Latest news with #USSLiberty
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
LVA says controversial speaker banned from VFW and Sheraton
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A controversial speaker initially listed for the upcoming USS Liberty Veterans Association reunion in Norfolk has been banned from speaking at the event at the Sheraton, according to organizers. John Dixon, media director for the Liberty Veterans Association, also confirmed the VFW's decision to remove Peters from a separate memorial service at the USS Liberty Monument, hosted by VFW Post 4809 in Norfolk June 8. 'As of right now, Stew Peters is banned,' Dixon said. 'That's all we can say. We don't know anything — the reasoning behind it. We don't know anything.' The reunion, scheduled for June 6–9 at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel, will bring together survivors and supporters of the USS Liberty, a U.S. Navy ship attacked during the 1967 Six-Day War. Dr. Kenny T. Fountain, a professor and director of Writing & Rhetoric at the University of Virginia, said understanding the historical context is important. Criticism emerged after an online flyer circulated listing far-right media personality Stew Peters among the speakers. Peters has faced backlash for pushing antisemitic rhetoric and conspiracy theories. In a statement released last week to 10 On Your Side, the VFW emphasized it does not support extremist ideologies. Fountain said rhetoric like Peters' is not just inflammatory, but potentially harmful. 'Anti-Jewish sentiment that transcends the state of Israel gets kindled by these kinds of ideas,' he said. 'Repetition can encourage belief, whether we like it or not.' City officials say a robust security plan is in place for the weekend, which coincides with Norfolk's annual Harborfest celebration. The city of Norfolk stated that 'Norfolk Police Department will have an increased security presence throughout downtown Norfolk during the entire Harborfest weekend. NPD also receives additional assistance from federal law enforcement partners during Harborfest. While specific details cannot be provided, the Norfolk Police Department maintains a robust security plan for large scale events such as this one to ensure the safety of our public. ' WAVY 10 has reached out the Sheraton numerous times, and has yet to receive a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Controversial podcaster will not speak at veterans' group convention in Norfolk
Stew Peters, the controversial podcast host who had been slated to speak at an upcoming veterans reunion in Norfolk, reportedly will not appear at the event. The Liberty Veterans' Association will hold its annual reunion on the anniversary of the USS Liberty bombing from June 6-9 at the Sheraton Waterside Norfolk Hotel. Peters, whom the Anti-Defamation League has described as an anti-Semite, was named as a speaker, in an unconfirmed social media post that quickly drew attention to the event and the hotel. The LVA confirmed Peters was scheduled to speak at the event, but said the other two men aren't speaking and aren't registered to attend. WTKR reported on Tuesday that Marriott, the owner of the Sheraton Waterside Norfolk Hotel, banned Peters. WTKR's report quoted an association spokesperson as saying that Peters was banned from 'entering their property and has advised us he is not to speak.' The spokesman, veteran's association board member John Dixon, declined to comment about Peters' status to The Virginian-Pilot on Tuesday. The association's annual event is meant to honor the survivors of Israel's bombing of the USS Liberty bombing in 1967, which killed 34 sailors and injured 170 others. Israel has maintained that the attack was a mistake, but many members of the Norfolk-based Liberty Veterans' Association believe it was intentional. The LVA's leadership has attempted to distance themselves from accusations of antisemitism, saying in an email to The Pilot that they don't share all the 'views, beliefs, or behavior' of their supporters, 'but … we stand and defend all Americans constitutional rights including the first amendment.' The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4809 is hosting a memorial service at the USS Liberty Monument at their post on June 8 as part of the LVA's reunion festivities, according to the LVA's website and the official flyer for the reunion. Eric Mallett, incoming commander of Post 4809, said in a statement in response to the reported speakers that 'white supremacy and antisemitism have no place in the VFW.' Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806,
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rabbi urges reconsideration of speakers at USS Liberty reunion amid concerns
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A Virginia Beach rabbi is calling on organizers of an upcoming USS Liberty reunion to reconsider allowing controversial figures to attend, citing concerns over antisemitism. Backlash builds over USS Liberty reunion event featuring controversial speaker The reunion, hosted by the USS Liberty Veterans Association, is scheduled to take place at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel from June 6 to June 9, the same dates as Norfolk's Harborfest. The event is held to honor the 34 sailors killed and more than 170 injured when Israeli forces attacked the USS Liberty in 1967. Controversy came after a flyer began circulating online, listing far-right media figures Stew Peters, Lucas Gage and Jake Shields as speakers. All three have been accused of spreading antisemitic rhetoric. 'A flyer was created by the organizers,' said Liora Rez, executive director of StopAntisemitism. 'We simply made a graphic of the existing flyer to raise awareness of the white supremacists event occurring in the Virginia area.' Rabbi Israel Zoberman, the son of Holocaust survivors, described the situation as 'deeply saddening' and warned including people with known antisemitic views undermines the memorial's message. 'For anyone who has antisemitic views to speak at any event should alarm the entire American society…,' Zoberman told WAVY. 'That really takes away from the meaningfulness of the event dedicated to the tragic event that happened with the Liberty.' USS Liberty Veterans Association President Phil Tourney confirmed that Peters asked to speak at the event, but said it's too late to uninvite him. 'If they got a problem with any speaker, Stew Peters or otherwise, there's nothing we can do about it right now,' Tourney said. Tourney emphasized that the group does not condone hate speech and said the reunion is meant to be a peaceful gathering. 'We come in peace and harmony … to remember our dead mates, break some bread together,' he said, noting the group is now spending up to $25,000 on 24-hour police protection due to threats. WAVY has not verified this with Norfolk Police. Meanwhile, VFW Post 4809 states: 'The VFW Department of Virginia and VFW Post 4809 in Norfolk are aware that the event flyer for the USS Liberty Veterans Association reunion has been edited to imply association with white supremacists and antisemites. The VFW and Post 4809 do not in any way support those who hijacked this event for their own agenda. We support the victims and survivors of the attack, and all veterans, but white supremacy and antisemitism have no place in the VFW. The event at the Sheraton in Norfolk is a Liberty Veterans Association reunion and any questions about that event should be directed to that organization. VFW Post 4809 will host a memorial service at the USS Liberty monument located outside the post so veterans can pay their respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice serving aboard USS Liberty.' WAVY reached out to both the city of Norfolk and Marriott, which owns the Sheraton venue, for comment. The city acknowledged the request but has not provided a statement. Marriott has not responded. The USS Liberty reunion is still scheduled to take place as planned. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A veterans' reunion sits at the center of an online storm in Norfolk
An online flyer promoting a trio of controversial speakers at an upcoming reunion of the survivors of the 1967 bombing of the USS Liberty is fake, organizers say — but one of the speakers named in the flyer is scheduled to speak. The Liberty Veteran's Association will hold its 58th anniversary reunion from June 6-9 at the Sheraton Waterside in Norfolk. This year, the small, private event and the hotel became the focus of days of criticism as pictures of the flyer circulated online. The flyer claimed that speakers at the event would include Stew Peters. The flyer has ricocheted around social media for at least the past two weeks, prompting calls for boycotts of the hotel and condemnations of the veterans' organization. Peters, host of the podcast/radio program 'The Stew Peters Show,' will be speaking at the event, according to Mo Shafer, executive director of the Liberty Veteran's Association and a survivor of the bombing. Shafer said the other two mentioned in the original flyer 'are not speaking' and that they 'have not registered' for the event. The Anti-Defamation League has called Peters a 'Christian nationalist and prolific antisemite.' In his coverage of the naming of the new pope, Peters claimed the Catholic church 'has been subverted by Jews, just like the United States.' John Dixon, a board member and spokesperson for the Liberty Veteran's Association, claimed the flyer was made by a Pennsylvania-based leftist organization. That organization denied making the flyer when reached for comment via Instagram. Dixon said the association does not share the views of everyone that supports them. 'This DOES NOT mean we as the LVA share or condone all the views, beliefs, or behavior our supporters have, but as all veterans have done, we stand and defend all Americans constitutional rights including the first amendment,' Dixon wrote in an email. Attempts to reach Peters and one of the others named in the flyer for comment via X, and through their personal website contact forms, were unsuccessful. Marriott did not respond to a request for comment on the event Monday morning. The USS Liberty was bombed by Israel during the Six Day War, killing 34 sailors and injuring 170 others. Israel has maintained that the attack was a mistake, but many members of the Norfolk-based Liberty Veteran's Association believe it was intentional. Shafer insisted that the organization does not condone anti-Semitism. 'Our 58th Anniversary is no different than all the other reunions we have had. It is for one reason, and that is to enjoy the fellowship of our survivors and our supporters and have two days of fellowship and love,' Shafer said in an email. 'There is no intent of any political agenda and whoever we have at our reunion is nobody's business.' Association leadership did not respond to multiple emailed requests for a full list of speakers at the event. Gavin Stone, 757-412-4806,
