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Suspended Corbyn backs activist meeting at which speakers express inflammatory views on Jews and Israel
EXCLUSIVE: The former leader sent a personal message of support to the hard-left ‘Don't Leave, Organise’ group
November 5, 2020 16:40
EXCLUSIVE: The former leader sent a personal message of support to the hard-left ‘Don't Leave, Organise’ group
November 5, 2020 16:40Jeremy Corbyn has sent a personal message of support to a meeting of Labour activists at which one of the main speakers claimed the "privileging" of Jewish communities meant they were seen as more "worthy" of resources to combat racism than other minorities.
The former leader's wife, Laura Alvarez, was also in attendance at this week's virtual meeting of the pro-Corbyn "Don't Leave, Organise" group of left-wing activists.
Speaking to the hard-left audience, controversial Labour councillor Jo Bird said: "I worry about privileging the racism faced by Jewish communities in this country as more worthy of resources than other forms of discrimination - such as against black people, Palestinians, Muslims and refugees."
The Wirral-based councillor, who stood for election to Labour's ruling National Executive Committee earlier this year, then added: “Privileging one group over another is divisive - it is bad for the many, as well as bad for the Jews."
She claimed to have "wept" when she read the full report by the EHRC into Labour's handling of antisemitism claiming it "vindicates" the arguments made by the Jewish Voice For Labour group which had repeatedly attempted defend Mr Corbyn over what it claimed were false antisemitism smears.
Also speaking at the event, held to challenge the decision to suspend Mr Corbyn, was Salma Yaqoob, a long-time ally of the ex-leader in the Stop The War movement and a former Labour candidate for the West Midland Mayoral post.
In her speech, Ms Yaqoob openly suggested that Israel had mounted an "international assault" on "all progressive movements" with false smears of antisemitism.
The Labour activist claimed there was an attempt to "break" Mr Corbyn "as a man" and added, "they are after us all, not just Labour members."
She described it as "shame" that both the former MP Chris Williamson and ex-Momentum vice-chair Jackie Walker had both been ousted from the Labour Party following antisemitism claims.
Continuing with her inflammatory claims, Ms Yaqoob said she was saying "nothing new" when she asked: “Who owns the media? How much money they have ... what their agenda is."
She said the suspension of the former Labour leader was "just another step in the war against Jeremy Corbyn that we did not begin".
Ms Yaqoob said he had been targeted, like others, because of the "anti-imperialist stance he has taken all his life."
She continued: “Just last week Gavin Williamson stated that those universities who do not adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism would have their funding removed.
"The fact that Amnesty International has been called antisemitic. The fact that Oxfam has been called antisemitic by racist in chief Trump.
"This is an international assault on all progressive movements. The fact that the Black Lives Matter movement has been labelled antisemitic - why?
"The common thread in all of this any organisation who has dared to critique the Israeli government's oppression of Palestinians has been made open season."
The former Respect Party member said this was the reason there was now a "witch hunt" against Labour activists.
Later in the meeting, Alison McGarry, the chair of Mr Corbyn's Islington North Labour Party, confirmed she had spoken to him that day.
She said: "I spoke to Jeremy this afternoon, and I know Laura Alvarez was in this meeting. I hope Laura Alvarez is still here - solidarity with Laura.
"Jeremy spoke to me today, he thanked everyone for the rallies - he feels it has made a significant difference.
"He passed on his greetings."
Tuesday evening's meeting of the Don't Leave, Organise group was hosted by Matt Wrack of the Fire Brigade's union.
Organisers Glyn Secker and Naomi Wimbourne-Idrissi of the Jewish Voice For Labour group were also in attendance.
Asked to comment on Mr Corbyn’s support for this week’s meeting and the speeches that were made at it, Lord Ian Austin said: “Salma Yaqoob should not be a member of the Labour Party.“
And it is shocking that Jeremy Corbyn should send his greetings to a meeting like this while he is suspended from the party - and further evidence of why he should not be allowed back in.”
The JC has contacted the Labour Party for comment.
