April Powers spoke to Bari Weiss's newsletter to describe how she was hounded from her job by an online mob after she posted a Facebook message, in her role as chief inclusion officer, condemning anti-Semitism
A black Jewish woman has described being 'terrorized online' for writing a Facebook post condemning anti-Semitic attacks - a post which ultimately forced her from her job.
April Powers was appointed the first chief equity and inclusion officer of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators in June 2020.
On Tuesday she spoke to Common Sense with Bari Weiss to describe how she was hounded out of her job within a year of being appointed, because of her religion.
'It was, 'You're Jewish, you can't be in a role like this,' she told Weiss' newsletter.
'I lost credibility in that exchange because I'm Jewish.'
The story began in May, as the Israel-Palestine conflict was unfolding and Jewish Americans were being targeted by pro-Palestine protesters.
Powers, horrified by scenes in Los Angeles of Jews being attacked in the street, decided to post a statement condemning anti-Semitism.
Powers' post, on June 10, was in response to a spate of attacks on Jews in the United States
'The SCBWI unequivocally recognizes that the world's 14.7 million Jewish people (less than 0.018% of the population) have the right to life, safety, and freedom from scapegoating and fear,' she wrote.
'No person should be at risk because of their heritage, religion, disability, or whom they love.'
Powers pointed out that anti-Semitism has seen a marked increase in recent years, and added: 'As writers, illustrators, and translators of children's literature, we are responsible for promoting equity and humanizing people in our work-all children and all families.
'Silence is often mistaken for acceptance and results in the perpetration of more hatred and violence against different types of people.'
Powers's June 10 post was intended as a move towards tolerance and peace - yet backfired
Yet the response to her June 10 post surprised her.
'I was terrorized online,' she said.
I'm still receiving horrible messages. I wasn't willing to endure that for any job.'
Her initial
