New York City lawmakers are condemning Amazon over a Halloween decoration accused of invoking antisemitic stereotypes by depicting a witch holding a spell book marked with what appears to be a Star of David.
The City Council’s Antisemitism Task Force submitted a formal complaint to the online retailer, urging Amazon to remove the $219, six-foot animatronic display, manufactured by Collective Home, from its marketplace.
“While it is unclear if this symbol was an attempt to depict a hexagram or another occult symbol, the Star of David is the most widely recognizable symbol of the Jewish people,” the bipartisan task force wrote in an October 14 letter to Amazon.
“We are living at a time of unprecedented and extremely alarming antisemitism, the likes of which have not been seen in our lifetimes in this City and Country,” the letter stated. “Given the long history of antisemitism and the persecution of Jewish people, the use of this symbol in a context that may associate it with sinister or threatening imagery is particularly disturbing.”
“Such imagery can reasonably be perceived as demeaning to Jewish people and hurtful to members of the Jewish community. It may also incite violence against the Jewish community,” the council members wrote.
DON’T MISS: Mother of Oregon shooter John Griffin says he was a ‘good boy
The Post reported Tuesday that a Brooklyn woman who unknowingly placed the decoration in her front yard was appalled after recognizing its troubling symbolism.
“I’m very upset, this is horrible,” the woman said. She insisted, “I don’t want to insult any religion. I’m sensitive about these things. I’m a big supporter of Israel and the Jewish people.”
Her handyman had unpacked and assembled the towering witch, and she said she “didn’t even look at it” before it was installed. “I should take it up with Amazon,” she added.
Council Speaker Julie Menin (D-Manhattan), Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (R-Brooklyn) and Jewish Caucus Chair Eric Dinowitz (D-Bronx) are among the eight lawmakers who signed the call for Amazon to remove the listing.
“We urge Amazon to immediately remove this product considering its policies concerning hateful, discriminatory, and offensive content and to consider the broader implications of making such merchandise available to the public,” the letter stated.
Amazon did not respond to a request for comment.