County supervisors compared to fascists as pro-Palestinian comments heat up

By Katie Northcott

During its July 15 business meeting, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors left the dais after a pro-Palestinian public comment speaker compared the supervisors to fascists.

This is the latest in a saga that began in April 2024 when Supervisor Juli Briskman (D-Algonkian) released a statement on Board of Supervisors letterhead asking for a ceasefire from the state of Israel. The statement alarmed Loudoun’s Jewish community and seemed to embolden Loudoun residents who were already asking the Board to pass a ceasefire resolution directed at Israel.

Fast forward a year and a half and public comments made to the Board are polarized between comments calling for divestment from Israel and comments concerned about antisemitic rhetoric being allowed in the board room.

“[Briskman] has divided a county between the Jewish community and the Muslim community with no benefit at all to its residents,” Loudoun resident Donna Widawski said in May 2024.

This dialogue comes in the context of an entire nation addressing high rates of antisemitism. On June 14, The New York Times published an op-ed titled “Antisemitism Is an Urgent Problem. Too Many People Are Making Excuses.” The Times reported that, according to data from the F.B.I., Gallup, Pew Research Center, and U.S. Census Bureau, Jews experience hate crimes at the highest rate in the nation.

“And history offers a grim lesson: An increase in antisemitism often accompanies a rise in other hateful violence and human rights violations. Societies that make excuses for attacks against one minority group rarely stop there,” The Times’ editorial board said.

As federal lawmakers attempt to address antisemitism through legislation, supervisors have addressed concern about antisemitism in various ways.

Supervisor Kristen Umstattd (D-Leesburg) consistently identifies antisemitic statements made during public comment. According to Umstattd, commenters use antisemitic language when they say, “bad evening to the Zionists” and “Free Palestine” or when they call Jews “Zio-Nazis.” She also considers accusing Israel of committing genocide and apartheid to be antisemitic.

Supervisors Caleb Kershner (R-Catoctin) and Matthew Letourneau (R-Dulles) have also expressed concern over antisemitic public comments made in the board room. At times, they have associated themselves with Umstattd’s statements. Briskman has expressed regret.

“It would be inappropriate for us to do any resolution or speak out on this topic. I made a mistake when I did so and made a mistake about putting it on my county letterhead,” she said in November.

On June 1, an anti-Jewish terror attack in Boulder, Co. put further pressure on the supervisors to act. On June 17, speakers during public comment noted similarities between Loudoun and Boulder leading up to the attack.

“Like Loudoun, the Boulder City Council was also flooded with antisemitic rhetoric, which was ignored,” Joel Pozmanski said. “A cautionary tale of what happens when antisemitism festers.”

In Boulder, Mohamed Sabry Soliman attacked a peaceful gathering that was raising awareness for Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Soliman injured multiple victims. He reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” during the attack.

According to an article from Boulder Reporting Lab titled “Pearl Street attack intensifies tensions over antisemitism at Boulder City Council,” a year and a half ago, some Boulder citizens began asking the Boulder City Council to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Over the past year and a half, tensions have escalated. In the months leading up to the attack, the comments have escalated to “personal attacks directed at Jewish councilmembers.” One councilmember has repeatedly been called a Nazi.

“No one is saying city council meetings had anything to do with Sunday’s attack. But the overlap in rhetoric is expected to heighten tensions, as some councilmembers worry that language used during public comment lays the groundwork for acts of violence,” senior reporter John Herrick wrote for Boulder Reporting Lab.

Since Loudoun resident James Russell first came to the Board asking for a ceasefire resolution, the tension in Loudoun County—inside and outside the boardroom—has been escalating.

According to Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent Aaron Spence, antisemitism has begun trickling into Loudoun’s schools from outside sources. On June 3, Aaron Spence released a statement condemning antisemitism and calling Loudoun County residents to foster a compassionate environment.

“I am writing to share our deep concern about a troubling increase in antisemitic language and commentary in our community, particularly on social media, in the wake of targeted attacks on members of the Jewish community across our country,” Spence wrote in his statement. “While much of this activity may occur outside the walls of our schools, its impact reverberates within them—deeply affecting our students, staff and families.”

Supervisors face a tough question about how to do their part to address antisemitic rhetoric. They must tread the line between violating residents’ first amendment rights and allowing violence-inciting speech.

On June 19, LoudounNow conducted a reader poll titled “Should our local governing bodies place additional limits on public comments at meetings?” Forty-seven percent of voters said, “Yes, limit to agenda topics.” Thirty-five percent said, “No, this is the public’s time.” Thirteen percent said, “Yes, limit to local topics.” Four percent said, “Yes, limit the comment period.” One percent said, “Stop allowing comments at meetings.”

In July, Chair Phyllis Randall (D-At Large) began prioritizing residents who signed up to speak on agenda items. At the July 15 meeting, she warned that she would interrupt speakers and ask them to sit down if they veered off topic. This became a point of conflict when five speakers attempted to tie a proposed data center to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. 

One speaker, Sarah Husein-Bazar, continued to yell after being asked to sit down.

“This is sounding like fascism to me,” she said.

Randall ruled Husein-Bazar out of order, and the supervisors left the dais.

“If you want to speak on any issue, you can. Put it on the agenda that you’re going to speak on that issue,” Randall said after returning to the dais nine minutes later.

After Randall’s comment, two more speakers attempted to tie the data center vote to the Middle Eastern conflict. These speakers, James Russell and Maya Smith, also continued to speak after being asked to sit down.

“I didn’t forget. Bad evening to the Zionists,” Smith said.

“Thanks for responding to fascism by silencing Arab women,” Russell said.

Other pro-Palestinian speakers expressed outrage about how Randall ran the public comment period.

“In this room, we have bigger problems than data centers,” Zeina Hutchison said. “The suppression of speech and the disrespect for the speakers that have abided by the rules day in and day out is absolutely unacceptable.”

Umstattd said Randall “handled herself well in a tough position.”