'Banning the Star of David in their parade is anti-Semitic, plain and simple,' said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League. Jewish groups condemned the ban, saying it smacked of anti-Semitism and sowed division within the gay community. 'There are so many other ways that we can represent our Jewishness, we just have to make that choice to be in solidarity with Palestine,' said the 24-year-old who 'proudly' wears a Star of David around her neck. The Israeli flag represents 'settler colonial government, a lot of violence against Palestinians, a lot of things that I don't want at this march,' organizer Yael Horowitz told AFP. Taking place a day before the city's annual Gay Pride parade and attended by hundreds of people in downtown Washington, the 'DC Dyke March' was held from 1993 until 2007, returning this year to protest the rising cost of housing in the city.īut controversy emerged when the organizers of the event banned the Jewish pride flag, a rainbow banner bearing the Star of David that they said too closely resembles the Israeli flag and violated the march's ban on 'nationalist symbols.' Washington: Lesbians marched in Washington on Friday to protest gentrification even as controversy over a ban on a Jewish symbol threatened to overshadow the march, which was returning to the streets after a 12-year break.
