Racism prompts resignation of NUS officials.
toplpunkt | 12.04.2005 18:08
Of course, being judeophobic racism, indymedia's readers are likely to protest my having posted the below in language reminiscent of a Der Sturmer op-ed...
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Guardian. 12/4
Polly Curtis.
The Chief Rabbi, Dr Jonathan Sacks, today condemned the National Union of Students after three of its Jewish officials of the union resigned last week over a perceived failure to tackle anti-semitism on campuses.
Luciana Berger and Mitch Simmons resigned from the national executive of the NUS and Jonny Warren resigned from the steering committee during the union's national conference last week in Blackpool. They claimed that the union's leadership was "turning a blind eye" to anti-semitic leaflets being distributed at conference and a series of rows on campuses throughout the year.
Kat Fletcher, the president of the union, said she was "deeply concerned" by the resignations.
Ms Berger, who has been convenor of NUS's anti-racism campaign this year, said: "There's been a host of events throughout the year. Issues of anti-semitism have been brought to the leadership's attention and there's been total inaction. At conference, which is the heart of our democracy, there were further events of anti-semitism. The leadership were turning a blind eye to anti-semitism."
The leaflets at conference referred to the Elders of the Protocol of Zion, a 19th century forgery which claimed that there was a plan for Jewish global domination and was subsequently used in anti-Jewish propaganda. Other instances throughout the year relate largely to an ongoing row at the School of Oriental and African Studies, part of the University of London, where there have been continuing clashes between the Jewish society and the union. Jewish students objected to a conference organised by the Palestinian society on the academic boycott of Israel, entitled Resisting Israeli Apartheid: Strategies and Principles.
In a statement issued by the Union of Jewish students, Dr Sacks said: "I am distressed that the atmosphere at this year's NUS conference was so hostile that the Jewish members of its executive felt compelled to resign. They did not do this lightly.
"Having spent the weekend with Jewish student leaders, it is clear that they felt threatened by the atmosphere at NUS conference, disturbed by materials being distributed there, and dismayed at the lack of support from the NUS leadership. This cannot continue if NUS is to win the fight against racism in all its forms."
Ms Fletcher, said: "NUS is an organisation which has the principles of equality, diversity and democracy at its very core. We are proud of our record in tackling racism and fascism wherever it occurs and have undertaken excellent work this year in promoting interfaith dialogue on campuses.
"We are deeply concerned that three of our committee members have decided to resign from their last few months in office.
"NUS will be looking at the issues that have come up in great detail and we will be seeking to ensure that students of all faiths and backgrounds can continue to actively participate in our campaigns and our democracy."
http://education.guardian.co.uk/students/news/story/0,12891,1457797,00.html
Guardian. 12/4
Polly Curtis.
The Chief Rabbi, Dr Jonathan Sacks, today condemned the National Union of Students after three of its Jewish officials of the union resigned last week over a perceived failure to tackle anti-semitism on campuses.
Luciana Berger and Mitch Simmons resigned from the national executive of the NUS and Jonny Warren resigned from the steering committee during the union's national conference last week in Blackpool. They claimed that the union's leadership was "turning a blind eye" to anti-semitic leaflets being distributed at conference and a series of rows on campuses throughout the year.
Kat Fletcher, the president of the union, said she was "deeply concerned" by the resignations.
Ms Berger, who has been convenor of NUS's anti-racism campaign this year, said: "There's been a host of events throughout the year. Issues of anti-semitism have been brought to the leadership's attention and there's been total inaction. At conference, which is the heart of our democracy, there were further events of anti-semitism. The leadership were turning a blind eye to anti-semitism."
The leaflets at conference referred to the Elders of the Protocol of Zion, a 19th century forgery which claimed that there was a plan for Jewish global domination and was subsequently used in anti-Jewish propaganda. Other instances throughout the year relate largely to an ongoing row at the School of Oriental and African Studies, part of the University of London, where there have been continuing clashes between the Jewish society and the union. Jewish students objected to a conference organised by the Palestinian society on the academic boycott of Israel, entitled Resisting Israeli Apartheid: Strategies and Principles.
In a statement issued by the Union of Jewish students, Dr Sacks said: "I am distressed that the atmosphere at this year's NUS conference was so hostile that the Jewish members of its executive felt compelled to resign. They did not do this lightly.
"Having spent the weekend with Jewish student leaders, it is clear that they felt threatened by the atmosphere at NUS conference, disturbed by materials being distributed there, and dismayed at the lack of support from the NUS leadership. This cannot continue if NUS is to win the fight against racism in all its forms."
Ms Fletcher, said: "NUS is an organisation which has the principles of equality, diversity and democracy at its very core. We are proud of our record in tackling racism and fascism wherever it occurs and have undertaken excellent work this year in promoting interfaith dialogue on campuses.
"We are deeply concerned that three of our committee members have decided to resign from their last few months in office.
"NUS will be looking at the issues that have come up in great detail and we will be seeking to ensure that students of all faiths and backgrounds can continue to actively participate in our campaigns and our democracy."
http://education.guardian.co.uk/students/news/story/0,12891,1457797,00.html
toplpunkt
Comments
Hide the following 6 comments
corporate repost
12.04.2005 18:35
imc'er
Good Bloody Riddance
12.04.2005 19:41
Every time someone challenges a Zionist extremists, they use the words 'Holocaust' or 'Anti Semitism' to try and win the argument. It's about time they either started to behave and treat others with the same degree of dignity they demand they are treated with, or accept the fact that just maybe, public antipathy towards them is caused by their right wing, fascist nationalism and belief in cultural and religious supremacy.
Agitator
good bloody riddance
12.04.2005 19:43
Every time someone challenges a Zionist extremists, they use the words 'Holocaust' or 'Anti Semitism' to try and win the argument. It's about time they either started to behave and treat others with the same degree of dignity they demand they are treated with, or accept the fact that just maybe, public antipathy towards them is caused by their right wing, fascist nationalism and belief in cultural and religious supremacy.
agitator
No to Agitator -Stand Against All Racisms
12.04.2005 22:13
Most of the Jewish people I hang out with are anti-capitalist and against all racisms, including British and Isreali racism - but then so are most of the people from all ethnic / cultural backgrounds i hang out with ;-)
Anti-semitism exist regardless of whether the state of isreal exists and must always be opposed
Don't fall in to the Zionist trap of confusing the Jewish people with the state of Israel- the Protocols of the Elders of Zion are just racist shit and people who promote those lies are racists - they are not the same thing, whatever the Zionist the original post might say, as conferences at SOAS on opposing Israeli Apartheid - as the latter are anti-racist
it's simple really
g
Please write something original
13.04.2005 09:06
All the Indymedia activists I have come across are opposed to all forms of racism... and many are also opposed to all forms of nationalism and the existance of states and nations come to that. Most are also opposed to all forms of religion and are athiests, though there are also some religious people involved...
If this article were hidden it would be because it it's a corport repost not because of it's content -- look at the editorial guidelines, this is a reason why posts *may* be hidden:
Reposts : Articles that are simply pasted from corporate news sites. Please write something original, by all means link to articles elsewhere and quote from them but don't just copy them.
If toplpunkt were less lazy and actually wrote an original article about this subject then there is no way it would be hidden.
i18n
Israel and Judaism are two different things
13.04.2005 15:47
Being Jewish doesn't mean you automatically support Israel's government. Therefore being anti-Israel does not equal anti-Jewish.
These spurious anti-semitism complaints are muddying the water, which I'm sure is exactly what the real backers of Israel (states like Britain, USA etc) encourage.
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