A shortish guide to Twitter antisemites, neo-Nazis and their allies

[NB: The materials herein are freely available in the public domain, and this is produced as an educational resource for antiracists and antifascists.]

Imperfect

This is a very basic guide, with a short list of individuals on Twitter who express antisemitic ideas, promote people who do or generally feel comfortable with posh antisemitism.

Initially, it was composed in 2–3 minutes as an educational resource and is imperfect, but it should serve as a basic introduction.

These cranks vary in intensity from the odd neo-Nazi to a tin-foiler or two, and even a few odd British “Lefties”. Details of their revolting views can be found at A pickle jar of Twitter antisemites, neo-Nazis and their allies.

Tin foil, surprisingly common on social media.

Bigot, fool or neo-Nazi — Type

@TonyGosling — Tin-foil, kicked out of Greens for racism, big on conspiracies. Big. Makes David Icke seem rational. ✔
@evertonfc2 — Leftie antisemite, good at sneering at Jews. ✔
@BankersDidIt — Ingrained antisemite.
@MisGrace — Drunk neo-Nazi, with a supply of Red Bull. ✔
@AdnanSadiq01 — Persistent antisemite, believes in The Protocols, etc ✔
@alanmaddison20 — Never seen any antisemitism, ever, not even from neo-Nazis, or the other antisemites he chats with. Supposedly on the Left. ✔
@AlfieHeydrich — Jackbooted neo-Nazi, 14 words, the whole vile 88 stuff. ✔
@ianrmillard — One-time barrister, smart neo-Nazi, recruiter, does antisemitic outreach, popular on parts of the Left, occasionally. ✔
@kevinthickslice — Alt-Right, anti-everything, likes Hitler too. ✔
@palestininianpr — Utterly fixated antisemite.
@SidLabour — One-time teacher, mildly disdainful of Jews.
@MrTopple —  A Canary "journalist", was chummy with cream of Twitter's British antisemitic scene, conspiracies and plenty of anti-Jewish banter.
@AbbsWinston — Occasionally promotes neo-Nazi Veterans Today. Obsessed.
@SocialistVoice — UKIP voter, expelled from Labour for racism. Mild conspiracies. Knows most real hardcore antisemites on Twitter by name.
@DiligentTruth — Leftie antisemite.
@Gerdowning — Far, far Left, almost falling off the edge, expelled from Labour for racism. Thick to Olympic standards.


Shun and keep a list

The idea is that sensible people should not have exchanges or promote these racists and bigots, as it normalises racism in the long-term. Avoiding racists on Twitter is comparatively easy:

1.Scan timelines.
2.Keep a short list.
3.Shun these cranks and racists or anyone that endorses them.

Learning

Antisemitism is far more complex than many first think. Its history, for thousands of years, multiple layers, symbolism and imagery mean there is a lot to take in.

It is not just  about 1930's Nazis, or even their modern 1488 friends. We need to be prepared to think widely around this topic, as nasty as that is.

I recommend studying the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s Working Definition of Antisemitism as a starter. A plain copy is here.

Next drop by the Community Security Trust’s blog on antisemitism.

The ADL has some excellent resources, their Hate Symbols Database should be read at length.

SPLC's Hatewatch is invaluable as are their profiles of hardcore racists.

Neo-Nazis at Charlottesville 2017.

Social media and types

There are more types of antisemitism and stream of antisemitic thinking than the French have cheeses.

Most of them are really smelly and obvious, but not all. Put very crudely there are five major forms of this racism which tend to be found on social media:

• neo-Nazism,
• conspiracy racism,
• extreme Islamism,
• genteel antisemitism
• and Stalinist thinking.

1. Most intelligent people can spot an obvious neo-Nazi form of antisemitism (the whole “1488” and ZOG stuff), but even neo-Nazis will soften their approach when on Twitter, etc. and pretend to be just radicals. They play off of certain topical issues. They will try turning any subject towards anti-Jewish racism, often in a semi-camouflaged form. They are not all knuckles scrapping idiots, they even have their own neofascist Wiki, Metapedia.

Best study Daily Stormer, Stormfront, VNN, IHR, Jew Watch, Occidental Observer, CODOH and White Genocide Project to understand their disgusting narratives, memes and talking points.  4chan's /pol/ board is a pit for the Alt-Right too.

On social media they tend to have a particular lexicon, symbolism and range of themes, including but not limited to: "The Goyim Know" "Goyim", "chosen people", "ZOG", "Talmudic", "neocon", ((())), etc

Hint: neo-Nazi speak for “Jew” is “Zionist”.

2. Next is conspiracy beliefs. The most consolidated form of these ideas portray Jews as the ultimate villains, although they might use the terms “Zionists”, “Rothschilds”, “Globalists”, “NWO”, "USS Liberty", "dancing Israelis", etc

For example, a popular conspiracy belief is that the 9/11 tragedy was executed by “Mossad” or somehow "dancing Israelis" were involved, depending on your mood.

Conspiracy theories are the gateway drug into hardcore antisemitism. Find them and hardcore views along with antisemitism will never be far away. The fake Protocols of the Elders of Zion is the intellectual glue in and around this arena.
Regrettably, such views are increasingly popular on the Left.

3. Extreme Islamists hate Jews, for existing and whilst much of their patter seems religious it is festooned with racist conspiracy notions and the odd bit of neo-Nazi thinking. ISIS is, but one example.

4. Genteel antisemitism is one of the most pernicious forms of racism in modern Western societies because it is neither crude nor vulgar, as we tend to expect antisemitic ideas to be. The strongest strain of this particular ailment is the denial of antisemitism. The denial of racism, when it comes to Jews.

Unless a piece of racism is carried boldly on the shoulders of an abusive, sweary, tattooed neo-Nazi then it is mostly rejected or defined so narrowly as to be without use. It is rather prevalent on parts of the British Left.

For example, in much the same way it would be exceedingly difficult to convince a hard-line member of UKIP that anti-French sentiment or xenophobia is a bad idea then it is gruelling trying to persuade someone enamoured of genteel antisemitism, when the target of that racism is Jews.

They won’t tend to grasp the issue, unless the racism is of the neo-Nazi form, and even then maybe not.

5. Finally, a historically significant although thankfully diminishing form of antisemitism is that characterised by Stalinist thinking.

It is, largely, the product of long-term antisemitic beliefs in Russia. Indeed, the very term pogrom is Russian.

Stalinist antisemitism came to the fore during the so-called "Doctors' plot", but was plain enough during the Night of the Murdered Poets. It was not confined just to the USSR "anti-Zionist" antisemitism was seen during the 1952 Slansky trial in Czechoslovakia too.

More worryingly, these influences did not die out when Stalin shuffled off his mortal coil, as evidenced by the "anti-Zionist" campaigns of the late 1960s in Eastern Europe.

It is characterised by excessive denunciations, false equivalents,  wordplay and the use of euphemisms, although you rarely hear the term "rootless cosmopolitan" much nowadays.

Itzik Feffer (murdered 1952), Solomon Mikhoels (killed by Stalin in 1947) talking with Paul Robeson.

As a contemporary political feature it can be found outside the traditional Stalinist Left, primarily amongst modern Leninist grouplets, their acolytes and parts of the "New Left".

Many of its ideas have been surprisingly influential on post-1968 Trotskyists and their allies. Often found in conjunction with conspiracy antisemitism on social media.

Elsewhere worth a read is the witty, That’s Funny You Don’t Look Anti-Semitic - An anti-racist analysis of left anti-semitism by Steve Cohen.

Cross-fertilisation of ideas

Outside of a specialist lab nothing in society is hermetically sealed and certainly not the exchange of ideas.

Some points of views, especially vile ones, have a surprisingly long shelf life and cross fertilise with others. These particular racist notions have an existence of their very own. Such half-truths and downright lies percolate around society for decades, if not hundreds of years.

The result is that antisemitism, particularly on social media, can be imbued with any of the above streams of antisemitic thinking.

The ghastly permutations of antisemitism are as varied as humans themselves. Mostly ugly and vile, but some come dressed up to seem inviting, therein lies the danger: we must be aware of their sly manifestations as well as their most conspicuous ones.

One example, the post-WW2 Stalinist fabrication about supposed Jewish collaboration with the Nazis.

It was taken up by the Far Right in the 1970s and 1980s, used to make bogus comparisons and, in part, help to rehabilitate National Socialism. Later on it found its way to the Extreme Left, then into mainstream discourse, as shown by Ken Livingstone’s outbursts.

Livingstone is not a neo-Nazi yet the promotion of those ideas are found on neo-Nazi central, Stormfront and the fount of all-things in Holocaust denial, the IHR. **

The danger lies in the fact that ideas with a long antisemitic heritage can be taken up by others, polished and popularised, unknowingly, or used to score political points, and in the end aid the spread of antisemitic thinking.

---

[**That link to Institute for Historical Review, founded by neo-Nazi Willis Carto, was retweeted on Twitter by members of the Left, claiming that it supported Livingstone's argument.

Again, Lefties were approvingly promoting a link to a neo-Nazi site to besmirch the name of Jews using the words of Mark Weber, one-time neo-Nazi.]

Willis Carto supporting another neo-Nazi, Ernst Zundel. Note banner in background.

---

Evidence

Samples of their racism, in all of its varying degrees, is shown at the Anti-Nazis United WordPress blog, more to come.

A pickle jar of Twitter antisemites, neo-Nazis and their allies.

Useful

The ‘Alt-Right’ Explained in 7 Must-Know Terms.

These are the new symbols of hate.

Hate Groups.

Engage's archive on antisemitism.

The multipolar spin: how fascists operationalize left-wing resentment

Dear Guardian letters, Facebook and carpet slipper antisemitism

Dear Guardian letters,

In the days of purely print media I had always wanted to write you, as a one-time passionate Guardian reader.

Fortunately nowadays everyone with access to the Internet can dispatch you a quick email.

I would like to focus on six points and please forgive the slight sarcasm:

1. I can't help notice the speed at which any letter downplaying concerns for antisemitism is published in the Guardian.

2. I recall your senior editors making a point many years ago when the Guardian's comments boxes were littered with antisemitism, that they would take that form of racism seriously. Is that still the case?

3.  Increasingly in Britain we are seeing many in the middle classes taking up that peculiar 1930s ailment, as the Guardian has regularly reported.

4. Would it be possible for senior Guardian people to comment on why your Facebook page becomes littered with carpet slipper antisemitism?

5. Does the Guardian have any plans to ever vigorously clamp down on genteel antisemitism when left as comments on its pages?

6. Finally, I have enjoyed the Guardian’s critical coverage of America’s Alt-Right, nevertheless I wish you would show 10% of that focus on polite antisemitism in Britain too.

I remain, your disappointed reader,

ANU

PS: Evidence of polite racism under Guardian posts can be found on its Facebook page and the rancid comments that were left.

Gary Spedding on Left antisemitism

Spedding on the Left

Gary Spedding has written an interesting article on antisemitism.

I disagree with parts of it, but he calls for better education in tackling antisemitism and highlights social media's promotion of racism towards Jews, which is to be welcomed.

However, he argues that the problem is not big:

"Additionally, the real number of leftists with real anti-Jewish beliefs is tiny."

Spedding identifies the figure of about 5% of people who hold probably strong antisemitic views.

"According to the Institute for Jewish Policy Research report (the largest-ever study of antisemitism in Britain), the Left is "no more anti-Semitic than the general population"  and of the general population, only 5% can be considered "hard" and "softer" anti-Semites."

This form of argumentation has been doing the rounds for the last few years.

Essentially, it seeks to say that the British Left is no worse than the general population, in terms of nasty racist views towards Jews. It is another form of downplaying of antisemitism, albeit more sophisticated than most.

Leaving aside the issue of low-expectation or how socialists and social democrats should have absolutely no truck with any form of racism, therein lies the question of mathematics.

The numbers

Spedding does not apply this approach, in any meaningful way, to the biggest party on the Left, the Labour Party.

The FT stated in August 2017:

"Membership of the party has soared from about 200,000 in the wake of the 2015 general election to about 550,000 today ..."

Therefore 5% of that is about 27,500.

Yet let us suppose for the sake of the argument, that conservatively that such a figure is only 2.4%, as the author of the Institute for Jewish Policy Research report suggests.

Meaning there could be approximately 13,200 Labour Party members with strange antisemitic ideas undulating around their heads.

A few in every CLP.

That is not tiny.

International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism, a HTML copy

[As a public service, a HTML copy of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism.

The original can be found here and as a PDF here.  It is slightly imperfect in pagination to due the conversion process from PDF to HMTL.]

"

Bucharest, 26 May 2016

In the spirit of the Stockholm Declaration that states: “With humanity still scarred by ...antisemitism
and xenophobia the international community shares a solemn responsibility to fight those evils” the
committee on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial called the IHRA Plenary in Budapest 2015 to adopt
the following working definition of antisemitism.

On 26 May 2016, the Plenary in Bucharest decided to:

Adopt the following non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism:
“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred
toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed
toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish
community institutions and religious facilities.”

To guide IHRA in its work, the following examples may serve as illustrations:

Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish

collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be

regarded as antisemitic. Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong.” It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.

Contemporary examples of antisemitism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:

• Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion

• Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.

• Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.

• Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).

• Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.

• Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.

• Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.

• Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.

• Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.

• Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.

• Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.

Antisemitic acts are criminal when they are so defined by law (for example, denial of the Holocaust or distribution of antisemitic materials in some countries).

Criminal acts are antisemitic when the targets of attacks, whether they are people or property – such as buildings, schools, places of worship and cemeteries – are selected because they are, or are perceived to be, Jewish or linked to Jews.

Antisemitic discrimination is the denial to Jews of opportunities or services available to others and is illegal in many countries. 

"

Antisemitism: the Stink Factor #1

Editorial

Antisemitism: the Stink Factor is intended to be a regular summary of antisemitic rantings or happenings over the past week or so. It will also cover antifascist material when deemed relevant.

It is far too easy six months after some bout of racism to forget what happened or who were the key players. We intend that our weekly posts should remedy that.

Its aim is to be informative, occasionally humorous even acerbic but relevant to tackling the rise of antisemitism and its themes in modern society.

Contributions welcomed, Direct Message @AntiNazisUnited on Twitter.

Jenny Tonge

Like David Ward, another failure from the Lib Dems, Baroness Tonge is never ever far away from antisemitism.

This week she passed on a nasty antisemitic cartoon from a friend of hers, who claimed it had been checked beforehand for racism, presumably by the BNP or David Duke?

The White House

Donald Trump managed to divest himself of two nasty characters in the last few weeks. Steve Bannon, a corpulent and decidedly unhealthy looking member of the master race, has return to Breitbart, the Alt-Right's favourite publication.

Steven Bannon, just before his regular workout.

Sebastian Gorka, a supporter of Hungarian neofascists, has more time to spend fiddling with his Vitézi Rend badge.

A younger Sebastian Gorka in the uniform and with the medal of Vitézi Rend.

Charlottesville 

There has been continued bouts of hand-wringing on the political Right and amongst wooly liberals on whether or not to physically opposed neo-Nazis. They actually debate who is worse? Neo-Nazis that deliberately crash a car into peaceful opponents, killing Heather Heyer. Or people who wear masks and oppose neo-Nazis.

Not exactly a tricky proposition.

But let us recall some lovely American antifascists of a bygone age.

US Twenty-Eighth Infantry Division march along the Champs-Élysées, Paris, France with l’Arc de Triomphe in the background, Aug 29 1944.

Labour

You might think that members of Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet, if they had an ounce of sense, would avoid the topic of antisemitism lest it comes back and bites them.

But alas they seem to have the political commonsense of Donald Trump's socks.

Shadow Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, Chris Williamson, himself no stranger to antisemites felt it was appropriate to argue that antisemitism had been weaponised.

There were many replies on social media, just a small selection:

Marlon Solomon replied:

21/ So then @derbychrisw - why don't you 'weaponise' that and do something about it instead of nurturing and provoking this toxic filth?

— Marlon Solomon (@supergutman) September 1, 2017

Miriam Mirwitch spelt it out:

It'd be a really big help to our movement if you stopped saying antisemitism is weaponised or overplayed, and instead listened to Jews.

— Miriam (@mrwtch) September 2, 2017

Dave Rich explains the basics to Labour members:

Antisemitism has always been weaponised by antisemites & those who use it to whip up the mob. Not by the Jews who are worried about it. https://t.co/NQGW8WA43F

— Dave Rich (@daverich1) September 1, 2017

Internet neofascists

In good news, Daily Stormer has struggled to keep its Internet presence alive in the wake of Charlottesville, first going to Russia and now is stuck on the Dark Web.

Even Stormfront, a deepest pit of KKK and neo-Nazi thought on the web, has gone off-line.

Good articles

Waiting for a Perfect Protest?

CST's HATE CRIME: A guide to those affected

In chat rooms, Unite the Right organizers planned to obscure their racism

There is No Position on Israel That Absolves or Excuses Your Anti-Semitism

The history, theory and contradictions of antifa

Odd antisemite in the news

White Supremacist Arrested for Charging Crowd at Hollywood Confederate Street-Name Protest

Events

The Jewish Labour Movement conference is on Sunday, 3rd September 2017, with sessions covering politics and lots of intelligent conversation. Tickets and details here.

The Lighter side

The weepy neo-Nazi, Christopher Cantwell, was finally arrested.

That Nazi who cried doesn't want to be labeled the 'crying Nazi'

David Irving, a Labour voter and the mystery of Holocaust revisionism.

[NB: The materials herein are freely available in the public domain, and this is produced as an educational resource for antiracists and antifascists.]

WW2

Since the 1950s supporters of National Socialism (Nazism) have tried numerous methods of repudiating its crimes.

Initially their tactic was straight out denial, but that never really worked. Decent people remembered how the Nazis started World War II, conquered Europe, slaughtered civilians, imprisoned and murdered Jews and brought destruction to wherever they went.

Next, the apologists change tact.

Outright denial of the Nazis barbarism was untenable in much of the postwar period, instead, apologists like David Irving try the tactic of diminishing the Nazis crimes. Slowly downplaying the extent of them, downplaying the Nazi's culpability.

A Labour supporter 

Typically, such views were confined to the fringes of the Extreme Right, to neo-Nazis thugs and their allies.

But now on social media it is perfectly possible to find a Labour supporter or member who subscribes to such views and makes a conscious effort to deny antisemitism within the Labour Party.

Naturally, the two go hand-in-hand, those who wish to diminish the crimes of the Nazis and deny the Holocaust will habitually argue that antisemitism is overblown.

So it is with this occasional Labour supporter, Mr Monday Night!‏ AKA @Ibsy1786.

He has over 700 Twitter followers.

[The details of his wider prejudices and racism towards Jews are kept on the Wordpress blog.https://antinazisunited.wordpress.com/2017/08/27/mr-monday-night%e2%80%8f-aka-ibsy1786/ This is just a small summary of his vile opinions.]

😂 its your claim that 6 million were killed. Prove it! We've been fed lies. I am not denying the holocaust I am questioning the numbers.

— Mr Monday Night! (@Ibsy1786) August 27, 2017

<

We give you zionism pic.twitter.com/dIQzWwbbIq

— Mr Monday Night! (@Ibsy1786) August 9, 2017

David Irving tried that line of argument, Judgment of Mr Justice Charles Gray.

Left Wing Antisemitism Bingo: a guest post by Simon Myerson QC

Israel is a racist enterprise.	I’ve never seen antisemitism on the Left.	Zionism is contrary to Judaism.
Ian Millard has some interesting ideas.	Galloway was trying to save lives when he went to see Saddam.	Israeli settlements mean people are angry with Jews.
Polls saying most Jews identify with Israel are biased and wrong.	You are weaponising antisemitism.	There is a Zionist plot to victimise us (& oust Corbyn).
4,000 reports of antisemitism to Labour is proof there isn’t a problem!	Palestinians are Semites too, so!	They’re Zionists so they obviously aren’t loyal to this country.
Jeremy’s grandmother was at Cable Street, so!	That neo-Nazi on my timeline is a mistake. Every time.	I’m an ethnic Jew.
I don’t have a racist bone in my body.	Talking about leftist antisemitism comforts Nazis.	Jackie/Gilad/Wonderwoman is Jewish. How can they be antisemitic?
Everything is a trope these days. We don’t have to pay attention.	Some of my best friends …	George Galloway was right. Never debate with an Israeli. Or Zionist.

Racism towards Jackie Walker

I noticed this vile piece of juvenile racism aimed at Jackie Walker.

Anyone connected to this account should ostracize them until they give a full, unconditional apology to Ms. Walker.

This type of nasty racism is a relic of the 1960s.

It is stupid, predictable and unimaginative. It is the product of racist thinking, it has no place in modern political discourse.

Updated: If anyone I know defends this filth, or even tries to, I will block them on Twitter without hesitation.

Ken Livingstone’s historical source and the Extreme Right

Ken Livingstone’s knowledge of historical facts, in part, comes from a non-historian, Lenni Brenner.

Most will comment on Brenner’s supposed Marxism, etc

Lenni Brenner’s work published by the Extreme Right

But as I recall, Brenner was published by Noontide in 1986.

Noontide Press was the publishing arm of the Holocaust deniers, IHR.

Please study the Amazon reference and the ISBNs.

Yes, a “Marxist” was published by a bunch of neo-Nazis and their allies.

It follows therefore the question that anyone, moderately intelligent, should ask is, why would neo-Nazis publish a Marxist, to what end?

Obviously, because the work in question besmirches the good name of Jews, who are neo-Nazis’ primary target.

So when someone quotes Ken Livingstone at you, mentions history or Brenner, ask them why neo-Nazis would publish such a book? To what political end?

Well, Ken? Any ideas?

Published by Noontide Press.

The SPLC on Willis Carto founder of Noontide:

“After Wallace’s bid failed, Carto decided to build a more explicitly neo-Nazi organization. He took control of Youth for Wallace and renamed it the National Youth Alliance. The ousted directors of the Wallace youth group grew concerned when they discovered that the movers and shakers behind Carto’s political apparatus were part of a subterranean neo-Nazi cult known as the Francis Parker Yockey Society.” [My emphasis.]

[First published on Medium on 30 March 2017.]

Update 1: A visual reminder of Noontide Press's material.

Labour, Racism and Clive Lewis

In politics there are many potential obstacles and if you happen to disagree with a leader with sizeable support that can annoy his/her supporters.

But under no circumstances should racism be used to score points in political disagreements.

Clive Lewis is the butt of racism from a Labour-supporting account on Facebook, having resigned from Labour’s Shadow Cabinet .

“Red Labour” has some 36,000 followers, yet bar one, none of them spotted the racist overtones of this particular post [my emphasis]:

“Clive Lewis. Wasn’t he the one who recently appeared in the Al Jazeera documentary on the infiltration of the Israel lobby in British politics. Wasn’t he the one that the Israeli ambassador victoriously claimed as a new surprising asset in their active struggle to undermine Jeremy Corbyn?

We may also remember that this Israeli agent boasted that their aim was to “bring down” UK politicians to get a grip on them.

Who’s pulling your strings, Clive?”

The not too subtle implication is that Clive Lewis is a puppet of Israelis.

Irrespective of the stupidity of this comment anyone moderately conversant with history knows that a longstanding antisemitic motif was how Jews are caricatured as “puppet masters” or said to be behind the scenes manipulating events.

It seems that this particular Red Labour account shares those prejudices.

It is utterly disgusting.

But recently parts of the British Left have taken up the ideas of the Extreme Right in this critical area. It is conspiratorial antisemitism. Randall Bytwerk and Calvin College’s archives have similar examples of antisemitic thinking from the WW2 era: 

“Published after the invasion of the Soviet Union, this cartoon from Der Stürmer is tilted “The Criminal Trio.” A Jew is behind the three Allied leaders. The text states that they make it clear who their chief is today, and always was,

Source: Der Stürmer , #28/1941"

[First published on Medium on 10 February 2017.]

When you hear about antisemitism, don’t downplay it

Imagine the American NAACP commenting on the rise of racism in America?

Would you feel inclined to disparage them? Or say the NAACP are just “talking up” racism?

You might, if you were a hard-line Trump supporter, equally if you were stupid, insensitive to racism or a just a plain neo-Nazi.

However, those idiots aside, most intelligent or politically sophisticated people do not downplay racism. They certainly do not denigrate the reporting of attacks on ethnic minorities.

This is one British political activist commenting on the rise of antisemitic attacks in Britain.

McIntyre is explaining racism away, as a Trump supporter might, which is incredibly foolish, unfeeling and inappropriate.

Please read the Community Security Trust’s post: Record number of antisemitic hate incidents in UK in 2016.

And remember when you diminish the importance of tackling racism you are playing into the hands of Steve Bannon, Donald Trump and other assorted bigots.

When you belittle the struggle against antisemitism some neo-Nazi somewhere is smiling and thanking you for your idiocy.

It is not smart, it is not nice, don’t do it.

[First published on Medium on 2 February 2017.]