Some of Miller's former backers have disavowed the sacked University of Bristol lecturer and expressed embarrassment for previously defending him
August 17, 2023 10:00
A dozen academics who backed controversial lecturer David Miller after he was sacked by the University of Bristol amid allegations of antisemitism have withdrawn their support, with some expressing their “regret” and “embarrassment”.
Miller was dismissed in 2021 after a long-running investigation into his conduct and remarks, including his claim that the university’s Jewish society was “being used as political pawns by a violent, racist foreign regime engaged in ethnic cleansing”.
At the time, more than 300 academics from across the UK and abroad signed an open letter objecting to his treatment by the university.
However, in the wake of a number of recent statements from Miller, including claims that Jews are over-represented in positions of power and do not face discrimination, the support seems to be waning.
Last week the JC contacted a number of the signatories to the letter, some of whom expressed “regret” for previously defending the sociology lecturer.
Former backer Dr Andrew Chitty, a philosophy lecturer at the University of Sussex, said it was now “impossible” to support Miller.
“In a context in which antisemitism is widespread and typically trades on stereotypes of Jews as rich and powerful, these assertions amount to antisemitic hate speech,” Chitty said.
“On the basis of everything I knew at the time, I supported Miller… in 2021. But in light of these assertions, it is impossible to support him now.”
Another signatory, David Emmons, a professor of history at the University of Montana, said: “I signed that letter because Miller’s scholarship was known to me, I respected it, and I assumed that he was being critical of Israeli policies.”
However, he continued, Miller’s latest statements “are not just ‘provocative’, they are bigoted. What can he possibly mean by Jews being ‘over-represented’?”
Emmons said his comments should be taken as a “disavowal of Miller… and my previous expression of ‘solidarity’ with him”.
Dr Nick Cimini, a sociology lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University, described Miller’s recent statements as “outrageous” and said they “mark a collapse in David’s thinking from slightly muddled comments about the state of Israel into conspiracy theory and antisemitism”.
Another signatory, Dr Conor Kostick, a historian at Trinity College Dublin, said: “I will defend any colleague who I think is being treated unfairly by their employer. But… it is unacceptable to promote antisemitism and I do believe Professor Miller is doing that.”
One of Miller's recent statements (Photo: Microsoft Teams)
