Martins’ hypocritical condemnation of Roger Waters

The Island Now

Last week, musician Roger Waters performed at Nassau Coliseum. 

This caused some controversy due to Waters’ support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which calls for an economic and political boycott of Israel.

I’m not going to argue on behalf of supporters or critics of BDS in this letter. 

I am, however, going to call out Republican candidate for Nassau County executive Jack Martins for his insincere and hypocritical condemnation of anti-Semitism and white supremacy in response to Waters’ visit.

On Aug. 12, one hour after peaceful counterprotester Heather Heyer was murdered in Charlottesville, Va. by white supremacist James Alex Fields Jr. (who also injured 19 others), Martins posted the following on his campaign’s Facebook page.

“There’s no place for racism or bigotry, Period.  Our thoughts & prayers are w/ #Charlottesville.  Violence is not the answer.”

At the time, Martins didn’t think it was important to call a spade a spade and condemn white supremacists by name.  He also didn’t think it was important to issue a formal statement on the matter.

Martins also never explained what he meant by, “Violence is not the answer.” 

Was he telling the white supremacists at last month’s “Unite the Right” rally to ply their hate in a more peaceful way?  Was he blaming counterprotesters, like Heyer, for the violence?

Like his protégé, state Sen. Elaine Phillips, Martins failed to defend Jewish, African-American and other minority members of the Long Island community in a timely manner following the Charlottesville incident.

In contrast, Martins issued a fiery condemnation of Waters in advance of the musician’s visit to Nassau County, stating the following:

“Whether you are a white supremacist, anti-Semite or a bigot, if you are spewing hate-filled rhetoric you have no right to a taxpayer-funded contract.”

Martins also bragged that, as a state senator, he had worked closely with his “friend and colleague,” state Sen. Simcha Felder, to advance anti-BDS legislation.

It’s interesting that Martins considers Waters’ advocacy on behalf of the BDS movement a threat to the Jewish community, but wasn’t particularly concerned by torch-wielding KKK members, neo-Nazis and other white supremacists chanting, “Blood and soil,” and, “Jews will not replace us.”  (At least he wasn’t concerned enough to issue a formal press release.)

It’s also interesting that he chose to highlight his relationship with Sen. Felder, considering the post-Charlottesville controversy involving one of Sen. Felder’s staffers.

For those who did not follow the controversy, a constituent of Felder’s contacted the senator’s office, asking him to condemn Donald Trump’s statements blaming “both sides” for the violence in Charlottesville.

Felder aide Darlene Leder told the constituent that the Charlottesville incident was a false-flag operation and followed up the conversation by emailing the constituent an article from a right-wing conspiracy website.

The article falsely claimed that Fields had ties to Hillary Clinton and George Soros and that Fields had been put up to plowing his car into the crowd in Charlottesville.

Although there is no proof that Felder, himself, believes these abhorrent lies, this incident does undermine Martins’ suggestion that his work with Felder proves what a great advocate he is for the Jewish community.

Like Felder, Martins only pretends to confront anti-Semitism when it’s politically convenient for him to do so and excuses or ignores anti-Semitism when it’s not. 

That is the real outrage, here (not Waters’ visit), and further proof that Martins is unfit to lead Nassau County.

Matthew Zeidman

New Hyde Park

Share this Article