Sarah Silverman: Star of David Must Not Be Banned, It Represents All Jews

Silverman made the comments against the backdrop of two events in Chicago where the star has been banned as a symbol of Zionism

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Sarah Silverman at an appearance in Los Angeles in June, 2017
Mario Anzuoni/ Reuters

American-Jewish comedian Sarah Silverman came out on Wednesday in support of the Star of David as a symbol representing all Jews. Silverman, who has been a vocal opponent of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, made the comments against the backdrop of efforts to ban the Star of David, as a symbol of Zionism at two events this summer in Chicago.

Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Silverman said banning the Star of David is like banning the American flag out of hatred of U.S. President Donald Trump. "Aw friends- the Star of David reps all Jews- 2ban it is like banning the American flag bc u hate trump – misplaced," she tweeted.

In  June, three participants in a Chicago of the Dyke March, an LGBT event, were ejected for carrying a gay pride flag featuring the Star of David. March organizers said the women were excluded because they were carrying flags reminiscent of the Israeli flag at an anti-Zionist event and had “repeatedly expressed support for Zionism during conversations” with other marchers.

Organizers in Chicago of August's SlutWalk, an annual international protest against sexual assault, have reportedly announced that they will follow suit and also ban the flag with the Star of David.

Sarah Silverman was one of the contributors to "The Jubilee Haggadah" issued by the joint Israel-Diaspora anti-occupation group Save Israel, Stop Occupation to mark the 50th anniversary of the occupation of the West Bank. In her contribution to the edition of the Passover Haggadah, Silverman wrote: “It seems natural to link the jubilee mitzvah with the festival of freedom and to use the story told in the Haggadah to help explain why the occupation must end,” she says.

With reporting from JTA.

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