,
12 tweets,
3 min read
Read on Twitter
This is utterly out of order. When does the left ever say we've been "too apologetic" about fighting racism or bigotry? Why is he, a non-Jew, right and Jon Lansman - a Jewish socialist who founded Momentum and ran Corbyn's second leadership campaign - wrong about anti-Semitism?
It is possible to assert that the Labour leadership is not anti-Semitic - it isn't - and that the vast majority of Labour members abhor anti-Semitism - they do, whilst recognising that there *is* an anti-Semitic minority on the left (which I've seen myself - and I'm not Jewish!)
"Anti-Semitism is being used by the right to smear the left". No shit! The right cynically use anything they can to beat us. If I start punching people in the street, the right would say: "See! The left are violent!" That doesn't mean me punching people isn't a problem!
"This is all an attempt to shut down all criticism of the Israeli occupation of Palestine." Watch this! "THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION OF PALESTINIAN IS ILLEGAL, MURDEROUS AND IMMORAL. FREEDOM FOR PALESTINE." See, you can be passionately pro-Palestine and opposed to anti-Semitism!
"But the Tories are more racist". No shit! They're the f*cking Tory party! Since when were the Tories the baseline for our movement which exists to defeat all forms of oppression, exploitation and bigotry? Yes, the Tories drip with racism. *WE* must get our own house in order.
There's being a leftist - believing capitalism is a series of power relations - and being a conspiracist - believing there's shadowy individuals secretly pulling the strings. Conspiracism always leads to anti-Semitism, and a small but vocal group of conspiracists are in our ranks
Here's a piece I wrote last year about how conspiracism filled a vacuum when the left disappeared as a political force, and how Labour must introduce political education to defeat anti-Semitism: huckmag.com/perspectives/o…
Over and over again I've had horribly distressing conversations with Jews who feel genuinely upset, angry and abandoned. They are not making it up, as if we'd say that about Muslims or gay people talking about bigotry. Listen to their hurt and let's act.
I am sick to death of people who a) are utterly insensitive about the lived experience and hurt of a minority and b) are simultaneously imperilling a very real chance of a radical left-wing government that'll shift the balance of power in the West away from far right populism.
Instead of this toxic bullshit, let's actually unite around constructive proposals to root out anti-Semitism from Labour. Here are brilliant suggestions from my friend @MikeSegalov theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
Here's a speech I did last year about why the left needs to be serious about tackling anti-Semitism at a Momentum meeting: I'd note the room cheered it, not because I'm patting myself on the back, but because lots on the left do get it.
Finally, to those turning purple screaming "WHY HASN'T OWEN TWEETED ABOUT THIS THE DISGRACE!!", I was on a 12 hour flight from Cape Town which landed at 5.30am and have just woken up to the latest instalment of "THE HELLFIRE OF BRITISH POLITICS". Hope that's OK!
