What happened: Ta-Nehisi Coates, the multimillionaire "antiracist" author described by the New York Times as one of America's "most influential intellectuals and writers," spearheaded an open letter blaming Israel for "the catastrophe unfolding in Gaza."
• Coates signed the letter—addressed to "the international community"—along with several dozen other "writers and artists who have been to Palestine to participate in the Palestine Festival of Literature."
What they're saying: The so-called writers and artists accused the United States and other Western governments of enabling Israel's campaign of "ethnic cleansing" in Gaza and whitewashed the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists on October 7, in an egregiously worded passage containing one of the most horrific examples of the passive voice.
• "On Saturday, after sixteen years of siege, Hamas militants broke out of Gaza," they wrote. "More than 1,300 Israelis were subsequently killed with over one hundred more taken hostage."
• Correction: On Saturday, Hamas terrorists murdered more than 1,300 Israelis and took more than 100 hostages.
• Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, recently scolded MSNBC journalists for describing Hamas terrorists as "militants" or "fighters."
• The writers went on to say they "deplore the loss of all innocent life," but it was not exactly clear whether they consider the murdered Israelis to be innocent.
Why it matters: Coates is one of the most highly compensated "experts" on "racial justice" and "white supremacy," raking in more than $40,000 for hour-long speaking engagements. He is especially revered by white liberals who posted a black square on their Instagram accounts during the Black Lives Matter riots of 2020.
• Black Lives Matter groups across the country have defended the Hamas atrocities against Israeli civilians or refused to condemn affiliates that glorified the attacks.
Bottom line: Jewish lives matter.