NEW OPENINGS

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BY BRUCE GOLDBERG SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

It seems so long ago, but there was a time that Jewish people and Black people banded together to help push the nation’s civil rights agenda across the nish line.

But that was in the 1960s. Today, the two groups barely seem to know each other and relations are hindered by mistrust, misunderstanding and anger from both communities. It comes during a period of white supremacists increasing attacks — physical and through social media — against both groups.

Still, if Denver’s Caren Press has her way, the two groups gradually will move closer via the organization she recently formed, called “ e Denver Dialogue: A Conversation Between Denver Blacks and Jews.” e group conducted a frank talk about the tensions between the two communities and how to close that gap.

Press was spurred to action after hearing the anti-Semitic attacks by Kanye West a few months ago.

After a preliminary meeting a few months ago at a Montbello barber shop, the second gathering drew more than 100 people to George Washington High School’s library on March 15.

“We want to address some of the issues between the two groups and see if there is a way both can work together to combat white supremacy,” said Press, a retired attorney. “ is grassroots movement is not controlled by any church, synagogue, school district or advocacy group. It’s our communities coming together with no agenda other than understanding, reconciliation and combining to ght the white nationalists that want to destroy us both.”

White nationalist groups send out a steady stream of fake news lies, and anti-Semitic and racist material and tropes.

“ is group ( e Denver Dia-

Easter Sunday

logue) would like to begin a dialogue and see if the relationship can be repaired to at least work together to ght this common adversary,” Press said.

e March 15 event was a breakthrough, and some attendees suggested not only more gatherings, but also some with a social bent, such as a barbecue. ere was a frankness, as some Jewish attendees said they didn’t know any Black people, and some Black attendees said the same about Jews.

e gathering not only enabled people to learn about others, but also helped debunk some of the supremacists’ messages.

Israel’s relations with Palestine was a hot topic on March 15 — and some of the Black attendees were interested to learn that not all Jews felt the same way about Israel’s actions. Jews in attendance learned that some Black people were horried by what West had to say. at can help open some doors.

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“Anti-Semitism is a real thing,” said Evan Weissman, an activist with Warm Cookies of the Revolution and one of the two guest speakers on March 15. “For a lot of White Jews in the Denver area, it’s not something that’s felt in the same ways as systemic institutional prejudice is. Speaking for White Jewish folk: We need to be involved in racial justice e orts all the time, not just when it a ects Jews in a more direct way.” eo Wilson, a Black man who is the executive director and lead facilitator with ShopTalk Live Inc., was the event’s other speaker.

“I don’t operate from a hopeful frame,” he said. “ is is what is nec- to build this bridge. We can’t move forward unless we understand that this is what we have in common.”

Wilson has been involved in improving relations between African immigrants and Black Americans.

In summary, Press said, “It’s a waste to ght amongst ourselves. We’re putting energy into not trusting others. ere are people that want to annihilate both. It’s dumb; we should be helping each other.