Local Jewish groups respond to calls for a Newton business and travel boycott after shooting

Three prominent Greater Boston Jewish organizations say they “unequivocally reject” calls to boycott businesses in Newton, where a pro-Israel demonstrator was arrested last week for allegedly shooting a protester who tackled him to the ground.

The proposed boycott “seeks to place ‘blame’ or ‘consequences’ on local businesses that are not responsible for either the incident or its prosecution,” the Anti-Defamation League of New England, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, and the American Jewish Committee of New England said in a joint statement Tuesday.

Several pro-Israel groups have urged a business and travel boycott of Newton and surrounding Middlesex County until prosecutors agree to drop the criminal charge against Framingham resident Scott Hayes, 47. 

Authorities allege Hayes shot a 31-year-old Newton man — later identified as Caleb Gannon — after Gannon ran across the street and tackled Hayes during a pro-Israel rally in Newtonville last Thursday. In a viral video that appeared to capture part of the incident, Gannon can be heard accusing the demonstrators of defending genocide before he charged across the street.

Hayes has pleaded not guilty to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and prosecutors said they are also looking to charge Gannon with assault and battery. Earlier this week, the Muslim Justice League postponed a “Vigil for Palestine” that held Gannon up as a recent example of “resistance to the violence of Zionism.” Meanwhile, a GoFundMe to help Hayes with his expenses racked up thousands of donors and more than $250,000 in just a few days.

But a coalition of several pro-Israel organizations is looking to take things a step further. The group — which includes Betar USA, Americans Against Anti-Semitism, Jews Exiting the Democrat Party, Magen Herut Canada, and Shields of David — has launched a push to keep people from traveling to and doing business in Newton and the surrounding community. 

“Our campaign notes that self defense is [apparently] illegal in Middlesex and urges a boycott and travel warning to Newton and elsewhere in Middlesex County until all charges against hero and victim Scott Hayes” are dropped, Betar USA spokesperson Alexander Minn said in a statement. 

The Zionist organization’s executive director, Michael Sinensky, added in a separate news release: “When a decorated Iraq War veteran and American citizen is prosecuted for defending himself against an individual who attacked him and openly supports a terrorist organization, it sends a chilling message: Middlesex County is not a safe place for anyone who values liberty, justice, and security.”

In their joint statement, ADL New England, JCRC of Greater Boston, and AJC New England described the boycott as “a call to action raised by a group or groups with no apparent relationship to Newton.”

Use of a boycott also implies the criminal justice system is not capable of delivering justice, the Greater Boston organizations asserted.

“We instead call on the community to join us in re-establishing dialogue and conversation, remembering the hostages still held in Gaza, and calling for an end to senseless violence,” the statement concluded. 

The boycott has met with similar pushback from some in Newton. Greg Reibman, president and CEO of the Charles River Regional Chamber, said in a Monday newsletter the organization was “greatly troubled” by last week’s incident. 

“But we do not understand how this has anything to do with … our businesses,” Reibman wrote. “No Newton businesses were involved with this incident in any way. Nor do we understand what this boycott, seemingly coming from outside organizers, seeks to accomplish, except to sow division in our already torn-apart community.”

State Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem, who represents Newton, argued that boycotts are not the way to mend division. 

“Punishing local Newton businesses for events they were not involved with is not the solution,” Creem said in a statement. “I hope you will continue to support our local businesses as I plan to. How we heal as a community will be determined by our decision to choose civility, rationality and respect for one another above all else.”

Creem added: “I am hopeful our community will come together for more peaceful times ahead.”