Activist Linda Sarsour expected to speak at UK event
Sarsour, a leader of the Women’s March movement, has previously faced allegations of antisemitism
Activist Linda Sarsour is expected to speak at several events in the UK this summer planned by the organisation Mend.
Muslim Engagement and Development, or Mend, is expecting to host a dozen speakers at several conferences in the UK this June.
Sarsour, who is among them, is due to speak at events in Birmingham, Manchester, London and Cardiff running from June 21 to 24.
Sarsour, a leader of the Women’s March movement, has faced allegations of antisemitism in the past.
She released a statement last November apologising for “causing harm to the movement’s Jewish members and for being too slow to show its commitment to fighting antisemitism.”
“We should have been faster and clearer in helping people understand our values and our commitment to fighting antisemitism. We regret that,” the statement said.
Last year, Sarsour was accused of suggesting liberal American Jews put their support for Israel above their commitment to democracy and free speech.
In a Facebook post from November 2018, she defended congresswoman Ilhan Omar from criticism over her support for the boycott, divestment, sanctions (BDS) movement.
“This is not only coming from the right-wing but some folks who masquerade as progressives but always choose their allegiance to Israel over their commitment to democracy and free speech,” she wrote.
Supporters of Sarsour have pointed to her work raising funds for victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and to repair a vandalised Jewish cemetery.
Sarsour has been approached for comment.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
