Berkshire County — Over the past few days, via both his and the Berkshire Communists Instagram social media accounts, group leader James “Fergie” Chambers has made both anti-Semitic comments and threats towards Great Barrington residents.
The group, based in Alford, previously organized a pro-Palestine protest in Great Barrington on October 10.
On November 4, the group co-organized a similar protest in front of Great Barrington Town Hall with Bard College at Simon’s Rock students, including the Anti-Imperialist Solidarity and the Coalition of Simon’s Rock Student Groups. However, Fiona Scruggs, director of communications and marketing for Bard College at Simon’s Rock, wrote via email after the protest that the event was not officially sanctioned by the college.
The comments Chambers made were apparently in regards to posts on the Great Barrington Community Board Facebook group that referred to the Berkshire Communists group.
On Saturday, November 11, Chambers posted a story on his Instagram page, writing:
“We need to start making people who support Israel actually afraid to go out in public. We need to make all of white america [sic] afraid that everything they have stolen is going to be burned to the ground. That’s what makes them listen. Strike fear in the hearts of the oppressors. This is the only language they speak.”
Also on November 11, Chambers posted the following:
“And to these professional Hasbara gaslighters in Great Barrington: You are rich white eorupean [sic] settlers in a cultural resort town. No one has ever oppressed any of you with anything. The people who serve you at your restaurants and cafes. The people who cut your lawns. The people you have economically edged out of the country. Are coming for you one day soon. And God will surely judge all of you who normalize this genocide. There won’t ever be enough cops to call.”
In a story previously posted on his Instagram account, which was shared with The Berkshire Edge by a reader, Chambers wrote “Death to the normalizing left” in reference to the group Jewish Voice for Peace.
As part of his recent series of posts, Chambers made comments criticizing members of his family, including his billionaire father James Cox Chambers, a billionaire, partner in the NBA basketball team Atlanta Hawks, part of the Cox media empire, and a 1981 graduate from Bard College. On multiple websites, including the Communities in Schools website, James Cox Chambers is listed as the chair of the Bard College Board of Trustees.
In an interview with The Berkshire Edge, Great Barrington Police Chief Paul Storti said that the department is aware of the comments made by Chambers. “The Police Department is aware of the community’s heightened fear due to world events,” Storti said. “We are dedicated to protecting the safety of all of the members of the community.”
