. I hope that there will be voices to let the dead bury the dead, grieve and move forward, now. It is the only way.
As my Greens Farms School principal Jack Ready used to ask: “Who started it?” And then punished the miscreant accordingly (and severely). At the risk of being stereotypical I would venture that for most, if not all parts throughout history, Jews don’t start fights. Netanyahu lost his brother who was trying to rescue other Jews who were innocent victims of anti-Semitic aggression and hatred (hijacking of Achille Lauri and subsequent raid on Entebbe). Try putting yourself in his situation or if you’d prefer, those of Jewish people since time immemorial and ask yourself if the Golden Rule might have applied. As to JUNeday, the late Steinkrauses and Cohens were close friends of my parents and grandparents back when you could count the number of Jewish people in Westport on the fingers of one hand.