11 March 2024 - SPSC response to SUTR Scotland and STUC joint statement
On 16 March 2024, Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) will hold its annual demonstration to mark the UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. SPSC has not attended the demonstration for several years due to the unchallenged presence of the Glasgow Friends of Israel (GFI) and other members of the Confederation of Friends of Israel in Scotland (COFIS), either with Israeli flags or placards smearing critics of Israel as racists. We had hoped, given Israel’s ongoing genocidal attacks on the Palestinian people, that SUTR would finally agree to make a statement saying GFI and COFIS were not welcome on the march. Unfortunately, despite our request and that of organisations such as the Scottish Palestinian Society and the Muslim Council of Scotland, SUTR has refused to make such a statement. Instead, they have released a joint statement with the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) which misrepresents our objections. This is our response.
The UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March marks the Sharpeville Massacre, the day in 1960 police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid "pass laws". It is a day to stand in solidarity with peoples struggling against racism and racial discrimination. Inherent within the acknowledgement and marking of this day, is the learning and inspiration that we borrow from the South African anti-apartheid struggle and the contribution of international civil society to ending the complicity of our government, institutions and corporation, leading to the fall of that brutal apartheid regime.
On 10 December 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was proclaimed stating that everyone is entitled to fundamental rights and freedoms, without distinction of any kind, such as race and colour, among others. Last year, 2023, also marked 75 years since the Palestinian Nakba, murderous ethnic cleansing planned and carried out by British-trained Zionist institutions and militias. The state of Israel was built through racist massacres and expulsions of survivors from their homes, towns and villages.
By 10 December 2023, Israel’s ethnic cleansing that has been ongoing since 1948 moved into a full-scale genocidal attack on Gaza, a crackdown on dissent inside Israel, and unleashing of settler and occupation forces violence across the West Bank. More than 18,000 Palestinians had been killed in Gaza, including at least 7,729 children and 5,153 women, with some 49,300 injured and 7,000 missing in rubble. More than 1.93 million Palestinians, 85% of the population of Gaza, had been displaced, and over 300,000 homes had been destroyed or damaged by Israeli airstrikes. Already, Israel’s genocidal intent, extreme racism and de-humanisation of Palestinians was clear from Israeli government and military officials, journalists and legislators. Yoav Gallant, Minister for Defense, was clear when he said, ‘We are fighting human animals, and we are acting accordingly’.
Racists and fascists draw inspiration from one another too. Israel was a staunch ally of apartheid South Africa, and even at that time played a worldwide role in the global industry of violence and repression. From home-grown British fascists to Trump and Argentina’s far-right President Javier Milei, there is a long line of those who are supported by Israel through training, surveillance or weapons sales, and who admire Israel for the model they have created of apartheid, ethnic cleansing and genocide.
The most terrifying expression of how the far right is advancing internationally surely is not, as SUTR and the STUC assert, ‘the possibility of Trump back in the White House’ but rather the real-time genocide of the Palestinian people to which we are all witness. Carried out by Israel, this genocide is defended by our government and institutions by positions that are at its core racist – that Palestinian lives are of less value, and that we must assume that the state of Israel is supported by Jews and Jewish communities everywhere.
GFI member joins SUTR march with placard declaring 'anti-Zionism is anti-semitism'If we are serious about combatting antisemitism, especially at this critical moment, we cannot allow Israel and their supporters to go unchallenged as they conflate Zionism and the state of Israel with Judaism and Jewish people. How can we rely on the leadership of Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) and the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) on this matter if they are unable to tell the difference, or worse are afraid to speak out, to educate their members and the public on what they understand to be right. Perhaps even worse, is to urge the rest of us to do the same and to normalise with organisations as part of the anti-racism movement whose sole purpose is to cheer the genocidal and apartheid state of Israel, who refer to Palestinian suffering as staged ‘Pallywood’, and work to smear as racists those who take effective action in support of full equality, justice and freedom for the Palestinian people.
Glasgow Friends of Israel promote utterly vile racist ideas – they welcomed Palestinians being "euthanised” by Israeli forces and members publicly welcomed the White supremacist massacre of 51 worshippers in New Zealand mosques five years and a day before the next SUTR march. They also pass photographs of Palestine demonstrators in Scotland to Israeli border control.
Fear of the Israel lobby is one thing, misrepresenting the principled position of those who will not normalise apartheid Israel is another that only reflects badly on SUTR and the STUC. The Palestinian cause has for too long been a means for organisations to recruit until it comes to taking effective action when the issue quickly becomes ‘divisive’ and inconvenient; Palestinians must get to the back of the queue behind domestic, ‘bread and butter’ or other priorities. It is not too late for SUTR and the STUC to make a simple statement stating that GFI and COFIS are not welcome on the 16 March demonstration. This position will be appreciated, not only by Palestinians, but also by those trade union members who have joined their family, friends and neighbours to march every week in opposition to Israeli genocide, calling for equality, justice and freedom for Palestinians.
Israel continues its genocidal attack on Gaza, and Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank and in Israel understand that they are next. It is our duty to stop the completion of Israel’s genocidal project if we can, and we must continue regardless to act against the Zionist regime and ensure there is the possibility of return for Palestinians. This means marking the Sharpeville massacre by continuing to work with partners across Scotland and internationally to mobilise all people of conscience to break the complicity of our governments and institutions and to isolate the state of Israel.
Events we support and will attend to mark the Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Anti-Racism Indoor Rally – Friday 15 March
Ahead of our National Demonstration on Saturday, join us at 7pm at The Ark in Govanhill to hear from our four keynote speakers.
Jackie Walker is a black and Jewish writer and playwright and a campaigner against racism and for Palestinian freedom. She was expelled from the Labour Party.
Marc Wadsworth is a British black rights campaigner, journalist and BBC filmmaker and radio producer. He helped set up the justice campaign for murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence.
Tony Greenstein is an anti-Zionist Jew and a founder member of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in England and Wales.
Ronnie Barkan is an Israeli opposed to the racism at the core of Zionism. He is currently on trial in Bristol charged with criminal damage against an Israeli Elbit arms factory.
National Demo Glasgow – Saturday 16 March
Join us on Saturday 16 March at 12pm in George Square to advocate for a ceasefire. Let us unite our voices to effect meaningful change. This weekend has an anti-racism theme, and we’ll hear from four keynote speakers: Jackie Walker, Marc Wadsworth, Tony Greenstein, and Ronnie Barkan.
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