Apr 23, 2023 04:37 PM
U.K. Labour Party suspends Corbyn ally for arguing antisemitism is not racism
https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europ...7b55490000
INTRO: Britain's main opposition Labour Party has suspended high-profile lawmaker Diane Abbott over a letter she wrote in which she said the prejudice experienced by Jewish people was similar to, but not the same as, racism.
Labour, which polls indicate is likely to form Britain's next government after an election expected next year, faced accusations of discrimination and harassment against Jews under its former leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The equalities watchdog found in 2020 Labour had serious failings in the party’s handling of persistent antisemitism complaints.
Abbott, 69, was responding to a writer's claims that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people suffered racism. She said that their experiences were similar to racism but that there were differences.
"They undoubtedly experience prejudice. This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable," she wrote.
"It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice," she said in the letter. "But they are not all their lives subject to racism."
[...] She later apologized "unreservedly" and withdrew her remarks. ... British politicians condemned her comments made in the letter. The energy secretary, Grant Shapps, who is Jewish, said on Twitter that "once again, Jewish people have to wake up and see a Labour MP casually spouting hateful antisemitism." (MORE - details)
https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/europ...7b55490000
INTRO: Britain's main opposition Labour Party has suspended high-profile lawmaker Diane Abbott over a letter she wrote in which she said the prejudice experienced by Jewish people was similar to, but not the same as, racism.
Labour, which polls indicate is likely to form Britain's next government after an election expected next year, faced accusations of discrimination and harassment against Jews under its former leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The equalities watchdog found in 2020 Labour had serious failings in the party’s handling of persistent antisemitism complaints.
Abbott, 69, was responding to a writer's claims that Irish, Jewish and Traveller people suffered racism. She said that their experiences were similar to racism but that there were differences.
"They undoubtedly experience prejudice. This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable," she wrote.
"It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice," she said in the letter. "But they are not all their lives subject to racism."
[...] She later apologized "unreservedly" and withdrew her remarks. ... British politicians condemned her comments made in the letter. The energy secretary, Grant Shapps, who is Jewish, said on Twitter that "once again, Jewish people have to wake up and see a Labour MP casually spouting hateful antisemitism." (MORE - details)