The Salford Star has received a letter representing Jewish people in Salford and beyond who do not agree with the Say No to Anti-Semitism rally in Manchester tomorrow. They argue that the constant attacks on Jeremy Corbyn, who was a founder of the Anti-Nazi League and has spent his whole life fighting racism, are totally unjustified and are detracting from the real threat from the far right. They also believe that the 'anti-Semitism' slurs are an attempt to silence criticism of Israel's policies in Palestine.
The full letter reads...
"We are a group of diverse, Jewish residents of Greater Manchester who have come together to challenge the well-publicised campaign of the Board of Deputies, prominent Labour Party grandees and the organisers of the Say No to Anti-Semitism rally in Manchester. Although anti-Semitism is rising, it is not part of our lived, everyday experience as members of Jewish communities in Britain. They do not speak in our name.
We live in a richly multi-ethnic city which has serious problems of racism and social exclusion, but we have come together to celebrate our cohesion in campaigns like We Stand Together. The fight against anti-Semitism should go hand in hand with a more active involvement of the Jewish establishment in fighting racism and in support of refugees.
We celebrate, as Jews, our long tradition of internationalism and support for the poor and oppressed at home and abroad, built on our collective memory of anti-Semitism, ethnic cleansing, seeking refuge - and mutual aid.
We worry that the effect of the negative campaign Enough is Enough will divide, rather than unite us. With the exaggeration of the extent of anti-Semitism in British life, it instils unnecessary fear in the Jewish population in the UK. It also detracts attention from the real threats of anti-Semitism, from the increasingly well-funded alt-right (e.g. in USA, with Steve Bannon), in far-right organisations in Britain and in explicitly anti-Semitic European governing parties (e.g.in Poland and Hungary).
The virulence of the well-publicised diatribes of Jewish leaders has the effect of silencing Palestinian voices and denying a platform to supporters of Palestinian rights. Whilst in Gaza, since March 30th, over 170 Palestinian protesters, mostly displaced refugees, including medics, journalists, disabled people and many children, were killed by the Israeli military, the British media are filled with the Jewish leadership's hurt over so-called 'anti-Semitic' remarks or Jeremy Corbyn's historical views on who 'gets' British irony.
The well-documented abuses of human rights by Israel, contravening international law, need to be called out. We Jews stand together with Palestinians to fight hate and racism in all of its forms, even when it is in our own communities.
We urge Jewish and other readers to respond positively to this statement. Please show the wider Manchester community that there are many people who reject racism and anti-Semitism and support free speech on Palestine and Israel.
Join us at a rally at Central Library, Manchester, 12-2.00pm, Sunday 16th September. Free Speech on Palestine! No to Anti-Semitism!"
Update: 16th September:
Jonny Wineberg Director of Operations We Stand Together has contacted the Salford Star with the following statement...
"We Stand Together stands against all forms of racism including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. To attack a rally against anti-Semitism is a misjudgement. Our mission is to celebrate the diversity of our community and ensure all people feel safe and included. We would hope that those making such statements would instead look for opportunities for dialogue, which we would happily support."
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