For these questioning in regards to the mind-set of the opponents of the Sixers’ enviornment after Metropolis Council gave its approval to the proposal on Dec. 19, over a dozen Philadelphians out on a chilly Christmas Day afternoon supplied some perception.
Standing subsequent to the Chinatown Arch, they sang a tune set to the tune of “I Have a Little Dreidel,” with the lyrics rewritten to be a protest tune:
Area, ‘rena, ‘rena / It isn’t any good
Area, ‘rena, ‘rena / Displace the neighborhood
I don’t care who needs it / It issues to not me
I’ve no sense of morals / Or accountability
Area, ‘rena, ‘rena / I do know it isn’t truthful
However if you find yourself a billionaire / You would not have to care.
The individuals are towards it / The companies are, too
The way forward for this neighborhood / Is as much as me and also you.
The vacation carolers had been there as a part of No Area in Chinatown Solidarity (NACS), gathered for the primary night time of Hanukkah to sing and lightweight a candle on a menorah.
They sang songs rewritten by anti-arena advocates as a part of the “Chinatown Is Right here To Keep” songbook, a few of which have additionally been carried out by the No Area Flash Choir exterior Metropolis Corridor, the place some members had been faraway from Council hearings for singing their testimony.
Different songs sung included a model of “Havah Nagilah” retitled “Have A Good Egg Roll,” a tune known as “Oh, Pay attention Up Builders” set to the tune of “Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah,” and “L’Chaim All You Good People” set to the melody of “God Relaxation Ye Merry Gents.”
NACS was shaped in 2021 by Jewish Philadelphians to face in solidarity with the Chinatown neighborhood and towards predatory growth. It has since grown to be an interfaith coalition.
“Chinatown solidarity Christmas caroling is one in all my favourite NACS traditions. Over the final three years, it has taken a unique form every time, and that may be a pleasure: a reminder of how cultural traditions can get began and adopted and grown and renewed,” stated organizer Debora Kodish.
Kodish, who lives in West Philly, famous that “music and singing collectively and parody songs have been part of the motion because the very outset, with a protest towards Sixers part-owner and CEO of Campus Flats David Adelman’s look on the Jewish Federal Actual Property “Legends and Leaders” breakfast.
“‘Shonda’ and ‘Goniff’ had been what we sang again then and I’m proud that individuals had been there this Christmas Day to say that these phrases — ‘disgrace’ and ‘thievery’ — are nonetheless the case,” Kodish stated.
Between songs, Rabbi Linda Holtzman, who has led a number of congregations in Philly and co-founded POWER Interfaith, led a blessing and menorah lighting for the primary night time of Hanukkah, which fell on Christmas Day for the primary time in 19 years.
“Whereas they’re very completely different holidays — a celebration of Jesus and a model new approach of seeing the world versus a celebration of combating towards empire — it’s the similar as a result of we’re combating for the sunshine. We’re right here to shed gentle,” Holtzman stated.
“To make clear greed that has led individuals to [endanger] a neighborhood all of us love. The thought of constructing an enviornment right here is horrific,” she added. “This deal is a horrible deal for town. The cash [Mayor Cherelle Parker] promised will not be going anyplace … Despite the fact that the Metropolis Council authorised it, we is not going to hand over as a result of the sunshine inside us is nice. We is not going to cease shedding gentle on the reality. There isn’t any hiding. Collectively, we have now extra energy than aside.”
“It’s not simply Chinatown, however all of Philly”
The recurring message of the afternoon was that the deliberate Sixers enviornment would negatively affect all Philadelphians, not simply residents of Chinatown.
“The world is a nasty deal for all of Philadelphia. However the builders don’t care about Philadelphia; solely about cash. Metropolis Council pretends to care, however in the long run, they don’t, particularly [City Councilmember] Mark Squilla,” stated Wei Chen, civic engagement director with Asian Individuals United.
“The final couple of weeks have been very laborious. Once I immigrated to Philadelphia at 15, I lived in South Philly, however Chinatown turned essential to feeling dwelling and hope once more. This battle reveals folks that Chinatown tradition and neighborhood nonetheless exist. A tradition of resistance. We’re combating for the way forward for the subsequent era.”
West Philly lawyer Artwork Learn concurred, saying, “It’s not simply Chinatown, however all of Philly.”
“An enviornment will be constructed in a a lot much less harmful approach,” Learn stated. “The streets are slim and the years of development will likely be laborious, not simply on individuals in Chinatown, however in Philly. There are many failed development initiatives.”
“For me, probably the most painful items is the division of communities,” he continued. “At Council hearings, I noticed plenty of development employees who’ve been instructed it’s for jobs [and, thus, the opposition is against their jobs]. This intentional effort to divide …”
“… It’s divide and conquer,” chimed in Learn’s spouse, Cindy Rosenthal.
“I represented mushroom employees in Chester County, and Chinatown, AAU, and monks had been supporters of our strike,” Learn continued. “There’s an extended historical past of help from politically progressive teams within the Asian American neighborhood for employees rights. There are many individuals within the Jewish neighborhood who acknowledge that an damage to 1 is an damage to all.”
This shared solidarity goes again over a century, emphasised Asantewaa Nkrumah-Ture, an activist with the Philadelphia Tenants Union, which has additionally protested for inexpensive housing in Philly and towards the destruction of UC Townhomes.
“Subsequent month is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and we must always keep in mind that the historical past of solidarity between individuals of African American and Asian American descent goes again over 100 years,” stated Nkrumah-Ture, citing a number of historic examples, together with Frederick Douglass’ 1869 speech towards the Chinese language Exclusion Act and the activism of Yuri (Mary) Kochiyama and Grace Lee Boggs.
“Black Philly 4 Chinatown is aware of all of us want to stay collectively. Foolish individuals ask why we’re in solidarity. However we all know we have now an extended historical past of solidarity,” she stated. “Don’t let anyone let you know that this historical past doesn’t exist. We’ll stand with Chinatown each step of the way in which.”
Because the caroling completed, Rabbi Holtzman held a battery-operated menorah aloft and a Chinatown advocate held their cellphone flashlight behind the middle candle because the menorah’s batteries weren’t working. Then, Holtzman commenced with two blessings in Hebrew.
The gang took the technical issue in stride, seeing the collaboration as a metaphor.
“Think about the primary gentle as a result of the batteries aren’t working, however we have now energy inside,” Holtzman stated. “Gentle reminds us of the nice gentle in our traditions that introduced us right here immediately.”