A silent demonstration welcomes the guests of the June day

June Day in Westport is a decades-old tradition.

A few hundred United Nations employees — staff members and their families (sometimes including an ambassador) — come from New York, by train or bus.

June Day guests enjoying a Jesup Green breakfast.

They are greeted with a brief breakfast by city officials. A message from the Secretary General is read.

First-Elect Jen Tooker (seated left) waits to deliver her Juneteenth greetings. At the podium is Bill Hass, president of the Southwestern Connecticut Chapter of the United Nations Association.

They then head out with local volunteers to experience a summer day in the suburbs. They are invited to Longshore, Compo, Earthplace and Wakeman Town Farm. They swim, play tennis, golf and soccer, shop and eat.

It’s a well-oiled machine.

Today, perhaps for the first time, a bit of politics has become necessary.

More than 150 residents joined forces with the Connecticut chapter of #EndJewHatred to organize a protest.

It was quiet, out of respect for the town and the activities of the Great Duck Race, which were happening simultaneously.

Part of this morning’s crowd at Jesup Green.

The event began in the parking lot of the Westport Woman’s Club, with prayers for the hostages and the Israeli Defense Forces.

Holding signs and wearing t-shirts, protesters then marched a short distance to Jesup Green.

Organizers told “06880”: “We are Westporters. We are neighbors of Westport and support the town’s economy.

“We are Jews. Maybe some of us aren’t Jewish.

“We are Zionists.

“We are parents. Maybe some of us have students who are facing extreme anti-Semitism on our campus.

“We are angry at the blatant bias of the UN against Israel and the fact that our tax dollars are being used to host UN representatives, especially this year after the horrific events of October 7, and the continued blatant anti-Semitic/anti-Israel efforts to delegitimize the only Jewish state.”

Celia Kaner Offir (left) and Elise Meyer. In Israel, Celia met the father of the two kidnapped brothers, whose faces appear on her poster.

They said the UN “has done nothing to free the remaining 116 hostages, representing 54 different countries – not just Israel – over the past 9 months.

“The UN has remained silent for months on the rape and sexual violence perpetrated against Israeli women on October 7.

“Staff members of the UN agency UNRWA were directly involved in the October 7 Hamas attack and the subsequent killings and kidnappings of Israelis.

“The UN will still not condemn Hamas using its name.

“The UN targets Israel in resolution after resolution while countries like North Korea and Iran are barely sanctioned.”

“The absurd false accusations of genocide against Israel are baseless, counterproductive and hypocritical. »

(All photos/Dan Woog)

The organizers added: “We understand that June Day has lasted here for over 50 years.

“We understand that this was not originally a political statement or event. However, today the UN is a politically divisive organization and inviting its employees to our city for a day in the sun is simply no longer acceptable to us.

“Sometimes the status quo has to change. Just because we’ve been operating one way for 50 years doesn’t mean it’s going to be appropriate in the future.

“We are all for international hospitality, but we should welcome an organization that advocates universal equality for all. »