City Council Member Pulls Funding for Museum After It Banned Ron DeSantis From Speaking

Ron DeSantis is known for his enlightened defenses of American exceptionalism. He does not back down from declaring the full story when it comes to America’s coveted place in the world — at the top of the food chain, so to speak.

But less talked about is his championship of Israel. He is America First, but his attachment to the Holy Land is nearly unmatched in contemporary political discourse. As we reported earlier this year, he said the following about Israel:

I promised to be the most pro-Israel Governor in America and our bold agenda for my upcoming Business Development Mission to Israel includes many historic firsts and strengthens Florida’s ties with Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East.

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 24, 2019

That’s why it is truly baffling that the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, which styles itself a monument to the Jews who lost their lives during the Holocaust, may have taken action to cancel DeSantis from speaking at Tikyah’s Leadership summit.

The supposed cancelation of DeSantis from speaking comes on the heels of his support for a prudent new anti-groomer bill, improperly called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by the lying left. In a Washington Post piece, the conference organizers opined the following:

“We thought it would be interesting to invite Ron DeSantis… to the Jewish leadership Conference, an annual gathering to consider the challenges facing the Jewish people and Israel…

We thought it would be interesting to invite Gov. Ron DeSantis to discuss how the “Florida model” has contributed to the growth and vitality of Jewish life in his state. The event was to be held at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City.

Until, as the saying goes, we got canceled… Either we disinvite the governor, they said, or our event was unwelcome … through the modern age, Jews have suffered the consequences of this kind of intolerance.

We know things are bad when a Jewish museum turns on its own… and makes a virtue of its own intolerance”

The Holocaust Museum contested this report stating in a tweet:

No one was banned or cancelled. Read our full statement about a factually inaccurate opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal @wsj about a rental request that was denied. pic.twitter.com/GgsLrHlQrG

— MuseumJewishHeritage (@MJHnews) May 6, 2022

Whatever the case may be, it was enough for a New York Republican to take action.

Not buying this. There are multiple reports indicating staff was against this.Will you allow @RonDeSantisFL to speak at @MJHnews? If you’re committed to welcoming “elected officials from all spectrums,”invite him to address an audience. I’ll be glad to arrange. @ChristinaPushaw https://t.co/VTjFHyV7Sr

— Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (@InnaVernikov) May 6, 2022

Resultantly, Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, a Ukrainian-American Jew, said she will pull her discretionary funding from the Museum:

My open letter to donors of @MJHnews pic.twitter.com/DRqreyZ2vr

— Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (@InnaVernikov) May 9, 2022

The Museum of Jewish Heritage, an institution that pledges to promote tolerance and inclusion, excludes @GovRonDeSantis from attending an event on their premises.

My response with Minority Leader @JoeBorelliNYC, in a letter to @MJHnews CEO Jack Kliger: https://t.co/I8AVVUkWlF pic.twitter.com/JKXbgdtcjI

— Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (@InnaVernikov) May 5, 2022

The last two sentences of the first tweet ring loud and clear:

“I was happy to contribute some of my discretionary funding to The Museum of Jewish Heritage for the great work they do. I am now pulling that funding and I am asking you to do the same. 

This move should send a strong message to the leadership of the museum: DO NOT politicize the Holocaust! Just teach it.”

According to the New York Post, these discretionary funds total $5,000 — a not so insignificant total. Perhaps this will tell those who push for cancelations (if they did so) all they need to know — if they try to cancel Governor DeSantis, a major inverse reaction will be taken against them.