*Thread* The Islamist pressure group MEND and the Socialist Worker Party front “Stand Up To Racism” are a fine pairing.
They say they oppose racism. But when it comes to antisemitism, they are part of the problem. So any posturing at this meeting should be rejected. 1/12
They say they oppose racism. But when it comes to antisemitism, they are part of the problem. So any posturing at this meeting should be rejected. 1/12
Awareness is rising. Earlier this year, Tower Hamlets council refused to host a "Stand Up To Racism” event featuring Glyn Secker, a far left activist who has accused Jewish leaders of being “in the gutter” with “rats” of the far right. 2/12
thejc.com/news/uk/counci…
thejc.com/news/uk/counci…
There’s more to say. This time, about the SWP activist Nahella Ashraf, scheduled to speak at the event this weekend.
In 2018, the antisemitic hardcore, including Chris Williamson and Tony Greenstein, assembled outside Labour’s headquarters to demonstrate against the… 3/12
In 2018, the antisemitic hardcore, including Chris Williamson and Tony Greenstein, assembled outside Labour’s headquarters to demonstrate against the… 3/12
party’s planned adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism. They were in form. A top figure in "Jewish Voice for Labour", the champions of Labour antisemitism, told the Jewish Chronicle Greenstein “is not an antisemite. And no we won’t expel him from our organisation.” 4/12
Enthused by all this, Ashraf posted a video of her fellow SWP activist Rob Ferguson at the demo. Bellowing angrily, Ferguson claimed the IHRA definition would be used to “victimise” people. The hardcore failed – the party did adopt the definition. 5/12
Ashraf too is keen on “Jewish Voice for Labour”. She has said it was “great” to see JVL lament that “allegations of antisemitism, often flimsy or false, have resulted in suspensions and expulsions from the party”. 6/12
Ashraf has also dismissed campaigners against antisemitism in Labour, saying “they are not the touch bearers of anti racism they'd like us to believe!”
The Board of Deputies of British Jews is among her targets. In 2018, Ashraf promoted a JVL statement saying the group... 7/12
The Board of Deputies of British Jews is among her targets. In 2018, Ashraf promoted a JVL statement saying the group... 7/12
… was “appalled” by the Board speaking up about antisemitism in Labour. Mind that Zionist trickery: “this is an attempt to influence local elections and has nothing to do with the real and necessary task of challenging racism”. 8/12
And what about Israel? Easy one. In 2019, Ashraf posted an SWP message stating “we stand unconditionally with the Palestinian resistance in Gaza”. The “resistance” in Gaza is of course Hamas. The message also called Israel a “racist state”. 9/12
The message flagged a “Socialist Worker” article on Israel. Its very first line is “The existence of the state of Israel is a racist endeavour.” This statement has been highly controversial in the Labour party, as it is one of the potential examples of antisemitism in… 10/12
… the IHRA definition. The article concluded with a call for a single state, the return of refugees, and rejection of the IHRA definition. This is an ugly vision of the annihilation of today’s Israel and a free pass for antisemites. 11/12
It is long past time for mainstream politicians who still work with ”Stand Up To Racism” to give the divisive and nasty SWP front a dismissive miss. The Labour MP Afzal Khan could start, this weekend. 12/12
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