When Jewish LGBTQ activists first heard about the DC Dyke March policy prohibiting marchers from carrying Israeli flags and Pride flags with the Star of David earlier this month, they thought all Star of David symbols were banned. March organizers initially explained that the Star of David was an inherently Zionist symbol, synonymic with the State of Israel, which could offend any Palestinian Marchers. At the march, organizer Jill Raney clarified that the event only prohibited the Israeli flag and the Pride flag with the Star of David because of their nationalist symbolism. But the question underlying the controversy remained: What does the Star of David symbolize?
The Star of David, often called the Magen David or Shield of David, has a rich ecumenical history, reaching across many centuries, countries and contexts. Before it became the Magen David, the Star of David simply existed as a six-pointed star or hexagram—a standard geometric design found on ancient artifacts dating back to as early as the Bronze Age.
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