August 31, 2007 To the San Francisco Arts Commission: We, the undersigned, are Jewish supporters of the H.O.M.E.Y. mural entitled: \"SOLIDARITY - BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS.\" We want to affirm our support for the H.O.M.E.Y. artists in their expression of the global connections between current and historical experiences of oppression, displacement, and resistance. It has come to our attention that the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) has complained about the HOMEY mural in the name of the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish community and we therefore feel it is imperative that you hear from a broader spectrum of organized Jews not represented by JCRC. Our support for this mural stems from our historical Jewish experience that includes oppression and resistance. We therefore stand in solidarity, as Jews, with local communities in their struggle for self-determination and their self-expression. The section of the mural in question depicts the histories, hopes and experiences of Palestinians living in the Mission and Bay Area. By including both the walls being built in Mexico/US and Palestine/Israel, the H.O.M.E.Y. artists have realized the mural theme of \"breaking down barriers,\" poignantly illustrating connections between these communities. This builds rather than divides communities. In addition, the destruction caused by the aforementioned Walls extends beyond their geographic locations and is metaphorically and symbolically experienced by both Latinos and Arabs. In 2004, the International Court of Justice, the highest legal body in the World, condemned the wall that Israel is building in Palestine and ruled that it must be dismantled. Palestinians, Jews, Internationals and Israelis have been protesting the wall weekly since its construction began in 2002. Similarly, the wall on the US/Mexico border has been condemned and publicly protested. Oppression and resistance are part of the shared culture and experience of immigrant and communities of color in the Mission. Lastly, we also want to challenge the notion that depictions of Palestinian experience and resistance is inherently violent or anti-Jewish. We acknowledge that anti-Semitism exists and it is important to note that nothing in the mural is anti-Semitic or anti-Jewish. Palestinian representation in the public sphere has been historically silenced, targeted, made invisible and often cannot exist as a legitimate experience on its own. Palestinians are seen and heard only in relation to Israelis or Jews. We support how this mural disrupts that racist tradition. We want to formally acknowledge that there is a vibrant and large Arab and Palestinian community living in the San Francisco Bay Area. We recognize their right to be present and to genuine visual representation in their neighborhoods. We support the H.O.M.E.Y. youth in their artistic and political spirit. May we all have the courage to breakdown the walls that divide us from justice and peace. Sincerely,

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