I wish I didn’t have to write this
I am an artist, not a politician, and would rather speak through creative action than explanatory text
But I find that for several reasons, I must respond to accusations and smears made against me these last couple of weeks
🧵 1/12
I am an artist, not a politician, and would rather speak through creative action than explanatory text
But I find that for several reasons, I must respond to accusations and smears made against me these last couple of weeks
🧵 1/12
This weekend I participated in the 10th national March for Palestine in London in solidarity with our siblings in Palestine, as well as those at home, and for doing so I was called all manner of ungodly things online
🧵 2/12
🧵 2/12
Some of those accounts saying often violent, misogynistic and racist things, had phrases like “whites will not be replaced” on their profiles, and images of iron eagles as banners.
And I’m the extremist?!
🧵 3/12
And I’m the extremist?!
🧵 3/12
Since footage was shared online of a Sing For Palestine event I took part in to raise money for @MECAForPeace, I’ve been continuously dragged in the press and on social media as an antisemite (which I am not) and need to respond to those accusations fully
🧵 4/12
🧵 4/12
My attempts to protest the atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank, and the West’s complicity in them, have been ridiculed by powerful men in the media in conversations that I have not been asked to contribute to
🧵 5/12
🧵 5/12
This included a discussion as to whether or not I should be arrested for my activism
My safety and the safety of my family has been threatened by some pretty scary people, emboldened by the rhetoric of frontline politicians, as well as cravenly irresponsible coverage
🧵 6/12
My safety and the safety of my family has been threatened by some pretty scary people, emboldened by the rhetoric of frontline politicians, as well as cravenly irresponsible coverage
🧵 6/12
I am not, and have never been, and will never be an antisemite.
I hold the Jewish people in my life very dearly, and have always kept great reverence for Judaism and Jewish culture, since travelling around Israel and Palestine as a teenager
🧵 7/12
I hold the Jewish people in my life very dearly, and have always kept great reverence for Judaism and Jewish culture, since travelling around Israel and Palestine as a teenager
🧵 7/12
I hope that my words make it clear that I have deep compassion for what Jewish people all over the world are experiencing right now, due to the rise of genuine antisemitism.
🧵 8/12
🧵 8/12
A call for one group’s liberation does not imply another’s destruction
🧵 9/12
🧵 9/12
I do not support Hamas and condemn them for the attack on October 7th. There were undoubtedly war crimes committed, appalling acts, including the massacre of innocent civilians and hostage-taking
My heart goes out to the victims of that attack, the hostages, and their families.
My heart goes out to the victims of that attack, the hostages, and their families.
I was so delighted to work with Côr Cochion, the socialist choir first formed in Cardiff during the miners’ strikes in the 80s
Their director, Wendy Lewis (incidentally one of many Jewish people who is opposed to the Israeli occupation), is a wonderful genius of community action
Their director, Wendy Lewis (incidentally one of many Jewish people who is opposed to the Israeli occupation), is a wonderful genius of community action
On Saturday at the March for Palestine I led the crowd to sing “Yma o hyd” (“still here” in Cymraeg) and “Sumud” (“steadfast perseverance” in Palestinian) together
And above those beautiful voices I sang this poem by Ukranian-Jewish-Puerto Rican poet Aurora Levins Morales:
And above those beautiful voices I sang this poem by Ukranian-Jewish-Puerto Rican poet Aurora Levins Morales:
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