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ABE WON’T BE SILENT - It’s a fair question. A necessary one.
But in these toxic times — when hate is the new black and truth has lost all meaning — I can’t give you the same answer I used to.
George Orwell said, “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
Just look at what the algorithms are shoving in our faces — and up your bums. We’ve lost control of the narrative — hijacked by bots, boosted by horrendous influencers, and bankrolled by criminally-minded billionaires.
Lunatics are in fashion — and for those of us in the know — fashion is dead.
And the end result? A tidal wave of Jew hate that feels eerily familiar.
Like 1930s Germany kind of familiar.
Let’s take a little stroll down memory lane, shall we? Back in the good old days — the “before times,” pre-October 7, 2023 — I would’ve answered that simplistic question without hesitation: “Everyone’s life matters.”
That was the whole point of my memoir, Won’t Be Silent – Don’t Stop ‘Til It Matters.
I came to believe how much mattering matters.
Look at the track record:
I’ve stood up, spoken out, and marched for everyone and their mother’s causes.
Black lives. Women’s lives. Queer lives. Asian lives. Trans lives. Immigrant lives. People with AIDS. I marched against Vietnam. I protested Iraq. I stood with our military families. And yes — even Muslim lives.
When Trump unleashed the Muslim Ban in 2017, a group of us Jews formed an Indivisible chapter. We organized — I even schlepped to meetings in the Valley — and rallied at LAX, shoulder to shoulder with our Muslim neighbors. Not because it was popular. Because it was the right thing to do.
Hell, one of my Muslim friends even introduced me to my now-Israeli husband, Shlomi. Two miracles. Neither of which, I can honestly say, would happen again today.
And you know how much I hate saying “Never Again.”
Especially when it comes to Jews and antisemitism.
Yet, here we are. Kneecap-deep in a shitstorm of Jew hate — and the silence from the many factions I’ve organically supported is deafening.
So, don’t ask me to answer “Whose life matters?” today. Maybe not ever again. Why?
Since October 7, five Jews have been murdered on American soil.
And the silence is louder than a four-alarm fire siren.
Where are the marches?
Where are the vigils?
Where is the outrage?
Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky were premeditatedly, brutally murdered, and the world blinked — and moved on.
In fact, people were celebrating.
Just like after the Twin Towers fell.
Just like they were while the October 7 massacre was still unfolding.
Can you imagine if Jews looted stores or burned down homes in response to this tragedy? No!
Do we rejoice at the number of MISREPORTED deaths in Gaza? No! We don’t.
Why?
Maybe ‘cuz we’re more fabulous than that.
Don’t be jealous.
Be like us.
Why Jews are consistently overlooked in the “caring department” is something I can’t unsee. Not while our students are being hunted. Not while antisemites are burning Israeli and American flags.
This isn’t just about Israel — or Gaza — not anymore.
You’ve made this into an American story. An American tragedy.
Who knew we’d have to say, “American Lives Matter” alongside “Jewish Lives Matter”?
This is a Civil Rights issue now.
Talk about full circle. WOW.
So now I’m asking those of you I’ve stood side by side with:
Where are you?
Are you with us — or against us?
Because if you’re not here now — then you’re nowhere.
So don’t ask me whose life matters.
Not today.
Not until this shit ends.
(ABE GURKO is the executive producer of a documentary “LOUDER: The Soundtrack of Change,” about the extraordinary Women of Protest Music streaming on MAX. He's an Opinionator who hosts a podcast, "Won't Be Silent," engaging in conversations from the edge of democracy. Abe is a contributor to CityWatchLA.com. [email protected].)
