News / St Pauls
Protest held outside venue hosting event with David Miller
Protesters gathered outside the venue where controversial academic David Miller was speaking at an event organised by Bristol Palestine Alliance.
“David Miller, shame on you!” chanted some 50 protesters at the Malcolm X Centre in St Paul’s.
Many of those gathered on Sunday were members of the Union of Jewish Students (UJS).
is needed now More than ever
They held placards saying: ‘Do you believe that Jewish students are the “pawns” of Israel? David Miller does. Stand against hate.’
Other placards read: ‘Do you believe that Jewish-Muslim interfaith work is a “Trojan horse”? David Miller does.’
Miller had previously spoken at a pro-Palestine rally in Castle Park on Saturday also organised by Bristol Palestine Alliance (BPA).
He shared his anti-Zionist views days after an employment tribunal found that he was “unfairly dismissed” from the University of Bristol due to these beliefs.
BPA say the event at the Malcolm X Centre was held to “highlight the appalling rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes” since the latest war on Gaza, with charity Tell Mama reporting a 335 per cent rise.
A spokesperson for the group said: “The aims of the public meeting were to consider the impact and causes of Islamophobia; to better understand the drivers of Zionism, Islamophobia, and the “weaponisation” of antisemitism.
“The audience attending our event included Muslim women, children and elderly men who had suffered directly from Islamophobic hate crimes in Bristol. Women who had been spat at, shouted at, abused, attacked; their hijabs (head scarves) pulled from their heads.
“Unfortunately, it was this event that members of the Union of Jewish Students (UJS) short-sightedly, chose to protest.”
The group added: “Whilst we recognise and support the UJS’ right to protest, it is disheartening and disappointing that they chose to exercise that sacred right at this event.”
The BPA statement concluded with: “BPA will remain unwavering and inclusive in our resolve. We will never shy away from confronting injustice or challenging tyranny.
“To that end, we openly invite UJS, their supporters and their benefactors, and others to join us in solidarity in that fight; calling not for justice of one people over another, but in calling for justice for all people, everywhere.
“We invite the UJS to recognise that Islamophobia and antisemitism are two scourges of the same hate. We appeal to the UJS and its supporters not to incite one to carry favour with the political right.”
View this post on Instagram
In a statement following the ruling of the employment tribunal, the UJS said: “UJS is disappointed by the Employment Tribunal’s judgment in relation to David Miller.
“UJS believes this may set a dangerous precedent about what can be lawfully said on campus about Jewish students and the societies at the centre of their social life. This will ultimately make Jewish students less safe.
“However, despite overall finding in favour of Miller, the Tribunal has found that he contributed to his own dismissal and that he was ‘culpable and blameworthy’.
“UJS will continue to work to maintain a vibrant Jewish life on campus in Bristol and across the UK and Ireland.”
Main photo: Mia Vines Booth
Read next:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
