Submitted by Noah Finz, Old Greenwich
To the group of Greenwich residents who recently defended the deportation of a vocal Palestinian and Hamas supporter, I share your disdain for him. (GROUP LETTER: Urso’s Letter on Mahmoud Khalil Omits Relevant Facts March 21, 2025)
I want to make it clear that this response is not in support of him, but rather in support of an American foundational virtue that we, as Jews, need to protect.
Like many Jews, I grew up under the mantra of “Never again.” And so, when I hear of any rhetoric attacking the Jewish people I am enraged. The Jews are arguably the most persecuted people in world history and recent events have shown that anti-semitism is alive and well.
Understanding that, how could I possibly support a government rounding people up and sending them away without due process, even someone who says and does things that offend me and my people.
If a person, any person, is convicted of a crime – by all means follow the penal code and administer justice. But, we don’t punish people because they offend or we think they committed a crime.
If the administration is able to administer its own version of justice based on what it thinks, where does it leave us, the Jewish people? Let us not forget history. People were rounded up and sent away because the Nazis thought they were a threat.
That is not ok with me.
Never again.