I spoke up against my local Trades Council inviting Chris Willamson to speak.. I wasn’t prepared for what would come next.
Trigger Warning — Anti-semtism.
Last week I discovered my local trade union Council had invited Chris Willamson the Labour MP currently suspended in the antisemitism row to Hebden Bridge.
Here is the blurb for the event — https://www.facebook.com/events/2232685430113116/
“Calderdale TUC Public Meeting with Chris Williamson MP on WILL THE NEXT LABOUR GOVERNMENT REALLY DELIVER THEIR PLEDGES TO REPEAL ALL THE ANTI-UNION LAWS, WILL THEY REALLY GIVE THE PUBLIC SECTOR A DECENT PAY RISE ON ATTAINING OFFICE? Saturday 3rd August 1pm-3pm at The Space, Level 2, Hebden Bridge Town Hall.
Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign for and election as leader of the Labour Party — on a socialist platform, had stunningly revitalised the Labour Party drawing in hundreds of thousands of new and returning members. Jeremy addressed packed meetings across the country.
However, the PLP remains firmly in the control of ‘profit before people’ Blairites, hostile to everything Jeremy has stood for. Defeated twice they still wait for their next chance to mount another coup.
Corbyn and McDonnell’s backtracking over delivering Brexit, on accepting the redefinition of anti-Semitism demanded by the IHRA and the witch hunt against Corbyn supporters and expulsions of members with records of decades of anti-racist activity raises the question that if Corbyn will not stand up to the right in his party — and the media pressure now, how will he stand up to the advocates of capitalism if Labour wins the next General Election?
Trade Unionists — whose unions bankroll the Labour Party, are entitled to ask, will the next Labour Government really deliver their pledges to repeal all the anti-union laws, will they really give the public sector a decent pay rise on attaining office?
Come and hear Chris Williamson, key Corbyn ally answer these questions and more!”
I have a big issue with an MP suspended in Labour’s antisemitism row coming to speak at the event that calls attempts to tackle antisemitism a which hunt, and which seeks to attack the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Hebden Bridge is my home town, and it normally prides itself on taking a strong stance against all forms of discrimination.
I posted my concerns about this event up on some local Facebook pages and I was in no way prepared to the level of abuse and vitriol I received.
I’ve been called a fool, an imbecile, an idiot, accused of mudslinging and shit-spreading. The overwhelming public opinion was to defend the event and Chris Willamson. Would anyone voicing concerns about other forms of discrimination be treated in the same way?
Many of the comments had nothing to do with the event or antisemitism but sought to attack the political party I belong to.
I common reply as well was that I don’t care about Palestinian people. The truth is I do care a lot. However, I think antisemitism undermines attempts to hold the Israeli Government to account for its actions.
Layla Moran, the first British MP from Palestinian descent sums this point up far more eloquently than I can — https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/21/talk-palestine-antisemitism-labour-mps-palestinian-statehood
People are free to disagree with a point of view and debate things. I accept there is a reasonable argument in favour of free speech that states you shouldn’t try and protest people speaking on events. Personally, I respect people’s right to speech, and I wouldn’t want that right curtailed by Government, but I also think others also have a right to protest things people say.
The level of abuse I received went far beyond reasonable criticism. It sought to attack my character and discredit me. I was accused of being a part of a Conservative, mainstream media conspiracy.
Most people interpreted my criticism as an attack on the Labour party. They responded defensively. The event, however, was not organised by the Labour party. At least one Labour Councillor has said they will boycott the event. I personally think the event that criticises Corbyn’s attempts to tackle Semitism this event is the real attack on the Labour party.
I would like to be an ally to all those in the Labour party, and in any party who are seeking to tackle this issue. The abuse I have received as a caucasian man makes me realise why Jewish people are so reluctant to take on left-wing antisemitism. My thoughts and feelings go out to all of those people who are affected by this hate.
If you want to sign the petition against the Calderdale Trades Council inviting Chris Willamson to this event you can do so below. The text of the petition reads
“Despite his being suspended from the Labour Party for anti-Semitism, Calderdale Trades Council have invited Chris Williamson to talk at Hebden Bridge Town Hall about the Labour Party. The talk will include discussion criticising the IHRA’s internationally recognised definition of anti-semitism. We believe that this invitation and the content of the talk are a deliberate provocation, and with this meeting, Calderdale Trades Council are actively promoting the belief that anti-Semitism on the political left is invented and exaggerated.
For more on Chris Williamson, we recommend the following article.
By inviting Williamson and talking about the IHRA, Calderdale Trades Council demonstrate that they do not take the accusations of anti-Semitism and the fears of British Jews seriously, and they are happy to undermine the Labour Party’s position as an anti-racist party.
We condemn this invitation in the strongest terms and ask that Williamson be disinvited.”
https://www.change.org/p/calderdale-trades-council-no-to-chris-williamson-speaking-at-hebden-bridge-town-hall-1b9a1bf1-4877-4c26-81b5-ffa3e6f41d91?fbclid=IwAR1Tdn3dKQx5hNYEaAPAvcvvACoZoTV2oXzIe9qMibHtOcLzo8q9hHM_AgE
Update 27/07/19 — I discovered yesterday I had been banned from my local Hebden Bridge facebook group. I was not contacted about the reasons why. Labour members on twitter have since told me it was because I shared posts from the group in this article.
Although there was nothing in the rules of the group about sharing screenshots apparently there was a post back in March warning people not to do it. For that reason, I have now redacted the names of people who responded abusively to me.
