Linda Sarsour is a Palestinian-American activist known for her controversial statements about Israel and Zionism

NEW YORK – After coming under fire for its choice of speakers to appear on a panel discussion about antisemitism, the New School is offering to sponsor an alternative group that will include voices from the Jewish American mainstream.

The New York institution, however, did not back down from its invitation of Linda Sarsour to speak at the new event, titled “Antisemitism and the Struggle for Justice,” scheduled for the end of this month.

The New School, a Manhattan- based university, is sponsoring the event in cooperation with the Jewish Voice for Peace and Jacobin Magazine, both of which promote causes of the radical Left.

Sarsour is Muslim activist and unrelenting critic of Israel who supports a boycott against the Jewish state. Among numerous other controversial statements, she tweeted in 2012, “Nothing is creepier than Zionism.”

Rebecca Vilkomerson, executive director of JVP, is also scheduled to speak at the event, which will be moderated by Amy Goodman, host of the radio program Democracy Now.

Earlier this week, in response to a biting report about the panel in Tablet Magazine, Jonathan Greenblatt, national director and CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, slammed the New School. “Having Linda Sarsour & head of JVP leading a panel on #antisemitism is like Oscar Meyer leading a panel on vegetarianism,” he wrote on Twitter. “These panelists know the issue, but unfortunately, from the perspective of fomenting it rather than fighting it.”

Earlier this week, in response to a biting report about the panel in Tablet Magazine, Jonathan Greenblatt, national director and CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, slammed the New School. “Having Linda Sarsour & head of JVP leading a panel on #antisemitism is like Oscar Meyer leading a panel on vegetarianism,” he wrote on Twitter. “These panelists know the issue, but unfortunately, from the perspective of fomenting it rather than fighting it.”

The New School responded in writing to The Jerusalem Post, saying the institution “is founded on principles of tolerance, social justice, and free intellectual exchange. These values remain central to our mission today, and we believe that engaging in debate on a range of issues and ideas is critical to our role as an academic institution”.

Read More: Jerusalem Post