Kristallnacht statement condemns growing hostility to migrants in UK

JEWS SPEAK OUT FOR REFUGEES ON KRISTALLNACHT ANNIVERSARY

More than 200 Jews have marked the 75th anniversary of the pre-War Nazi pogrom known as Kristallnacht, by issuing a statement condemning continuing fascist violence in Europe and slamming “the toxic sentiments expressed by many politicians and much of the media against migrants, asylum seekers, Gypsies and Travellers.”

The statement, drawn up by Jewish Socialist magazine and signed by Jewish MPs, rabbis, academics, writers and activists, including individuals who witnessed Kristallnacht at first hand, recalls the “anti-alien” atmosphere that Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany experienced then:

“Newspaper headlines declared: ‘Alien Jews Pouring In’, and claimed that ‘Refugees Get Jobs, Britons Get Dole’. The media accused Jewish asylum seekers of ‘over-running the country’.”

The statement highlights the cases of Hungary, where today neo-fascists target Gypsies and Jews, and Greece, where Golden Dawn supporters have attacked migrants and political opponents. The signatories warn of an atmosphere in Britain that “is increasingly hostile towards migrants and refugees”.

The signatories say that as Jews they:

“stand shoulder to shoulder with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in their efforts to live here in freedom and safety, to contribute to society, and be treated as equals”.

ENDS

Further information:

Prominent signatories include:

David Rosenberg, Jewish Socialist magazine; Prof Frank Land, 1939 refugee and Kristallnacht witness; Ralph Land CBE, 1939 refugee and Kristallnacht witness; Margaret Hodge MP; David Winnick MP; Lord (Alf) Dubs; Edie Friedman, Executive Director, Jewish Council for Racial Equality; Gerry Gable, Editor Searchlight Magazine; Prof Jacqueline Rose; Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah; Judge Laurence Brass, Treasurer, Board of Deputies of British Jews; Miriam Margolyes OBE; Morris Farhi OBE; Bernard Kops, playwright and poet

The full statement and list of signatories is below.

Jewish Socialist magazine is a London-based magazine published since 1985, which encourages the Jewish community to be active in campaigns for equal rights and against all forms of racism.

75 years after Kristallnacht: minorities in danger

On 9th/10th November 1938,

Virtual Kristallnacht Exhibit

Image by teachandlearn

During these pogroms, 91 Jews were killed, thousands were taken from their homes and incarcerated in concentration camps, 267 synagogues were destroyed, and some 7,500 Jewish-owned shops were smashed and looted. The Kristallnacht pogroms presaged attempts to remove Jews from German life completely.

Many Jews left hurriedly to seek refuge in friendly countries, including Britain, but Britain was already in the grip of an “aliens scare”. Newspaper headlines declared: “Alien Jews Pouring In”, and claimed that “Refugees Get Jobs, Britons Get Dole”. The media accused Jewish asylum seekers of “over-running the country”. Despite wide public revulsion at the violence of Kristallnacht, powerful elements in British politics and business continued to admire Hitler and the Nazi regime.

75 years after Kristallnacht, racists and fascists inspired by the Nazis continue to attack minorities in Europe. In Hungary neo-fascists target Gypsies and Jews. In Greece Golden Dawn members and supporters brutally attack migrants and political opponents. Here in Britain, minority communities, especially Muslims, have been targeted in an atmosphere that is increasingly hostile towards migrants and refugees,

As Jewish people mindful of this history, we are equally alarmed at continuing fascist violence and the toxic sentiments expressed by many politicians and much of the media against migrants, asylum seekers, Gypsies and Travellers.

We stand shoulder to shoulder with migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in their efforts to live here in freedom and safety, to contribute to society, and be treated as equals. As Jews we stand together with all communities seeking to combat racism and fascism here and elsewhere.

David Rosenberg, Jewish Socialist magazine

Prof Frank Land, 1939 refugee and Kristallnacht witness

Ralph Land CBE, 1939 refugee and Kristallnacht witness

Sheila Melzak, Clinical Director, Baobab Centre for Young Survivors in Exile

Dr Jennifer Langer, Director, Exiled Writers Ink

John Speyer, Director, Music In Detention

Margaret Hodge MP

David Winnick MP

Lord (Alf) Dubs

Edie Friedman, Executive Director, Jewish Council for Racial Equality

Gerry Gable, Editor Searchlight Magazine

Prof Nira Yuval-Davis, Director, Centre for Research on Migration, Refugees             and Belonging, UEL

Prof Jacqueline Rose

Prof Francesca Klug OBE, Director of the Human Rights Futures Project

Rabbi Elizabeth Tikvah Sarah

Rabbi Barbara Borts

Judge Laurence Brass, Treasurer, Board of Deputies of British Jews

Miriam Margolyes OBE

Morris Farhi OBE

Anne Karpf
, journalist

Bernard Kops, playwright and poet

Michael Rosen
, broadcaster and poet

Michele Hanson
, writer

Dr Ros Merkin, Writer & Director of Suitcase 1938