Antisemitism at any level within our society is both abhorrent and unacceptable. Luciana Berger is an MP in a city that has, historically, been a shining example of religious and cultural tolerance and it is deeply concerning to know of the hatred she has experienced, simply because of her Jewish faith and background. No decent person could condone what she and her family have had to endure.
Dame Louise Ellman, another longstanding local MP, has remained steadfast in speaking out against those whose extreme views are threatening to destroy our democracy and all it represents. She too has been vilified, but has demonstrated unfailing strength and clarity of mind. She has remained true to her belief that the pernicious effects of antisemitism, left unchecked, will ultimately destroy our communities and their once-respected institutions.
It demands great courage to take a stand against these shameful attitudes and behaviours and we all owe a debt of gratitude to people of principle, such as Luciana, Louise and others like them, who are prepared to place their heads above the parapet in order to fight for the freedoms and values the vast majority of us hold dear yet, so often, take for granted. Racism, in all its guises, is a cancer that eats away at the very fabric of civilised society. Those who are working hard to eradicate it, whatever their politics, deserve our fullest support. The one thing we should all fear is complacency.
Alderman Eddie Clein, Michelle Hayward, Howard Winik, Paul Levinson, Max Marcus, Howard Simon
Merseyside Jewish Representative Council
• This week my wife and I went to our local Jewish cemetery in Manchester to attend the funeral of a much-loved and respected member of the Jewish community, and well over a hundred people attended. As the coffin was being slowly lowered into the grave, a group of young men, standing on the other side of the cemetery fence, shouted “Heil Hitler” and laughed.
The shudder that went through the crowd of mourners – which included individuals whose families were murdered in the Holocaust – was palpable, and I saw a look of genuine fear on the faces of a number of individuals standing near me. I have no idea whether that group of men had political allegiances or not, and it really doesn’t matter. What is clear is that, regardless of political party, the antisemitism genie has, once again, been let out of the bottle, aided and abetted by a febrile and particularly vicious political climate.
The real question now is how can we put that antisemitism genie back in the bottle before Jews in the UK have genuine reasons to fear for their safety.
Paul Kleiman
Manchester
• A few days ago, here in Glossop, we set up a local branch of Stand Up To Racism. We intend to educate and campaign against antisemitism and all other forms of racism.
The initiative was supported by Glossopdale Labour party, High Peak Co-operative party, High Peak Green party, High Peak Unite Community, Glossop Labour Club and Glossop Peace Group. Speaking in a personal capacity, as one of the organisers of the launch meeting, I am dismayed at the irresponsible behaviour of those who do not see the danger of sowing confusion and distracting from the fight against the real enemy – the far right here at home and across the world.
Gwyneth Francis
Glossop, Derbyshire
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