Shame on You, National Portrait Gallery: When Hate Finds a Platform

The National Portrait Gallery is a place where stories are told through faces, a space that celebrates the individuals who have shaped and inspired our world. Yet, the recent inclusion of Nelly Adam, also known as Queen Niche, raises serious questions about the platforming of individuals whose social media presence is deeply troubling and antithetical to the values of inclusion, truth, and justice.

A simple scroll through her social media accounts reveals posts that are not only offensive but outright antisemitic, dangerous, and revisionist in nature. Here are just a few examples:

• A placard comparing the Holocaust to current events in Israel and Gaza—an act defined as antisemitic by the International Definition of Antisemitism. Equating the policies of the Israeli government to those of Nazis trivializes the atrocities of the Holocaust and is a direct attack on the Jewish community.

• A sign that reads: “Never again seems only to be for white people.” This statement distorts the universal lesson of the Holocaust and undermines the suffering of Jewish victims by injecting divisive racial rhetoric into a tragedy that affected people of all backgrounds.

• A retweet of disgraced professor David Miller’s comments on the “Zionist regime,” including his false and harmful claim that “Jews are over-represented” in cultural, economic, and political power. This is the kind of rhetoric that fuels dangerous conspiracy theories and has been historically used to incite hatred against Jewish communities.

• A sign claiming “Jesus was a Palestinian.” This blatant historical revisionism erases Jesus’ Jewish identity and disregards the historical reality of first-century Judea. Such false narratives are offensive not only to Jews but also to Christians, as they rewrite the foundational stories of faith and history.

• A video of the chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a slogan that is widely understood as a call for the destruction of Israel. Whether intended or not, this genocidal chant implies the eradication of half the world’s Jewish population living in Israel.

These posts are not harmless expressions of opinion; they are part of a growing wave of antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiment that demonizes the Jewish people, distorts history, and perpetuates hatred.

What Is the Portrait Gallery Thinking?

By choosing to hang a portrait of someone who actively promotes such inflammatory and dangerous rhetoric, the National Portrait Gallery is giving legitimacy to these hateful messages. Art and culture institutions carry a responsibility to uphold values of truth, inclusion, and respect—not to amplify voices that spread division and hatred.

This decision doesn’t just offend those who stand against antisemitism—it actively undermines the mission of the gallery itself. The inclusion of such a figure in an esteemed space sends the message that these views are acceptable or worthy of celebration.

Why This Matters to Us as Christians

As Christians, we are called to stand against hatred and defend truth. Antisemitism, in any form, is not just an attack on the Jewish people—it’s an affront to the God we serve and to the foundation of our faith. Jesus was Jewish, and so were the apostles. Our faith is deeply rooted in the story of the Jewish people, and to ignore or erase that is to rewrite the truth.

The Bible calls us to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9), to speak truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), and to stand up for justice (Micah 6:8). This means calling out antisemitism wherever it is found, whether on the streets, online, or even in the halls of respected institutions like the National Portrait Gallery.

What Can You Do?

This is not the time for silence. If you, like us, are disturbed by this decision, here are some ways to take action:

1. Write to the National Portrait Gallery. Share your concerns and demand accountability for the platforming of antisemitic figures.
2. Educate others. Share the truth about antisemitism and the historical realities that are being distorted.
3. Pray. Ask God to open hearts and minds, and to bring healing and reconciliation to communities torn apart by hate.

The battle against antisemitism and historical revisionism is far from over. But by speaking up, standing firm, and shining a light on the truth, we can ensure that voices of hate don’t go unchallenged.

The National Portrait Gallery should be a space for inspiration and unity—not a platform for division and bigotry. It’s time they remembered that.

Ways to Contact the Gallery

If you’re disturbed by the decision to platform Nelly Adam, you can share your concerns directly with the National Portrait Gallery.

Address:
National Portrait Gallery
8th and F Streets NW
Washington, DC 20001

Phone:
Visitor Services: (202) 633-1000
Director’s Office: (202) 633-8276

Email:
Contact the gallery

Let your voice be heard. Together, we can stand against hatred and hold institutions accountable for their actions.