The famous American philosopher was supposed to speak at a public meeting on behalf of Jewish Voice for Peace, an anti-Zionist Jewish association that launched a call “against anti-Semitism, its instrumentalization and for revolutionary peace in Palestine.”
A new case of “cancel culture”? On Wednesday, December 6th, a public meeting entitled “Against anti-Semitism, its instrumentalization and for revolutionary peace in Palestine” was supposed to take place at the Cirque électrique in Paris, in the presence of Judith Butler, a world-renowned American philosopher. The event was canceled at the decision of the Paris city hall, as announced in a statement published on Twitter by the organizing associations. These organizations expressed their “anger and dismay.”
“Inevitable controversies” “The city of Paris justifies this request for cancellation on the grounds of possible ‘disturbances to public order’,” regret the co-organizers. Judith Butler, who is in Paris to honor a series of lectures at the Pompidou Center, was supposed to speak on behalf of the Jewish Voice for Peace, an important anti-Zionist Jewish association in the United States.
“Terrifying and revolting massacre” Judith Butler has been criticized for some of her past statements on the conflict in the Middle East since October 7th. She has been accused of sympathizing with Hamas and Hezbollah, saying that understanding them as progressive left social movements is extremely important. In response to the criticism, the 67-year-old intellectual, an icon of the queer movement, has been trying to clarify her thoughts. She condemned the violence committed by Hamas without reservation and described it as a terrifying and revolting massacre. She also questioned whether ethically, condemnation or approval is all that is demanded of us.
