BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Dan Kroll said the shirts stood out at Christkindlmarkt.
Two men wearing white T-shirts with the words “It’s Okay To Be White” were among a group of four men talking loudly among themselves Sunday – the last day of the Christmas market at SteelStacks in Bethlehem, Kroll said.
- At least 2 men wearing shirts that said 'It's Okay To Be White' created a disturbance at Christkindlmarkt, a patron said
- The men were part of a group of 4 espousing antisemitic views, he said
- Market organizer ArtsQuest issued a statement in response
Two of the men were saying that Jews were responsible for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to Kroll. On Facebook, he wrote they were “espousing their hate to anyone that would listen.”
Kroll said he was disgusted.
“People had clearly heard them because there were people who were not part of that, who were having discussions about what the men in the T-shirts were discussing,” Kroll said, referring to Christkindlmarkt shoppers.
Kroll said he looked around inside the market for a staff member but was only able to find vendors. When he couldn’t find anyone, and no one else around him seemed bothered by what he saw, he said, he left.
“At that point, I was like, ‘You know what? I'm done with this,’” he said. “Seeing and hearing what was going on, I couldn't stay there anymore.”
On Sunday night, market organizerArtsQuest issued a statement.
“Earlier today, ArtsQuest was made aware of reports that a patron at Christkindlmarkt was spreading antisemitic hate speech and conspiracy theories,” said the nonprofit group.
“To be clear, hatred has no place in our diverse community, nor is it welcome in our beloved Christmas City, or at any ArtsQuest sponsored event.”
— ArtsQuest (@ArtsQuest) December 19, 2022
Also swift to condemn the incident was the community relations council of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley (JFLV). It issued a letter to members Sunday night saying the federation was informed at least four people were seen wearing the shirts.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, “It’s Okay To Be White” is a slogan popularized in 2017 on the online message board 4chan and adopted by white supremacists.
The shirts also said this, according to the Jewish Federation's letter: "Less than 1% of White US Households Owned Slaves but Every Slave Ship & Auction was Owned by Jews.”
The ArtsQuest statement didn’t mention the slogan or the shirts, and provided no specifics on whether or how anyone was removed from the market.
The incident occurred Sunday afternoon in the waning hours of the annual attraction, and shortly before the start of Hanukkah, which began Sunday at sunset. Also known as the Jewish Festival of Lights, Hanukkah marks the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century B.C. following victory over the Syrians.
ArtsQuest noted the timing of the incident in its statement.
“Hatred must be called out when we witness it, especially on this, the first day of Hanukkah."Statement by ArtsQuest
“Bethlehem was founded on the principle of religious freedom, and we support that freedom for everyone, including our friends in the Jewish Community,” it said. “Hatred must be called out when we witness it, especially on this, the first day of Hanukkah.
“We are encouraged by the amount of people who recognize the importance of our diversity and celebrate it.”
Jewish Federation response
The JFLV's community relations council said it had been in contact with ArtsQuest President and CEO Kassie Hilgert. ArtsQuest will review its policies to prepare for any similar circumstances, the council's letter said.
A couple of hours after the encounter, Kroll told LehighValleyNews.com he remained stunned.
“You go to a Christmas village to try to celebrate the holiday, and the last thing that you expect is for people to be walking around wearing antisemitic T-shirts,” he said. “When you see it firsthand, it's more real than seeing the videos and reading in the newspaper. And that, in and of itself, is – I'm still trying to sort of process it.”
While alarmed by the incident, the JFLV's council said it was encouraged by the mayors of Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton recently signing proclamations against antisemitism.
"Despite this incident, we should be mindful of the wonderful support we have received and are continuing to receive from the non-Jewish community across the Lehigh Valley in response to increasing antisemitism," said the letter signed by Jewish Federation President Robby Wax, Executive Director Jeri Zimmerman and Aaron Gorodzinsky, director of campaign and security planning.
They invited others to join in celebrating Hanukkah and denouncing hate.
On Monday, Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds will participate with interfaith leaders in the annual menorah-lighting. It is set for 5:30 p.m. at Payrow Plaza in the city and is sponsored by Chabad of the Lehigh Valley.
Earlier this month, members of Bethlehem City Council walked out of a council meeting as a resident made antisemitic remarks. Sunday's incident at Christkindlmarkt is the latest in a string locally and across the nation.
