Bend the Arc
Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice is a progressive Jewish political organization that blends advocacy, community organizing, and leadership training.[1][2] The organization advocates for a more equal and just society, focusing strictly on domestic issues. Bend the Arc does not deal with issues related to Israel.[3][4]
According to a profile of the group published by Tablet Magazine, they claim "to speak for American Jewry," though Bend the Arc spokesperson Logan Smith admits the group has "no active dues-paying members who participate in the shaping of their agenda."[5]
The organization was formed in 2012 from the merger of Jewish Funds for Justice and the Progressive Jewish Alliance.[6]
Bend the Arc has been noted for its work supporting the policies of the administration of former U.S. President Barack Obama and protesting the policies of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.[3][7] Leaders of the organizations have argued that Trump has emboldened white nationalism, and disrupted an October 2019 speech by Trump in Pittsburgh by chanting "Trump Endangered Jews."[8][9][10]
Stosh Cotler became Bend the Arc's Executive Vice President in 2011 and CEO in 2014.[2] When Cotler became CEO, The Forward noted that she was "one of the few women leading a national Jewish group of its size."[11]
References
- Dashefsky, Arnold; Sheskin, Ira M. (2016-02-03). American Jewish Year Book 2015: The Annual Record of the North American Jewish Communities. Springer. ISBN 9783319245058.
- "Stosh Cotler | Jewish Women's Archive". jwa.org. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
- Gruskin, Rachel Fayne (2017-01-12). "Bend the Arc Seeks Solidarity". Atlanta Jewish Times. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
- Stein, Sam (2012-07-18). "Jewish Advocacy Group Launches PAC To Take Heat Off Israel". HuffPost. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
- "Bending the Jews". Tablet Magazine. 2020-05-27. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
- "Merged social justice groups become Bend the Arc". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
- "Building A Nationwide Jewish Resistance". The Forward. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
- JTA. "14 Jewish activists arrested protesting Trump visit to Pittsburgh". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
- Phillips, Aleks. "Activists heckle 'Trump endangers Jews' during president's speech in Pittsburgh". www.thejc.com. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
- Palmer, Ewan (2019-10-24). "Jewish protesters explain why they disrupted Trump's Pittsburgh speech, blast president's "ugly rhetoric and policies of fear"". Newsweek. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
- Wiener, Julie (January 10, 2014). "Bend the Arc Leader Stosh Cotler Has Radical Streak — and Black Belt". The Forward. Retrieved 2019-10-17.