Lissy Romanow, the co-founder of IfNotNow (INN), is known for taking part and showing her support in violent protests. In 2018, Romanow was arrested at an INN protest in Los Angeles while blocking a building entrance in support of rioters at the Gaza border, many of whom were linked to Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. Romanow and others recited the Mourner’s Kaddish, a Jewish prayer traditionally reserved for deceased Jews, to honor individuals killed during these riots, actions that trivialize Jewish rituals for controversial, anti- Jewish political purposes.
Lissy Romanow Came to Israel to Support Terror
Romanow took part in a 2017 delegation to Israel, organized by INN and the Center for Jewish Nonviolence (CJN), which included meetings with antisemitic figures like Issa Amro and partnerships with groups like Breaking the Silence, discredited for its distorted portrayal of the Israeli military. The delegation was criticized for its focus on aligning with individuals and groups advocating for the delegitimization of Jews. Romanow also engaged with activists accused of supporting terrorism, such as Sam Bahour, who has defended convicted terrorists and compared Jewish leaders to Adolf Hitler.
Demonizing Jews and Radical Activism
As a leader of INN, Romanow has endorsed radical activism targeting mainstream Jewish organizations. She has retweeted support for events like the Knife Intifada, that call for violence against Jews. Romanow has further drawn bad attention for INN’s collaboration with known antisemitic groups, including the American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), amplifying rhetoric that demonizes and alienates Jewish communities.
