Become a Member
Opinion

Why is fighting Jew-hatred never seen as cool?

It’s impossible to imagine a modern version of Rock Against Racism tackling antisemitism

October 15, 2021 12:17
LowKey.jpg
3 min read

I remember the yellow, red and black badges well as a child growing up in the late 80s and early 90s. The arrow coursing through the yellow background and the slogan “Anti-Nazi League”. It was everywhere: on marches, in classrooms, fly-posted on walls.

I associate that image with people standing up against racism, against lies promoted by the Nazis — the ones of Jewish global control, of money-obsessed, media-controlling, deceitful Jews, of backstabbing foreigners, disloyal to whatever country they are in. Fast forward 30 years and the badge has changed but the ideas are cool and popular, and not seen as embarrassing or awkward to hold.

They don’t get you marched out by anti-racist movements for sharing them. They appear unashamedly in popular culture; they appear in publishing, art, music, even in your university classroom, delivered by people with a duty of care.

That is why last week, British rapper Lowkey proudly took part in an online conversation in defence of former Bristol University professor David Miller. Miller, who called Jewish students “pawns” of Israel.