Melanie Fineman
Overview
Melanie Fineman is an activist with IfNotNow (INN) who has expressed supportfor violent protestors as well as for United States Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, after Omar was condemned for making anti-Semitic remarks.Fineman has demonized Israel and attended a 2018 INN training event, co-led by Taher Herzallah of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP).
As of June 2019, Fineman’s LinkedIn page said she was an “Advocacy and Organizing Manager” at “Media Matters for America” since August 2018. Her LinkedIn page also said she worked as a “Digital Assistant” and then a “Digital Communications Associate” at JStreet, since October 2015.
As of the same date, Fineman’s LinkedIn page said she attended Brown University (Brown) from 2010-2014 and received a bachelor’s degree in History.
Support for Violent Protesters
On May 14, 2018, Fineman indicated on Facebook that she “went” to INN DC’s demonstration in Washington, D.C. to mourn [01:09:33] the Palestinians killed during the Great March of Return protests on Israel’s border with Gaza.
In May 2018, terror group Hamas instigated violent riots on the Israeli-Gaza border. Thousands of rioters attempted to breach Israel’s border fence, declaring their intention to harm Jews across the border under the pretext of “peaceful resistance.”
During the demonstration INN protestors chanted [01:32:00] “We are horrified by Israel’s violent response to Palestinian non-violent protests.”
On May 16, 2018, a Hamas senior official, Salah al-Bardawil, stated that 50 out of 62 protesters killed during the May 14 Gaza border protest were Hamas operatives. Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) also claimed that three of its members were killed at the same protest.
The May 14, 2018, event also protested the U.S. government’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the decision to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
On that same day, Fineman tweeted: “At least 16 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds have been injured so far today.”
Fineman also shared an embedded tweet that said: “Palestinian Health Ministry now says 37 killed on Gaza fence” and commented: “And it's only 3:32pm in Gaza.”
Fineman also shared an embedded tweet that said: “Palestinian Health Ministry now says 37 killed on Gaza fence” and commented: “And it's only 3:32pm in Gaza.”
Defending Anti-Semitic Comments
On March 5, 2019, Fineman tweeted: “Couldn't agree more. Watch and listen carefully to what @IlhanMN [Ilhan Omar] said last week at Busboys & Poets, friends.”Ilhan Omar was elected to the U.S. Congress in 2018. In February 2019, top Congressional leaders denounced Omar for tweeting anti-Semitic remarks.Omar has demonized Israel and endorsed BDS. In July 2019, Omar introduced a pro-BDS resolution in the U.S. Congress, which she described as “an opportunity for us to explain why it is we support…the BDS movement.”
Fineman’s tweet referred to a March 1, 2019 event where Omar suggested that supporters of Israel were disloyal to America, saying [00:00:42]: “I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country.”
Following Omar’s March 1, 2019 presentation at Busboys&Poets TownHall, then-Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Elliot Engel, issued an online statement describing Omar’s comments [00:04:08] as a “vile anti-Semitic slur” as well as “unacceptable and deeply offensive.”
Demonizing Israel
On August 5, 2014, during Israel’s Operation Protective Edge (OPE), Fineman tweeted: “.@IfNotNowOrg DC's Tisha B'Av action is covered in @HuffingtonPost: ‘Young Jews Protest Israel's Offensive In Gaza.’”
Israel commenced Operation Protective Edge (OPE) in July 2014, to stop rocket fire targeting Israeli civilians and to destroy Hamas attack tunnels.
On August 5, 2014, INN DC held a vigil outside of the national office of the Jewish Federation of North America (JFNA), timed to coincide with the Tisha B’Av fast day.
Tisha B’Av, regarded as the saddest day in the Jewish calendar, is a day of mourning for the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.
The INN vigil called on the JFNA to “condemn the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza.”
During the vigil, one INN leader accused [00:03:19] Israel of the “indiscriminate killing of civilians and especially children. Attacks on UN schools and shelters.”
On January 9, 2017, Fineman indicated on Facebook that she “went” to an INN DC protest and mock press conference inside the Jewish Federation of North America (JFNA) building against “50 years of occupation” and the appointment David Friedman as U.S. Ambassador to Israel.
The Facebook event description called the U.S. government’s move “incitement.”
During the protest, Rachel Mandelbaum, an INN organizer, filmed [00:33:37] the demonstration and said [00:14:09] that although this action would not include getting arrested: “sometimes, it’s nice to get arrested to really get your point across.”
During the protest, Rachel Mandelbaum, an INN organizer, filmed [00:33:37] the demonstration and said [00:14:09] that although this action would not include getting arrested: “sometimes, it’s nice to get arrested to really get your point across.”
INN Activism
On May 19, 2018, Fineman posed for a group photo posted on Facebook, from an INN DC training event co-led by Taher Herzallah, the Associate Director of Outreach & Grassroots Organizing of AMP.INN’s comment on the Facebook photo described the training as gathering to “learn more about the history of Gaza, Palestinian non-violent resistance and how our community can take action to oppose the Israeli Military's recent actions.”
Fineman posed for a photo posted to Facebook on May 5, 2018, along with other INN activists for a training weekend.
On April 7, 2018, Fineman indicated on Facebook that she “went” to an INN event titled: “Let My People Know: IfNotNow DC Passover Seder.”
A Seder is a Jewish Passover ritual, that involves telling the story of the Israelites’ exodus from slavery in ancient Egypt and their travels to the Promised Land.
On May 24, 2017, Fineman indicated on Facebook that she “went” to an event titled: “IfNotNow Community Shabbat: ResistAIPAC Mobilization.”
On December 14, 2016, Fineman tweeted: “100s take over Pennsylvania Avenue to reject @Conf_of_Pres' decision to have a Hanukkah party at Trump Hotel @IfNotNowOrg #JewishResistance.”
Fineman’s tweet was about the December 14, 2016, INN DC demonstration that called on the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations to “CANCEL their Hanukkah Party at the Trump Hotel!”
On December 6, 2016, Fineman tweeted: “I joined @IfNotNowOrg to tell the @conf_of_pres to cancel their Hannukah Party at Trump Hotel… #JewishResistance.”
On December 14, 2016, Fineman tweeted: “100s take over Pennsylvania Avenue to reject @Conf_of_Pres' decision to have a Hanukkah party at Trump Hotel @IfNotNowOrg #JewishResistance.”
Fineman’s tweet was about the December 14, 2016, INN DC demonstration that called on the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations to “CANCEL their Hanukkah Party at the Trump Hotel!”
On December 6, 2016, Fineman tweeted: “I joined @IfNotNowOrg to tell the @conf_of_pres to cancel their Hannukah Party at Trump Hotel… #JewishResistance.”
Fineman’s tweet included a link to an INN statement about the event that condemned the Conference of Presidents as “vehement defenders of all three of the Gaza Wars” and accused the Conference of putting the American Jewish community ”at risk for the sake of protecting the Israeli occupation.”
Israel commenced Operations Cast Lead (OCL), Pillar of Defense (OPD) and Protective Edge (OPE) in 2008-09, 2012 and 2014, respectively, in order to stop Hamas rocket fire from Gaza targeting Israeli civilians.
INN claims to take no position on the BDS movement and that it is “open to any who seek to shift the American Jewish public away from the status quo that upholds the Occupation.” However, INN organizes with pro-BDS, anti-Israel organizations including American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP).
Twitter:https://twitter.com/mnfineman
Israel commenced Operations Cast Lead (OCL), Pillar of Defense (OPD) and Protective Edge (OPE) in 2008-09, 2012 and 2014, respectively, in order to stop Hamas rocket fire from Gaza targeting Israeli civilians.
IfNotNow (INN)
IfNotNow (INN) is an anti-Israel organization founded in 2014, in response to Israel’s Operation Protective Edge (OPE) against Hamas.
INN claims to be “young Jews angered by the overwhelmingly hawkish response of American Jewish institutions” to OPE. INN presents three demands on its website: “Stop the War on Gaza, End the Occupation, and Freedom and Dignity for All.”
INN defines “the Occupation as the military rule over Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza,” which is land Israel has controlled for nearly 50 years since the 1967 Six-Day War. However, INN leaders have made [00:34:32] the claim [00:13:49] at protests that the occupation is 70 years long, referring to Israel’s founding in 1948.
INN actions have aimed to demonize [00:38:13] Israel, harass [00:05:44] mainstream American Jewish organizations like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and decrease support for Israel among American Jews.
INN has used “public action and imaginative ritual” to achieve its goals, including disruptions where activists were arrested.
One of the high-profile arrests occurred at a May 2018 disruption at a U.S. Senator’s office in Washington, D.C. to protest legislation against the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
At the same incident, INN used [00:07:17] the Jewish ritual of the Mourner’s Kaddish prayer to mourn [00:09:10] protesters who were killed during the Hamas-organized and funded Great March of Return riots on the Israel-Gaza border.
INN activists have also staged and promoted walk-offs from Birthright Israel trips, a heritage trip to Israel for young Jewish adults from across the world.
INN claims to be “young Jews angered by the overwhelmingly hawkish response of American Jewish institutions” to OPE. INN presents three demands on its website: “Stop the War on Gaza, End the Occupation, and Freedom and Dignity for All.”
INN defines “the Occupation as the military rule over Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza,” which is land Israel has controlled for nearly 50 years since the 1967 Six-Day War. However, INN leaders have made [00:34:32] the claim [00:13:49] at protests that the occupation is 70 years long, referring to Israel’s founding in 1948.
INN actions have aimed to demonize [00:38:13] Israel, harass [00:05:44] mainstream American Jewish organizations like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and decrease support for Israel among American Jews.
INN has used “public action and imaginative ritual” to achieve its goals, including disruptions where activists were arrested.
One of the high-profile arrests occurred at a May 2018 disruption at a U.S. Senator’s office in Washington, D.C. to protest legislation against the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
At the same incident, INN used [00:07:17] the Jewish ritual of the Mourner’s Kaddish prayer to mourn [00:09:10] protesters who were killed during the Hamas-organized and funded Great March of Return riots on the Israel-Gaza border.
INN activists have also staged and promoted walk-offs from Birthright Israel trips, a heritage trip to Israel for young Jewish adults from across the world.
INN claims to take no position on the BDS movement and that it is “open to any who seek to shift the American Jewish public away from the status quo that upholds the Occupation.” However, INN organizes with pro-BDS, anti-Israel organizations including American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP).
Social Media and Weblinks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/500737729Twitter:https://twitter.com/mnfineman
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mnfineman/
- Status:
- Professional
- University:
- Brown
- Organizations:
- INN
- Related Profiles:
- Last Modified:
- 03/26/2026
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