Dear comrade <<First Name>>
Labour Against the Witchhunt and a number of other organisations have got together to jointly discuss how we can intervene at this year's Labour Party conference and beyond. Like a number of other groups, we had our venues cancelled in the run up to the 2018 and 2019 conferences, when pro-Israel supporters wrongly claimed that we were supporting antisemites. In 2019, members of the Labour Left Alliance in Brighton swiftly booked The Rialto Theatre to stage a number of evening events. This year, we have jointly booked the theatre for a full 3-day festival, where we can freely discuss and, importantly, organise. This exciting initiative called 'Resist! at Labour Party conference' will be launched TOMORROW EVENING at 5pm - see more information below.
We are also pleased to participate in the 'Not the Forde Enquiry' on Saturday June 5, which will examine the 'leaked report', which encapsulates why the Corbyn leadership was defeated - through constant attacks by the right, but also because of the futile attempts by the Corbyn leadership to appease the right. More details below.
Below, find a short report about the 200,000-strong Palestine demonstration by the newly-formed Labour Campaign for Free Speech, to which LAW is affiliated. We urge all comrades to join the campaign here and come to its first all-members' meeting on May 29 (comrades will receive a Zoom link upon signing up).
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Palestine solidarity is NOT antisemitism!
Supporters of the Labour Campaign for Free Speech handed out over 2,000 copies of our important leaflet at Saturday’s massive and inspiring Palestine demonstration in London, which made the hugely important point that ‘Palestine solidarity is NOT antisemitism’. “We were heartened that so many comrades recognised us and our campaign”, said Tony Greenstein.
The coverage of the demonstration in the mainstream press certainly shows how important this campaign is: The Sunday Times ran a huge piece condemning “anti-Jewish hatred” allegedly visible at the protest. This is the full evidence of the article – three posters featuring the following slogans (see article below).
- ‘Israel the new Nazi state’
- ‘One Holocaust does not justify another’
- ‘Netanyahu surpasses Hitler in Barbarism’
“Even under the IHRA misdefinition, one would struggle to make this into anything antisemitic”, says Tina Werkmann of the LCFS steering committee. “But clearly, these posters express criticisms of Zionism, not Jews. I saw not a single expression of antisemitism at the demonstration.”
The campaign to purposefully conflate anti-Zionism and antisemitism is in full swing, as the efforts to outlaw the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) as antisemitic – as outlined in the Queen’s Speech – show. Together with the ongoing campaign to force universities to impose the discredited IHRA misdefinition of antisemitism or face defunding, we are facing a serious campaign by the right against the right to free speech and academic freedom.
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Friday May 28, 5pm: Launch of Resist! at Labour Party conference
On the left? There's never been a more important time to RESIST!
Feel silenced? It’s time to speak out!
If you’re coming to the Labour Party Conference in Brighton ‘21 as a delegate or visitor or staying at home watching via Zoom, it’s your opportunity to be part of THE discussion of how we continue to fight for real change…..
Want to know more about our planned political debates, cultural events and more?
Come to our launch event on Friday May 28 at 6pm to find out what we’re planning - and why - register here.
The speakers will be:
Becky Massey, activist expelled on a fake charge of “anti-Semitism”
Chris Williamson – the former Labour MP and founder of RESIST: Movement for a People’s Party
Kerry-Anne Mendoza, editor of The Canary, will talk about why #TheResistEvent is so important.
Tony Greenstein, the first Jewish socialist to be expelled on a fake charge of anti-Semitism.
Ben Steele, of Brighton and Hove Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Esther Giles, treasurer of the Socialist Health Association
Deepa Driver, chair of Camden Momentum and executive member of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers, will emphasise the urgent need to stand up for free speech, for whistle-blowers, and for Julian Assange.
Jackie Walker, author, activist, and co-writer (and performer) of The Lynching.
Chair: Tina Werkmann of Labour Against the Witchhunt, one of our the supporting organisations included among our launch partners. Along with Labour Left Alliance, Labour Campaign for Free Speech, and the Labour in Exile Network.
-> Register here to be kept informed about the event in September 2021.
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In a number of universities, academics and staff are under threat of suspension for daring to speak out on Israel and Zionism, for example Bristol Professor David Miller. In addition, the government is threatening to defund universities who do not impose IHRA. Join us to discuss how to fight back.
Speakers include
- Norman Finkelstein
- Deepa Driver
- Moshe Machover
- Saladin Meckled-Garcia
- Ilan Pappe
- Tom Hickey (BRICUP)
Register here to attend this event: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtcOqrqjouE9BgQFqKVY_z8Nr6IBE9d76K
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June 5, online: Not the Forde Enquiry
Martin Forde QC launched his inquiry into the leaked report on the Labour Party’s Governance and Legal Unit in May 2020. The leaked report appeared to show horrific attempts by the party’s paid officials to undermine the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn - but also many mistakes made by the Corbyn leadership, which made concession after concession to the right, trying to 'fight antisemitism'.
The Forde Inquiry was first supposed to have reported by mid-July but after successive delays it was announced that publication would be postponed until the completion of an investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office. Many commentators believe Forde’s report is never going to appear because Keir Starmer simply wants to bury the truth.
Speakers include:
- Graham Bash, Labour Representation Committee (pc)
- Jackie Walker, author and anti-racism activist
- Leah Levane, Jewish Voice for Labour (pc)
- Chris Williamson, former Labour MP
- Tina Werkmann, Labour Against the Witchhunt
- Rebecca Massey, LLA Brighton
Register here.
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LAW's sponsors include:
- Alexei Sayle, comedian
- Ken Livingstone
- Professor Moshé Machover, Israeli socialist and founder of Matzpen
- Ian Hodson, president of the Bakers Union
- Ken Loach, film director
- Noam Chomsky, author and activist
LAW’s honorary president is Moshé Machover
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