Mayor Changes Stance on Holocaust Survivor Speaking Engagement
Mayor Eric Adams backtracked on his earlier position Thursday, admitting that Holocaust survivor Sami Steigman should have been allowed to address students about anti-Semitism at a Brooklyn middle school.
Initially, the mayor’s office backed the decision by MS 447’s principal, Alyn Rush, to prevent the 85-year-old from speaking at Boerum Hill. However, Adams later clarified that this statement was made too hastily.
“I’ve met Sami Steigman, and he is undoubtedly the right person to talk to kids about the Holocaust,” he stated in a post on X late Wednesday.
The situation became contentious after it was reported that principal Alyn Rush denied Steigman the chance to speak due to his strong pro-Israel views. Steigman asserted that his intention was solely to discuss the Holocaust and anti-Semitism, not current Middle Eastern affairs. If he could have communicated this, he would have assured her of that.
Yet, despite these clarifications, Steigman remains without a venue to speak. The mayor’s office had initially confirmed Rush’s decision, with a spokesperson stating that Steigman was “not the right person” for this engagement, promising to find other speakers with similar backgrounds.
Steigman responded by condemning the administration’s actions, accusing schools of censorship. Adams eventually retracted his previous statement made around midnight.
“Currently, I’m in New Orleans for a conference on combating anti-Semitism and was troubled to read about this incident where a school didn’t allow a Holocaust survivor to speak,” he remarked. “It’s regrettable that my office put out a statement suggesting he wasn’t an appropriate speaker.”
Adams highlighted the importance of sharing Holocaust stories, especially given the rising anti-Semitism faced by the Jewish community worldwide. He will leave office at the end of the month and has consistently shown support for Israel.
The Department of Education also echoed the initial stance against Steigman speaking but has yet to respond to inquiries for further comment.
