Westchester County Executive George Latimer cancelled plans to read during children’s story time at the Town of Pelham Public Library last Wednesday after the Instagram account for the group Pelham for Palestine called on its supporters to protest the event.
Latimer said on Tuesday night he received a call from Pelham Library Director Augusta Turner about the Instagram post on the action “planned for when I arrived on Wednesday.”
“I made the decision with Augusta to cancel my appearance,” Latimer said.
In the post, Pelham for Palestine (@pelham4palestine) called on the “Pelham justice and solidarity community to protest this event tomorrow. Genocide supporter Latimer should not be allowed to read to our children while he shamelessly ignores, and quietly supports, the mass slaughter and maiming of Gaza’s children.”
“Bring your children’s book oriented protest signs, and remember to be kind and gentle as we’ll be in the presence of children,” said the post. The Instagram account has 345 followers.
Latimer said, “I do not support/advocate the genocide of children. I want peace. And that means to stop Israeli action against Gaza, as well as a release of the hostages.”
“We did the right thing,” said Latimer. “I think it was questionable to protest at a public library where there are little kids, and I am only there to read a children’s book. The protests were a poor choice of venue.”
Latimer is running in November as the Democratic candidate for Congress in the district that includes Pelham.
According to Turner, “Story time at the Pelham Library is intended to be a joyful and relaxed program for babies and toddlers, promoting a love of reading and music. The well-being of the children and their caregivers is our primary concern. We agreed with George Latimer that it was in the children’s best interest to cancel the program to avoid any possible confusion or distress.”
No protests were reported to have taken place at the library.
On Instagram, Pelham for Palestine describes itself as “citizens of Pelham, Pelham Manor and surrounding areas expressing our solidarity with the people of Palestine! We call for a ceasefire now!”
dawn Vetrano • Jul 30, 2024 at 7:34 am
Sorry day for Pelham, when we have Palestine supporters threaten to demonstrate during children’s reading hour. This after 12 Israeli children were bombed by Hezbollah.
Scott-Robert Shenkman • Jul 29, 2024 at 6:58 pm
This is the United States of America. This is not Gaza. I have right to walk around in my town, state or country without being harassed.
Incidentally, over 250,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed in the past two? Where is that outrage? Ukrainian children have a right to life as much as Palestinian or Israeli children.