US sales of Palestinian keffiyehs soar, even as wearers targeted
Al JazeeraNov 27, 2023
Three Fired From NYC Museum for Wearing Keffiyehs
Above: A pro-Palestine demonstrator makes a "V" sign as she dons a keffiyeh while joining in a protest outside Sao Jorge movie theater in Avenida da Liberdade called by the Unity Platform in Solidarity with Palestine on May 22, 2024. Image copyright: Horacio Villalobos/Contributor/Corbis News via Getty Images
The Facts
New York City's Noguchi Museum announced Wednesday it fired three employees for wearing keffiyeh headscarves, which have become a symbol of the pro-Palestine movement. The museum said the scarves violated its policy against "political messages, slogans or symbols."
The museum further stated that while it recognizes the "intention" behind the scarves "was to express personal views," it claimed that "such expressions can unintentionally alienate segments of our diverse visitorship."
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
The US has reached a point where Americans who support Palestine must live in fear of losing their jobs. The US is home to the most powerful colleges, media companies, and corporations, all of which work in tandem to promote Israel's genocidal ambitions and crush all dissenting voices. It's sad that after all these institutions came together in solidarity with other groups of color, they're now refusing to do so when it comes to Palestinians.
Pro-establishment narrative
Despite claims to the contrary, the black and white keffiyeh being worn today is not just a head scarf in solidarity with Palestinian civilians. In fact, many of these scarves display the symbol of the Al Aqsa mosque and the statement "Jerusalem is ours"—a message not of peace but rather the destruction of Israel. Besides, It's completely reasonable for the Noguchi Museum to uphold its dress code.