cause he is Jewish

[Carycach4]

Apologies cant see a thread about this.
Staff at Bristol Brunel academy blocked a visit by Damien Egan, their local MP because he is Jewish. Clear case of antisemitism. AIBU to thinking that headteacher and those driving this decision should be sacked and reported to the Teacher Regulation Agency?
(Apologies thread title isnt correct, but i can't edit it)

And there are routes for the teachers to be reported as there are correct routes for the teachers to complain and put their views forward.
What the head cannot control are the external groups. and if any of the pupils were hurt or injured by these groups the head would be pillorised.
And what posters on here need to remember is that in this case the head's first duty is to the safety of the pupils.

My guess the party being called Friends of Israel blinds people

people are so caught up in their anti Israel agenda and let’s be truthful for many that is plain antisemitism that they get all het up about the name of a party forgetting that many Israelis and people who support peace in the area are not in support of the current government

the hypocrisy around antisemitism is breathtaking

So it's back to Ban the Jews. Protesters threaten to disrupt a lawful event, so the authorities cave in and ban the speaker from coming.

Totally understand why they've done it but it doesn't bode well for the future of this country.

Alternatively its about protecting the pupils.
Are you prepared to see them hurt/injured?

As people have pointed out, Damien Egan is a member of Labour Friends of Israel (LFI). LFI is one of several “Friends of X” groups in Labour that focus on building relationships with different countries. In LFI’s case, its formal political link is with the Israeli Labor Party, not with whichever Israeli government happens to be in power.

LFI’s stated position is a two‑state solution: an Israel that is “safe, secure and recognised within its borders,” alongside a “viable, democratic and independent Palestinian state.” During the recent conflict, they repeatedly called for a ceasefire, for humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians, and for pressure on the Israeli government. They also criticised Netanyahu’s coalition in unusually blunt terms:

“The Netanyahu government has been a disaster for Israel and its security, for the Palestinian people, and for the prospects of a wider regional peace.”

“Netanyahu’s decision to stop aid flowing into Gaza at the bequest of his far-right coalition partners is unjustifiable and we have consistently opposed it.”

I appreciate that some people will still feel this language isn’t strong enough. But if you genuinely support a peaceful, negotiated two‑state outcome, it seems reasonable to work with people on the “other side” who also support that goal, even if you don’t agree with them on everything.

That principle was often used to defend Jeremy Corbyn’s engagement with groups far more controversial than LFI (e.g. Hamas) on the grounds that dialogue is part of peace‑building. I suspect that some of Corbyn's defenders are among those engaging in or supporting this protest.

For my part, I have no sympathy for the current Israeli government. The questions about whether its actions amount to genocide are serious and ultimately for the ICC to decide. At the very least, it’s clear that war crimes were committed, and I’ve been horrified by both the actions themselves and some of the excuses offered for them.

Even from that standpoint, what happened in Bristol is worrying. The school didn’t “ban” Egan, but the fact that a normal civic visit had to be postponed because of security concerns is a bad sign.

Even if Egan weren’t Jewish, and even if he were simply a member of LFI, the intensity of the reaction carries the stench of antisemitism. If someone is so opposed to a politician who supports Israel’s basic right to exist, backs a two‑state solution, and openly criticises Netanyahu that they’ll protest his presence at a school, it raises fair questions about what their actual aims and motivations are.

So it's mob rule from now on then?
So we live in an anarcho state run by thugs?

I think it's fair to reassess the need for security, and re-arrange to a date when there's adequate security in place.

That security is needed in this instance is terrible but, so long as the school does re-arrange, I don't think delaying in order to take adequate safety measures is allowing mob rule.

This one sided shit has gone too far in the public sector, where employees are paid to remain professional and impartial

Absolutely this

Believe whatever you want, but please leave personal opinions - however fashionable - at the door while at work

It’s a troubling trend that Jewish people (MPs, football supporters, Edinburgh fringe performers) can’t be kept safe. It seems quite problematic that this keeps happening again and again. If there’s such a problem with protestors against one tiny little fraction of society then perhaps the protests are the problem.

Of course I don’t think students should be put at risk. The risks outwardly facing Jews are taking every day are not typically spread to an entire school. As long as the Jews have extra security and armed guards and metal detectors at primary schools then it’s all fine? But now that the danger they are in every single day might be part of someone else’s life it’s unfair and unjust to take that on?

My father was almost murdered at his synagogue 10 years ago. There was a mass shooting and several of his friends died. He forgot something at home and turned around and therefore was a block away. The response of course was that they now have armed security at the door but why is that considered acceptable? Why are there safety briefings with police Scotland before each of our synagogue events? I don’t think it’s me that’s the problem here and I don’t think this MP is the problem either.

Agree

So let me get this straight.

You say the head made the right decision because the pupils would have been endangered by a planned protest.

The protest was planned by Michaela Wilde, an employee of the trust.

So an employee of the school trust knowingly endangered its pupils.

So this is gross negligence and she must be fired right???

There's a Jewish restaurant in Notting Hill which has been targeted by protesters. No doubt some posters here would argue that the restaurant should be shut down in order to keep customers safe.

What is the end game in all this?

Anyone who is paying attention knows where this goes. Eventually someone suggests Jews should live in their own neighbourhoods ‘for protection’ and maybe with a jaunty little symbol on their jackets…

Simple is certainly the word

Simple minds that cannot distinguish between criticism of a state with hatred of a people

There's a time and place for standing up to the mob and it isn't at a school. If they invited someone to my kids' school that was going to cause protestors to gather I would want it cancelled. The safety of the children should come above anything else.

I'm white and don't like the St Georges flags either. They are not meant to symbolise patriotism. My dh and both sons think they are a good thing dd and i don't agree with that.

So you're an appeaser who caves into mob rule. Wow.

There's a time and a place for standing up to mob rule and that's each and every time they try it in FFS. No wonder this rot has allowed to set when you see some of the posts.

In general no. If it's to keep my children safe at school then absolutely.

Let's hope you're not selective in which mob you stand up to.

This! These bullies are trying to cow everyone into submission. It reminds me of the way that TRAs behaved over JK Rowling.

keep your children safe from who exactly

teachers protesting against an MP visiting the school

this has absolutely nothing to do with keeping children safe this has everything to do with silencing a Jewish man by people who hold antisemitic views

Batley School set the precedent and rather than lessons being learnt 🥱 the appeasement escalates. Pathetic. What a way to protect your kids by capitulating to those who shout the loudest.

Good job the inimitable JKR has more balls than most. If I'm teaching my kids to look up to anyone it's those woman AND to help keep them safe. Fucking hell this thread.

There's going to be a lot more of this coming down the line.

Authorities capitulate to the loudest voices, the ones threatening violence. It just emboldens the mob.