To tell the story of this recording is to explain how Zionism works at the local level here in Dayton. I recorded this audio back when I worked at the Dayton Regional STEM School, where I would teach about Palestine. I invited Bashir Ahmed, who was leading the Peace Museum at the time, to come and speak to the students, which you can hear in full here.

What happened next, however, was that I got a new job being the community outreach director for the STEM school, and the Peace Museum got a new director: Kevin Kelly. One day Kevin called me (I had known him through the display of the students' work at the museum in the past, before his arrival) because I had posted this audio recording on a website for students to access indefinitely. He wanted me to take it down. He explained that many of his donors in the Zionist community wanted it taken down and wouldn't support the museum because of these views. Like a coward, I did it, and I'm ashamed, because Bashir only spoke the truth. I was too worried about the reputation of the school and not the Palestinian people.

So, I post here again, and invite the STEM School and Peace Museum to weigh in, because both have now attacked me for being pro-Palestinian and called me a liar about asking for it to be removed. But that's what happens when Zionist defense contractors make up your boards.

This episode is dedicated to the people of Salfit, Palestine, Dayton's newest sister city that we are doing nothing to help.

Your Dayton Sister City Committee (which receives your tax dollars if you live in Dayton and is chaired by a Zionist from Yellow Springs) refuses to recommend to the Dayton City Commission to eliminate our relationship with the genocidal, apartheid regime that is Israel, and we have a sister city relationship with Holon that I was kicked off of the committee for trying to end. Start asking your sister city committee chair, Kevin Lydy, to get off the city committee and stay in Yellow Springs, and tell the Dayton City Commission to end our sister city relationship with Israel and give the funds to Palestine.

Find out more on my socials @gemcitydudeistpriest on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to learn more about how you can help defeat Zionism in Dayton.

Free Dayton to Free Palestine

Contact info for further investigation:

Kevin Lydy's cell: 740-804-2542 (Dayton Sister City Chair)

Matt Joseph's cell: 937-361-7382 (Dayton City Commission ex officio member for the committee and Sierra Nevada Corporation weapons contractor)

Robin Fisher's cell : 937-477-2621 (Superintendent of the Dayton Regional STEM School)

Dayton Peace Museum: 937-227-3223

We’re only a little over a month out from one of my favorite festivals that place here in the Gem City, and that’s Dayton’s annual Oktoberfest event! To learn more about it, I’m talking with Kris Rossi, one of the chairs of the event, and a member of the Dayton Art Institute’s associate board, which puts on the event annually. This year’s Oktoberfest is happening from September 27-29, so join me as I learn more about what’s returning this year from past festivals as well as learn something you’ll hear about here on this podcast first: a stein-holding competition!

Also, the best way you can support this show is by supporting the host by purchasing a copy of his new book, “One Dude’s Guide to Being Bipolar: How to Stay the Hell Out of Grippy Socks Jail, Achieve Anyways, and Abide Always.” Help spread awareness about and eliminate the stigma against bipolar disorder (and other mental health conditions) by reading and sharing this new book.

Learn more about it and the many formats (including paid and free ones) you can find it in at www.gemcitydudeistpriest.com/bipolardudeguide.

Thanks for listening, and stay funky, Dayton!

If you missed this one don’t worry, you can still make it to the Dayton Art Institute's Oktoberfest September 27-29… come find me on Saturday evening at Craft beer truck #2! Find video of the event on TikTok or Instagram.