DEI commissioner’s words distorted our attempt to open crucial dialogue

We are the co-founders of Acton-Carlisle for Informed Dialogue, and we screened “No Other Land” at the Fowler Library on December 6. This film is about the expulsion of a Palestinian community in the West Bank by the Israeli authorities, and it won the 2025 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. 

To publicize the screening, we sent emails to various groups in Acton, including the DEI Commission. We received no response from the commission and were therefore surprised when DEI Commission member Brian Farber expressed his disapproval of the screening during the commission’s December 3 meeting. 

Mr. Farber asserted that he was “concerned” that the screening was being “hosted on town property” (the library) and was “from people … who have a history of writing public statements, anti-Israel statements …” and are considered “to be antisemitic.” Mr. Farber thus appeared to smear us as antisemitic in his official capacity and provided no basis for such a serious allegation. In the past few years, we’ve seen accusations of antisemitism leveled at people for criticism of Israel which have resulted in reputational harm, job loss, and even ICE proceedings. 

At the recent Select Board meeting, Mr. Farber expressed remorse and asserted that he misspoke. While we appreciate Mr. Farber’s statement, we remain concerned that the main issue is unaddressed. A town government official, in his official role, leveled an accusation of antisemitism against us because we opened dialogue on a point of view with which he disagreed. 

Neither Mr. Farber nor the commission have acknowledged the harm caused by an unfounded accusation of antisemitism, nor have they indicated what measures they are taking to ensure that such an allegation is not weaponized in the future. We should all be concerned when our free speech rights are so threatened.

Mahreen Hoda
Oak Knoll, Carlisle

Ece Turnator 
Cambridge Turnpike