By John Schwing

WESTPORT — Westport Library finds itself at the messy, divisive intersection where free speech and hate speech often collide, as objections are raised to the appearance by singer, writer, artist and activist Patti Smith at the keynote “VersoFest” program this week, with critics calling her comments on the Israel/Hamas war in Gaza “antisemitic.”

Smith, a National Book Award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, is harshly criticized by Representative Town Meeting member Melissa Levy as purveying “antisemitism” and “hate speech” in a series of social-media comments. Smith is scheduled to participate in Thursday’s opening program of the four-day VersoFest cultural celebration.

Hate speech vs. free speech

In a March 31 letter to William Harmer, the library executive director, and Pat Wieser, the library trustees chair, Levy said she provided evidence of Smith’s bias in social-media posts “that are hate speech.”

Library officials, responding Tuesday in a request for comment by the Westport Journal, explained that Smith was booked for “a long-planned program celebrating her contributions to literature, music and the arts … As with all major public events, the invitation was extended following an internal review consistent with the library’s programming standards.”

Regarding complaints about Smith’s appearance, the library statement said: “When concerns are raised, the library is guided by its mission, philosophy, policies and procedures, with reference to applicable law and to professional standards and guidelines established by the American Library Association and Connecticut Library Association.”

Based on that criteria and the library’s commitment “to the free and open exchange of ideas,” it does not plan to cancel Smith’s scheduled event. The library, however, “does not endorse the views of any program speaker or performer simply by hosting them,” the statement said.

The statement goes on to say, “The library condemns antisemitism and all forms of hate. And we say with heartfelt sincerity that we appreciate the sensitivities and strong feelings involved in these conversations.”

When antisemitic allegations against Patti Smith were raised, library officials said they “listened to concerned patrons and town residents and responded in every instance that we have been able to do so, consulted with and received the support of our Board of Trustees, talked with our legal representation, and met repeatedly throughout the process with library leadership.” (The full text of Westport Library officials’ statement to the Westport Journal is attached at the end of this article.)

In her letter, however, Levy refuted the explanation that Smith’s views are political not hateful. 

Smith’s comments on a social-media post that “It is indisputable” that “Palestine belongs to the Palestinians,” and “From the young to the young” on a post saying, “Thanks to students. Stand with Gaza, be a human,” are clearly antisemitic, according to Levy. She cited several other online comments by Smith that she said reflect hate speech. (Levy’s full letter, with social-media citations, is attached at the end of this article.)

Library needs to apply same standards for all programs

But “When I asked you, what would you do if you invited someone to speak about their book or to give a lecture who was later found to be accused of sexual assault, pedophilia or racism, you didn’t really have a response,” Levy said of library officials.

“The standards need to be the same for all guests,” Levy continued. “You cannot pick and choose when to stand behind freedom of speech and when not to … Dismissing or ignoring what is being posted, only normalizes hate speech.”

Levy demanded the officials share her concerns with the full library board “so that they have complete information and the opportunity to vote on this matter.” 

She also suggested the library’s Common Ground Initiative help plan counter-programming at VersoFest “to bring some measure of balance.” One scenario, she said, could be a “way to honor the victims of the NOVA music festival,” which was attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, igniting the ongoing Gaza conflict.

The Westport Journal reached out for comments from both Patti Smith and the state chapter of the Anti-Defamation League, but did not receive a response from either.

Call for an antisemitism task force

Meanwhile, a resident speaking at a Board of Finance meeting last week voiced concerns similar to Levy’s.

Dori Bomback, describing herself as a “loud, proud Jew,” asked the finance board to consider allotting money in the future to establish an “antisemitism task force” as a way to call attention to the rising number of antisemitic incidents locally, particularly those sanctioned by official support and public money.

Specifically, she objected to the annual jUNe Day event in the spring and the invitation for Smith to participate in the library’s VersoFest.

Last year’s jUNe Day, a six-decade-old event where United Nations staffers are invited to a day of hospitality in Westport, was confronted by a protest that Bomback said she helped to organize because the UN “is problematic and blatant in their antisemitism.”

And noting that the Westport Library is funded, in part, by approximately $6 million in public money, she questioned why Jewish taxpayers are being “required to foot the bill” for an “antisemite” like Patti Smith “to participate in a town-sponsored event.”

Library officials, however, said VersoFest events, including Smith’s appearance, are not taxpayer funded, but by ticket sales, sponsorships and donor-restricted funds.

Bomback, however, argued that inviting such “overtly antisemitic elements” to town, in both cases, was “tone deaf and insensitive” to Westport’s comparatively large Jewish population.

The proposed task force on antisemitism, which Bomback said should not be “lumped into a group that is about all ‘isms,’ ” is warranted not only because of concerns over jUNe Day and Patti Smith, but an ongoing series of offensive incidents that include a Nazi snowman and videos circulated locally on social media.

The task force is needed, she said, “as a real acknowledgement of the fact that this about Jewish civil rights.”

John Schwing, consulting editor of the Westport Journal, has held senior editorial and writing posts at southwestern Connecticut media outlets for four decades. Learn more about us here.

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Following are Melissa Levy’s letter to Westport Library officials about Patti Smith’s appearance at VersoFest, and the library’s response to the Westport Journal about Smith’s participation in the event’s keynote program: