New message of support from Rhea Barnes, 2019 Labour parliamentary candidate for Argyll and Bute

We have received the following message of support from Rhea Barnes, 2019 Labour parliamentary candidate for Argyll and Bute:

"I am extremely concerned by and condemn the arrest of a young left wing activist by Nottingham Police Force. 

In the footage taken of the incident the activist makes the connection between Zionism and racism and for this he is forcabiliy handcuffed and arrested. Criticism of Zionism and the actions of Israel are not antisemitism and it is dangerous to make this assertion. To do so stifles and silences free speech and criticism of Israel's past and present crimes against the Palestinian people. 

Instead of arresting young activists on politically motivated charges of antisemitism, perhaps that energy could be better spent tackling real incidents of racism and bigotry that menace our society and the very real threat presented from the resurgent right in the UK. 

I sincerely hope that this incident does not become a regular occurrence and that those who stand up for the weak and vulnerable are not persecuted and silenced."

Rhea’s name has been added to our growing list of supporters:

Revolutionary Communist Group
Samidoun Prisoner Solidarity Network
Tony Greenstein, Anti-zionist Jewish activist
Rhea Barnes, Former Labour Candidate for Argyll and Bute
אֶסְתֵּר, Anti-zionist Jewish activist

If you like to add your name, or the name of your organisation, to our list of supporters, please get in touch. 

Zionism Is Racism Defence Campaign.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Defend Solidarity With Palestine! Zionism Is Racism!

Image
On Saturday 8 February, Daniel Green, a black pro-Palestine activist was singled out for arrest on an anti-Zionist demonstration organised by the  Revolutionary Communist Group  in Nottingham. The picket was of HSBC, targeted for its funding of arms companies supplying the racist Israeli state. Daniel was the only black person on the protest, and the only one to be targeted. This wrongful and racist arrest must be put into the context of the ongoing campaign to criminalise opposition to Zionism (a form of racism) – both in Palestine itself, and in Britain especially following the adoption of the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism. An example of ‘anti-semitism’ under the IHRA is the statement that ‘Israel is a racist endeavour’. The arrest of this activist shows that the criminalisation of support for Palestine is well underway.  To get involved in defending the right to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle and against Isr
Read more

Pledge your support! Join Samidoun, Tony Greenstein, The Revolutionary Communist Group, and more

The Zionism Is Racism Defence Campaign welcomes support from everyone who stands in solidarity with the Palestinians. Offering us a pledge of support will help us to let Nottinghamshire Police know that people are paying attention and that their actions will not go unresisted.  Our latest message of support has come from Tony Greenstein, longstanding Jewish anti-Zionist who was kicked out of the Labour Party for his support for the Palestinian people. He wrote: Of course I support you. The decision of Nottinghamshire Police is outrageous, an attack on free speech and when the comrade concerned is cleared, as I'm sure he will be, then the bastards in Nottinghamshire Police should be sued for false and malicious arrest. Tony’s name has been added to our growing list of supporters: Revolutionary Communist Group Samidoun Prisoner Solidarity Network Tony Greenstein, Anti-zionist Jewish activist Rhea Barnes, Former Labour Candidate for Argyll and Bute אֶסְתֵּר ,
Read more

Nottingham Palestine Solidarity Campaign pledges its support

We thank Nottingham Palestine Solidarity for their pledge of support for our campaign and are delighted to publish their statement of support: "Zionism in the 21 st century can be understood as a political ideology that seeks to maintain a Jewish state that privileges the rights of Jewish Israelis above Palestinians, and that seeks to maintain a permanent Jewish majority, via a range of policies and laws that discriminate against Palestinians. To confuse – whether deliberately or otherwise – legitimate criticism of the laws of the Israeli state or acts or policies of Israeli Governments with antisemitism only serves to undermine the struggle against racism.   We must protect our right to stand up against the dispossession of a people and to oppose the continuing oppression of Palestinians, whether living in the occupied territories, resident as second class citizens in Israel or living elsewhere as refugees. The racist laws acts and policies of the state of Israel must be amon
Read more