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    Guardian removes letter from Chomsky Finkelstein and others defending Chris Williamson Archived Message

    Posted by Ken Waldron on July 9, 2019, 4:26 pm

    HT: Afshin Rattansi


    The anti-@jeremycorbyn @guardian just removed a letter from Noam Chomsky and others defending @DerbyChrisW after complaints from the @BoardofDeputies


    "This letter was taken down on 9 July 2019 pending investigation."


    http://www.theguardian.com/info/2019/jul/09/removed-article


    Original letter:

    Jewish support for Chris Williamson

    Prominent members of the Jewish community, in the UK and abroad, write to defend the Labour MP Chris Williamson amid allegations of antisemitism

    We the undersigned, all Jews, are writing in support of Chris Williamson and to register our dismay at the recent letter organised by Tom Watson, and signed by parliamentary Labour party and House of Lords members, calling for his suspension (Anger over return of MP who said Labour was ‘too apologetic’ over antisemitism, 28 June).

    Chris Williamson did not say that the party had been “too apologetic about antisemitism”, as has been widely misreported. He correctly stated that the Labour party has done more than any other party to combat the scourge of antisemitism and that, therefore, its stance should be less apologetic. Such attacks on Jeremy Corbyn’s supporters aim to undermine not only the Labour party’s leadership but also all pro-Palestinian members.

    The mass media have ignored the huge support for Chris both within and beyond the Labour party. Support that includes many Jews. The party needs people like him, with the energy and determination to fight for social justice. As anti-racist Jews, we regard Chris as our ally: he stands as we do with the oppressed rather than the oppressor. It should also be noted that he has a longer record of campaigning against racism and fascism than most of his detractors.

    The Chakrabarti report recommended that the party’s disciplinary procedures respect due process, favour education over expulsion and promote a culture of free speech, yet this has been abandoned in practice. We ask the Labour party to reinstate Chris Williamson and cease persecuting such members on false allegations of antisemitism.

    Noam Chomsky MIT, Norman Finkelstein Lecturer and writer, Ed Asner Actor, Prof Richard Falk Princeton University, Leah Lavene and Jenny Manson Jewish Voice for Labour and more than 100 others. F
    ull list at tinyurl.com/y4mr4lwb


    Archived:

    http://web.archive.org/web/20190708221559/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2019/jul/08/jewish-support-for-chris-williamson

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