Thread by @NudderingNudnik

Short thread on the disrespect & cynical manipulation of #HMD by @UCU

The UCU is the major trade union for University academic staff in the UK. It has long been captured by the hard Left, is obsessively “anti-Zionist” and has been regularly accused of institutional antisemitism

@ucu So it comes as little surprise to learn that the Sheffield branch of UCU @sheffielducu has planned a meeting to mark Holocaust Memorial Day that is wholly concerned with excusing and/or minimising antisemitism.

@ucu @sheffielducu The invite begins: “Please join Sheffield UCU in commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day” and is supported by the local TUC branch.
The UCU event is a talk by a fringe, Leftist Jewish academic – Brian Klug.

@ucu @sheffielducu Klug is best known (and beloved by JVL etc) for his attack on the IHRA definition of antisemitism. He is a regular signatory to asajew letters to the Guardian attacking the mainstream Jewish community and excusing or minimising Leftist antisemitism/Corbyn etc.

@ucu @sheffielducu His HMD talk will attack the IHRA definition & then address “the conflation of anti-Zionism and antisemitism” i.e. reassure UCU members and members of the public who attend the event that it’s fine for them to continue with their obsessive hatred of the world’s only Jewish state.

@ucu @sheffielducu And THIS is how Sheffield UCU choose to mark the deaths of 6 million Jews in the Shoah: by legitimating hatred of the only thing that – had it existed at the time – could have guaranteed the survival of those 6 million Jewish men, women and children.

@ucu @sheffielducu The event is happening at Sheffield University @sheffielduni and therefore had to pass a process of scrutiny for external events. This should be a cause of huge concern for the University and particularly for Jewish students @SheffieldJSoc

@ucu @sheffielducu @sheffielduni @SheffieldJsoc Equally, @HMD_UK will I’m sure want to ensure that any reference to HMD is removed from the publicity for this shameful event.

@ucu @sheffielducu @sheffielduni @SheffieldJsoc @HMD_UK A debate on these strands might be appropriate for an event at the University at other times– when a speaker is matched by another giving an alternative viewpoint – but this could NEVER be an appropriate event for HMD or the immediate HMD period.

@ucu @sheffielducu @sheffielduni @SheffieldJsoc @HMD_UK HMD is – inevitably – a prime opportunity for antisemites to bait and insult Jews. That a major Trade union and a University are complicit in this should worry all decent people.

Ends

eventbrite.com/e/bringing-ant…