Protesters gather outside ZOA gala in NYC where Steve Bannon was slated to speak
Protesters gathered outside of the Grand Hyatt hotel in New York City Sunday evening, where the 2016 Zionist Organization of America annual gala was being held.
Brietbart News Executive Chairman Steve Bannon, who has recently been appointed chief strategist to President-elect Donald Trump, was expected to speak at the annual ZOA dinner. It would have been the first time he spoke since being named by Trump as chief strategist and senior counselor.
However, Bannon did not show up to the event after-all. It is unclear why.
Jeremy Zelinger, a member of the NYC chapter of “If Not Now,” a self-described left-leaning Jewish group, told CBS News hundreds showed up for the protest. “If Not Now” helped organize the protest, he said.
“There were hundreds of people from across the Jewish community,” Zelinger, who lives in NYC, said.
Zelinger said the event, in his view, was an example of the coziness of ZOA with power, “rather than standing up for values.”
The dinner was honoring businessman and philanthropist Bernie Marcus, Republican Rep. Ed Royce, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations Danny Danon and lawyer, jurist and author Alan Dershowitz.
Protesters took to social media to share videos and photos of the rally outside of the dinner, many using the hashtags #StopBannon, #FireBannon and #JewishResistance.
JVP on the streets of NY to #StopBannon @naomi_dann @ariwohlfeiler @alanakrivokaufm @RVilkomerson https://t.co/m5nN9kTkOq pic.twitter.com/2FSrFjwHOq
— JewishVoiceForPeace (@jvplive) November 21, 2016
Huge turnout of Jews and Muslims against Islamophobia and Antisemitism #JewishResistance #firebannon @IfNotNowOrg @ZOA_National pic.twitter.com/BuI548zGq8
— (((Jeremy Swack))) (@jdaswack) November 20, 2016
The #JewishResistance is strong - hundreds outside ZOA Gala protesting Islamophobia and Antisemitism and call to #firebannon. pic.twitter.com/SSqOwu6klB
— Gili Getz (@giligetz) November 20, 2016
"Never again is now!"- #FireBannon protest marching in NYC near ZOA gala where Bannon is speaking. #JewishResistance pic.twitter.com/1b5r2U5GFA
— Ash J (@AshAgony) November 20, 2016
"We are here for Muslims. We are here for queer folk. We are here for immigrants. We are here for women." Beginning of #JewishResistance pic.twitter.com/TCDdVk2Smp
— Sasha Rayzl Lansky (@SSRayzl) November 21, 2016
#JewishResistance floods the streets against racism, sexism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism. #FireBannon! pic.twitter.com/yfEvldM9wl
— JFREJ (@JFREJNYC) November 20, 2016
ZOA National describes itself as an organization working to strengthen U.S.-Israel relations through educational activities, public affairs programs, lobbying Capitol Hill, and by combating anti-Israel bias.