Leaders of large sections of American Jewry today protested vigorously against Egypt’s persecutions and deportations of Jews by staging a picket line in front of the offices of Egypt’s permanent delegation to the United Nations. The demonstration was organized by a newly formed “Emergency Action for the Protection of Egyptian Jews.”
Swank Park Avenue, where Egypt maintains its New York legation, was crowded for one block with about 200 men and women–a number of the men bearded–as the orderly demonstration implored Egypt to halt the detentions and deportations. The demonstrators condemned the Cairo Government for its “unholy alliance” with “Soviet murderers.”
Dr. Israel Goldstein, president of the American Jewish Congress, led the demonstration. On the whole, it was a “leadership” demonstration, including among the picketers Ralph Plofsky, New York State commander of the Jewish War Veterans; Jacob T. Zuckerman, president of the Workmen’s Circle and vice-president of the Jewish Labor Committee; Louis Segal of the Jewish National Workers Alliance; Mrs. Deborah Ebin of the Mizrachi Women’s Organization; and representatives of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the American Zionist Council, the American Trade Union Council for Israel which includes unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO, Hadassah chapters, Pioneer Women, and many other groups. A number of members of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis were on the line.
About 30 policemen were on hand to keep order, but there was no specific need for the police patrol. At one point during the demonstration, a timid young man, obviously sent by Egyptian propagandists, distributed a few leaflets picturing victims of the British-French bombing of Port Said during the Suez action. Picketers refused to accept the leaflets.
Picket signs carried by the demonstrators proclaimed: “Nasser-Russia, Stop the Unholy Alliance Before they Plunge Us into War”; “Why is the U. N. Silent When Russia’s Stooge, Nasser, Deports Jews?” “Hitler Began His War With the Murder of Jews; Stop Russia and Nasser Now.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
