Detroit Delegation Stranded After Pro-Israel March in Washington
Following Tuesday’s historic pro-Israel march in Washington, D.C., a delegation of 900 members from Detroit found themselves stranded and disappointed. The group, organized by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, missed out on most, if not all, of the rally due to a malicious walk-off of drivers hired to transport them from the airport to the National Mall. As a result, their return flight was also delayed.
According to a statement from the Detroit federation, the hired buses failed to appear, causing a significant delay for many in the group. The federation discovered that the situation was the result of a deliberate and malicious action taken by the drivers. This incident was a rare blemish on an otherwise successful day for the march, which drew an estimated 290,000 people, making it one of the largest Jewish gatherings in U.S. history.
During the rally, William Daroff, the executive director of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations and one of the event organizers, mentioned the disruption caused by what he described as antisemitic bus drivers who refused to drive participants to the rally. The federation assured Daroff that the bus company had promised to take appropriate action against the drivers.
Jennie Levy, a participant from Detroit, woke up at 6 a.m. for the flight chartered by the Detroit federation. Levy, who works at a hospital and has an Israeli husband, felt it was essential for the Detroit Jewish community to be fully present at the rally. However, when the group arrived at Dulles International Airport, around a third of the buses failed to show up, leaving them stranded.
The situation created confusion and stress among the organizers, who scrambled to devise a backup plan. After approximately two hours, makeshift shuttles were arranged, allowing many members of the delegation to eventually reach the rally. Sadly, a full plane’s worth of people didn’t make it to the event at all.
Due to the unexpected delay in the morning, the crew of Levy’s plane exceeded federally mandated work limits and was unable to begin the return journey until 2:30 a.m., several hours after the scheduled end of the rally. Passenger and group members outside the airport had to wait, hungry and exhausted, as some hadn’t eaten all day.
While the incident was undoubtedly an inconvenience for rally-goers from Detroit, it highlights a larger concern for Jewish communities. Mark Miller, the senior rabbi at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, expressed his worry that the incident reflected a broader problem that could lead to more severe consequences, including violence. Miller stressed the reality of antisemitism and emphasized the need to acknowledge and address it.
Despite the disruption caused by the bus drivers, the pro-Israel march in Washington was a resounding success, with a massive turnout from passionate supporters. It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of unity and solidarity within the Jewish community, especially in the face of rising antisemitic incidents.
It is crucial to maintain a focus on the positive impact of the rally while recognizing and addressing the challenges faced by participants. The incident with the buses serves as a reminder that antisemitism is still a prevalent issue that must be confronted and combated.
