MAY 2023 THE VOICE |
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News Feature
Support grows for Diane Abbott after whip removed Legendary MP suspended by Labour over ‘racism’ letter
D
IANE ABBOTT re- right for her to apologise. When ceived support from I read her original letter to the some campaigners as Guardian, what I understood she battles to save her her underlying message to be; political career after being sus- that the “racism” black people pended from Labour over a ‘rac- face and “anti-Semitism” are not the same, it is a message I ism’ letter. The veteran MP for Hackney have sympathy with, or at the North and Stoke Newington had very least one which I believe the Labour whip removed, four should be discussed openly and hours after tweeting an “unre- calmly. Saying one is more or served apology” for a letter in less important than the other is The Observer, which she insisted not one I have any sympathy was an “initial draft” that was with.” However, many anti-racism sent in error. Professor Kehinde Andrews campaigners have either contweeted in response: “You know demned Ms Abbott or stayed we’re in dangerous times when silent. Her letter was responding to @HackneyAbbott is suspended from @LabourParty for so- an article by Tomiwa Owolade in called ‘racism’. The letter was the Guardian, who wrote: “Anyone who is white badly worded but is privileged, we the sentiment was are told, and raccorrect. There is ism only affects a difference bepeople of colour. tween prejudice, The problem with xenophobia and this view is that racism #Psychothere are certain sisofWhiteness“ minorities who Ms Abbott’s are seen as white letter suggested and yet experience anti-Semitism prejudice. In fact, and anti-gypsy the two groups and traveller bias most likely to say was “prejudice” they have experiwhile anti-Black ‘INITIAL DRAFT’: enced racist abuse, bias was racism, Diane Abbott according to the and her apology clarified that “racism takes many survey, are gypsy, traveller and forms, and it is completely un- Roma communities and Jewish deniable that Jewish people have people.” The former shadow home secsuffered its monstrous effects, as have Irish people, travellers and retary, who served under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, continued so on.” The Black women’s group to receive condemnation, with Sista Space, which helps women calls for her to be expelled from suffering abuse, tweeted: “NO the party. The Board of Deputies of BritMORE! For decades these cowards have attacked @Hackney- ish Jews said Ms Abbott’s letter Abbott at every opportunity. “was disgraceful and her apolTake it from one who knows, ogy is entirely unconvincing”. Karen Pollock, chief execuwe face racism & death threats for speaking out. We post our tive of the Holocaust Educainjustices EVERY DAY, nobody tional Trust, accused Ms Abbott says nothing, but dare us have of making “appalling, offensive a view… LEAVE BLACK WOMEN and ignorant” comments. Jake Wallis Simons from The ALONE, COWARDS!” Media anti-racism campaign- Jewish Chronicle said that Ms er and former TV producer Mar- Abbott was trying to “re-define cus Ryder wrote in a blog that racism as only the experience of he understood where Ms Abbott Black people.” A Labour spokesperson said: was coming from. He wrote: “Diane Abbott “The Labour Party completely was completely wrong to de- condemns these comments, scribe the prejudice that travel- which are deeply offensive and lers and Jewish people face as wrong. The chief whip has susequivalent to the prejudice and pended the Labour whip from bigotry redheaded people face, it Diane Abbott pending an inveswas crass, offensive, and it was tigation.”
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