Opinion
CAA was determined to make sure that this time, Bristol would have no choice but to act
October 20, 2021 17:13
1 min read
Iin February, when David Miller made his now-infamous remarks claiming that Jewish student groups are an “enemy” that must be “directly targeted”, the scene was all too familiar. He had done something very similar almost two years before.
Back then, as now, the Jewish community reacted with fury, the newspapers wrote their articles, politicians demanded action, and Miller’s employer, the University of Bristol, battened down the hatches and waited tight-lipped for the storm to pass.
As the Jewish community and its allies showed righteous outrage, the university did not budge.
For too long, this has been how universities have reacted to antisemitism on campus.
We were determined that this time would be different. Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) has pioneered innovative legal solutions and we started to prepare the ground for a potential court challenge.
We immediately assembled some of the legal team that worked on our landmark referral of the Labour Party to the Equality and Human Rights Commission — Asserson Law Offices and barrister Derek Spitz of One Essex Court — as well as employment expert Benjamin Grey of Littleton Chambers.
The circumstances were similar: brazen antisemitism and an institution that seemed to believe it could not be forced to act.
A small group of Jewish students had the courage to step forward.
Put yourself in their position: you are at university to study and have the time of your life, and suddenly you are faced with the question of whether to sue your own institution just to uphold your rights.
Together with our legal team, we identified a potential claim against the university for creating a hostile environment for Jewish students through its continuing failure to hold Miller accountable, and for itself breaching the diversity and inclusion terms of its contract with students.
Following pre-action correspondence, legal proceedings were launched.
The University of Bristol thus knew that whatever its internal investigation might find, the facts were going to be placed before a court. Just a month later, Miller was fired.
The claim against the university remains in place. It remains to be seen if Miller will appeal.
The students who stepped forward are nothing short of heroic.
For our part, Campaign Against Antisemitism will continue to do whatever it takes to defend Jewish students, and to show them that when they stand on principle, they will not stand alone.
Gideon Falter is Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism