Federal COVID-19 funds were used to support the screening of an anti-Israel film, according to Somerville for Palestine, a leftwing activist group that co-hosted the event.
In an advertisement for a Wednesday screening of “Israelism” in Somerville, Massachusetts, the group claimed it was “funded in part by an American Rescue Plan Act grant from the City of Somerville.”
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed by President Joe Biden in 2021, allocated $1.9 trillion to combat the impacts of COVID.
Somerville for Palestine’s advertisement for its screening of “Israelism.” (Photo: Instagram @SomervilleforPalestine)
The post encouraged attendees to wear a mask to the event, which is typical for the meetings advertised on the group’s Instagram page, even though all mask mandates were lifted two years ago.
Somerville Nonprofits that receive up to $25,000 in ARPA funding may use it for payroll, mortgages, rent, other operating expenses, and costs associated with the mitigation or prevention of COVID-19, according to the city’s website.
The guidelines specify that funds cannot be used for “direct financing of political activities” and cannot be allocated to “political organizations.” The funding is “intended to enhance or expand services to Somerville constituents in response to COVID-19 and assist nonprofits in adjusting to the direct and indirect challenges resulting from the pandemic.”
Photo of a recent Somerville for Palestine meeting where every attendee is wearing a medical mask. (Photo: Instagram @SommervilleforPalestine)
A spokeswoman for the City of Somerville said that they requested the organizers remove city logos from the event’s promotional materials because the city was not involved with the event, though it did provide funding to a group that co-hosted the screening.
“The City did award a general ARPA grant to the nonprofit host to help maintain their facilities and reduce rental fees for their facility as part of post-COVID support so that the community could resume gathering for arts, culture, and other community events held in the space,” the spokeswoman said. “We are not involved in the selection of events to host in the facility.”
“It is correct for the nonprofit to cite general support for the organization as a whole,” she added. “It is not accurate for an individual event host using the nonprofit’s space, or for the nonprofit hosting them, to imply that the City is a supporter or co-host of the event.”
All funds must be obligated by the end of 2024 and fully spent by the end of 2026. The city has so far received $77,504,170 in ARPA funding to allocate.
Released in 2023, “Israelism” follows the journey of two young Jews becoming anti-Israel. It has been criticized for ideological propaganda and its misrepresentation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Instagram story posted by Somerville for Palestine about their “Israelism” screening that they claim was help funded by federal COVID-19 funds. (Photo: Instagram @SomervilleforPalestine)
The screening also featured a panel discussion with its director, Erin Axelman, who is based in Somerville. The event was also co-hosted with IfNotNow, a radical leftist Jewish anti-Israel group.
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Somerville for Palestine, which has accused Israel of genocide, has been actively involved in anti-Israel activism since Hamas’ brutal attack on Israeli civilians on October 7. On June 15, the group hosted an event advocating for “teaching Palestine in our schools.”
“Learn about how the student and teacher solidarity movements for Palestinian liberation and how we can make Palestine a part of our curriculum!” an advertisement for the post read.
Somerville for Palestine did not respond to a request for comment.
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[[{“value”:”
Federal COVID-19 funds were used to support the screening of an anti-Israel film, according to Somerville for Palestine, a leftwing activist group that co-hosted the event.
In an advertisement for a Wednesday screening of “Israelism” in Somerville, Massachusetts, the group claimed it was “funded in part by an American Rescue Plan Act grant from the City of Somerville.”
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed by President Joe Biden in 2021, allocated $1.9 trillion to combat the impacts of COVID.
Somerville for Palestine’s advertisement for its screening of “Israelism.” (Photo: Instagram @SomervilleforPalestine)
The post encouraged attendees to wear a mask to the event, which is typical for the meetings advertised on the group’s Instagram page, even though all mask mandates were lifted two years ago.
Somerville Nonprofits that receive up to $25,000 in ARPA funding may use it for payroll, mortgages, rent, other operating expenses, and costs associated with the mitigation or prevention of COVID-19, according to the city’s website.
The guidelines specify that funds cannot be used for “direct financing of political activities” and cannot be allocated to “political organizations.” The funding is “intended to enhance or expand services to Somerville constituents in response to COVID-19 and assist nonprofits in adjusting to the direct and indirect challenges resulting from the pandemic.”
Photo of a recent Somerville for Palestine meeting where every attendee is wearing a medical mask. (Photo: Instagram @SommervilleforPalestine)
A spokeswoman for the City of Somerville said that they requested the organizers remove city logos from the event’s promotional materials because the city was not involved with the event, though it did provide funding to a group that co-hosted the screening.
“The City did award a general ARPA grant to the nonprofit host to help maintain their facilities and reduce rental fees for their facility as part of post-COVID support so that the community could resume gathering for arts, culture, and other community events held in the space,” the spokeswoman said. “We are not involved in the selection of events to host in the facility.”
“It is correct for the nonprofit to cite general support for the organization as a whole,” she added. “It is not accurate for an individual event host using the nonprofit’s space, or for the nonprofit hosting them, to imply that the City is a supporter or co-host of the event.”
All funds must be obligated by the end of 2024 and fully spent by the end of 2026. The city has so far received $77,504,170 in ARPA funding to allocate.
Released in 2023, “Israelism” follows the journey of two young Jews becoming anti-Israel. It has been criticized for ideological propaganda and its misrepresentation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Instagram story posted by Somerville for Palestine about their “Israelism” screening that they claim was help funded by federal COVID-19 funds. (Photo: Instagram @SomervilleforPalestine)
The screening also featured a panel discussion with its director, Erin Axelman, who is based in Somerville. The event was also co-hosted with IfNotNow, a radical leftist Jewish anti-Israel group.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP
Somerville for Palestine, which has accused Israel of genocide, has been actively involved in anti-Israel activism since Hamas’ brutal attack on Israeli civilians on October 7. On June 15, the group hosted an event advocating for “teaching Palestine in our schools.”
“Learn about how the student and teacher solidarity movements for Palestinian liberation and how we can make Palestine a part of our curriculum!” an advertisement for the post read.
Somerville for Palestine did not respond to a request for comment.
“}]]
