USA: Democrat Imani Oakley fooled by parody account, falls for faux Gaza fundraiser

On Friday (December 3), a 31-year-old anti-Israel politician named Imani Oakley fell for a parody account on Twitter whereas making an attempt to organise a digital fundraiser in Gaza. Oakley, a Democrat operating for US Congress from Newark, wished to organise the digital fundraiser with the assistance of 1 Rabbi Goldstein, a parody deal with run by a US lawyer.
The Democratic Party chief proposed discussions on subjects similar to ‘Occupied Tel-Aviv’, ‘Zionism and other white supremacy movements’, ‘The morality of intifada’ to boost funds for Gaza. The concept was proposed by the parody account through e mail correspondence. “I would be grateful if you could provide dates/times for this week or next to connect and discuss further,” the marketing campaign supervisor of Oakley had emailed on November 23.
“I think it would be terrific if Ms Oakley would in-person or virtually (over Zoom) attend a house party/fundraiser in Gaza. I can’t think of a better way to show off her #FreePalestine bona fides. There are several influential Jewish-Americans in Gaza who can provide plenty of help back in her district, including contributions and media placement,” the parody account mentioned in one other e mail correspondence.
I’m disillusioned that unregulated platforms like @Twitter are doing extra to suppress the combat towards injustice than they’re to preventing white supremacy.But anyway right here’s the emails and the corresponding thread explaining why that is occurring to my marketing campaign: https://t.co/MjUpy2hZkw pic.twitter.com/0nnM1zueSA— Imani Oakley for Congress (@ImaniOakleyNJ10) December 4, 2021
Known for her anti-Israel activism, the Democrat hoped to affix palms with ‘anti-Zionist’ Gaza-based Rabbi to learn her marketing campaign. Oakley believed that the Twitter deal with of Rabbi Goldstein was actual. Despite the a number of pro-Hamas tweets by the account, the Democratic chief had determined to go forward with the marketing campaign. The account was created by a pro-Israel lawyer named Michael to mock far-left and anti-Zionist Jews.
“I am making fun of the five per cent of Jews that hate Israel. I created this personality that shows how reductive and absurd these people are,” Michael acknowledged. While taking a dig at Imani Oakley, he mentioned, “Jews cannot live in Gaza. So the fact that people think she is the chief rabbi in Gaza or has a temple in Gaza just shows how uneducated people are about the conflict.”
Screengrab of the profile of Rabbi Linda Goldstein
It have to be talked about that the Twitter account of Rabbi Linda Goldstein boasts 3.8K followers. The incontrovertible fact that it’s a parody account turns into evident from the duvet picture itself. It reads, “Encourage women to smell their poop to be more inclusive to trans women.” Besides, expressions similar to ‘Jewish advisor to Hamas’, ‘nude Yogi’ and ‘Chief Rabbi of Gaza’ within the bio are clear indicators that the account was made for satirical functions.
Imani Oakley defends herself after falling for a parody account
After realising that she was duped by a parody account, Oakley acknowledged, “Let me be clear: no political attacks will stop me from defending the humanity and dignity of the Palestinian people, fighting against human rights abuses by the Israeli government, and demanding an end to apartheid.”
Let me be clear: no political assaults will cease me from defending the humanity and dignity of the Palestinian folks, preventing towards human rights abuses by the Israeli authorities, and demanding an finish to apartheid. (🧵🪡)— Imani Oakley for Congress (@ImaniOakleyNJ10) December 3, 2021
She added, “We were in the process of vetting Linda like we would any fundraiser host. Today, Levine Jonathan (journalist at New York Post) reached out asking us for comment for a story mocking us for responding to a parody account. We were in the process of vetting Linda Goldstein. If you Google the name, plenty of people come up. It’s a common name, and we had no indication that it was tied to a parody Twitter account.”
We have been within the strategy of vetting Linda Goldstein. If you Google the identify, loads of folks come up. It’s a typical identify, and we had no indication that it was tied to a parody Twitter account. 4/— Imani Oakley for Congress (@ImaniOakleyNJ10) December 3, 2021
She went on to play the sufferer card, regardless of supporting a Twitter deal with that boasted about ties with Hamas. The Democrat even performed the race card and acknowledged that mocking her foolishness on social media is a “shameful attack on women of colour.”
I’m being focused for standing up for the rights and dignity of the Palestinian folks. Dirty political ways making an attempt to slander me and my marketing campaign don’t have any place on this or any elections. This is a shameful assault on a lady of shade preventing for justice.6/6— Imani Oakley for Congress (@ImaniOakleyNJ10) December 3, 2021
“I’m being targeted for standing up for the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people. Dirty political tactics trying to slander me and my campaign have no place in this or any elections. This is a shameful attack on a woman of colour fighting for justice,” she concluded.