Linda Sarsour released a statement apologizing on behalf of the Women’s March for causing harm to the movement’s Jewish members and for being too slow to show its commitment to fighting antisemitism.
“We should have been faster and clearer in helping people understand our values and our commitment to fighting antisemitism. We regret that,” said the statement, issued Tuesday afternoon. “Every member of our movement matters to us — including our incredible Jewish and LGBTQ members. We are deeply sorry for the harm we have caused, but we see you, we love you, and we are fighting with you.”
In her statement Tuesday, Sarsour said the group wants to have a better relationship with the Jewish community.
“Trying to dismantle oppression, while working within systems of oppression, is hard,” Sarsour wrote. “We are deeply invested in building better and deeper relationships with the Jewish community. And we’re committed to deepening relationships with any community who has felt left out of this movement. We want to create space where all are welcome.”
The statement strikes somewhat of a different tone from one Sarsour published Monday, in which she again distanced the group from Farrakhan, but also suggested that criticism of the Women’s March was a deflection from focusing on antisemitism from the far-right. She said that the underlying reason people criticize her is not because of associations with Farrakhan but because she is a Palestinian-American.
