In a speech commemorating the 30th anniversary of the USC Shoah Foundation, Steven Spielberg spoke out against the increasing presence of antisemitism worldwide and addressed Israel’s military actions in Gaza for the first time.
According to a statement by Deadline, Spielberg expressed concern, stating, “Individuals who fail to recall the past are bound to relive it. I am growing more and more worried that we may be destined to repeat events from history – to once again have to struggle for the basic right to identify as Jewish.”
He stated, “The current climate bears clear resemblance to echoes of history. The growth of extremist ideologies has brought about a hazardous atmosphere, where radical intolerance no longer allows for the celebration of diversity, but instead seeks to vilify those who are different, creating an ‘Other’… This is also seen in instances of discrimination against Muslims, Arabs, and Sikhs. The dangerous concept of viewing certain groups as less than human due to their differences is a fundamental characteristic of fascism.”
In his first statement, Spielberg specifically acknowledged the ongoing conflict in Gaza and commented, “We have the right to condemn the atrocious actions carried out by the October 7th terrorists, as well as mourn the loss of innocent women and children in Gaza.”
Spielberg, a well-known figure in Hollywood who is Jewish, has refrained from publicly addressing the Gaza conflict. In a statement from the Shoah Foundation in December, he referenced the October massacre by Hamas, which resulted in the loss of over 1,200 lives, including mass rapes and the taking of 130 hostages. He expressed shock at the barbarity towards Jews and stated that he never thought he would witness such atrocities in his lifetime. However, Spielberg has not joined in signing the open letter denouncing Jonathan Glazer’s Oscar acceptance speech for his film, Zone of Interest.
Soon after finishing the film Schindler’s List, Spielberg founded the Shoah Foundation in 1994 to specifically gather the accounts of survivors of the Holocaust. In 2006, the foundation relocated to the University of Southern California.
Source: theguardian.com
