NY parade organizer defends right to protest at march after Rothman seized demonstrator’s megaphone

NEW YORK — The organizer of New York’s Celebrate Israel Parade, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York’s CEO Gideon Taylor, says the event aims to bring together different perspectives and that there is a right to protest, after controversy sparked by MK Simcha Rothman, when he seized a protester’s megaphone on Friday.

Asked about the incident, and protesters’ demand that Rothman be disinvited from the parade, Taylor says, “We believe the protesters have a right to protest. That’s an important part of democracy.”

“As to who’s here, the Knesset designates what Knesset members come to participate in the parade. What’s most important for us is that there are voices here from across the spectrum of Jewish life, people with different perspectives and that those voices are here and heard at this parade and I believe today we have that.”

Several hundred protesters are set to march during the parade. They wear shirts reading “Marching for democracy “ and “Zionism=democracy,” wave Israeli flags, and shout chants from the anti-judicial overhaul protest movement in Israel.