Pro-Palestine activists gathered outside New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) last night, protesting its ties with Ronald S. Lauder, the museum’s honorary chairman and president of the World Jewish Congress. The demonstration coincided with the World Jewish Congress’s annual assembly, criticized for its strong pro-Israel stance and framing of anti-Zionism as antisemitism.
Call for MoMA to Cut Ties
Organized by Writers Against the War on Gaza (WAWOG) and joined by cultural activists, the protest targeted Lauder’s influence in suppressing critiques of Israel’s policies. Demonstrators demanded that MoMA divest from financial and cultural ties with Lauder, echoing calls from the 2021 Strike MoMA campaign, which condemned the museum’s reliance on donors involved in controversial ventures, including war and environmental exploitation.
Art and Politics Collide
The protest featured drums, banners, and confrontations with guests attending the black-tie Theodor Herzl Award Dinner. The activists accused MoMA’s leadership of supporting “genocide, apartheid, and settler colonialism” through its connections with Lauder. Tensions rose as WAWOG spokesperson Sarah Nicole Prickett was detained by NYPD officers, sparking heated exchanges with police.
A Growing Debate Over Influence
As New York’s cultural institutions face mounting scrutiny over their responses to the conflict in Gaza, activists argue that wealthy donors shape the art world’s narratives and values. Liv Senghor, a lead organizer, emphasized that the influence of billionaire patrons often dictates which artworks and artists receive visibility. Protestors urged a shift towards supporting independent art spaces that are free from the constraints of corporate and political agendas, highlighting the essential role of art in challenging dominant narratives and fostering resistance.
