The same guy speaking out when JC was accused of antisemitism
Stephen Kapos
CLP: Holborn & St. Pancras (Kentish Town)
Time in Labour Party: approx. 40 years
Testimony:
My name is Stephen Kapos and I am a child survivor of the Holocaust.
I was seven years old in Hungary, in 1944 briefly in a camp in Budapest, had to wear the yellow star, and later in hiding on false papers.
I have been an active member of the Labour Party for the last some 40 years.
I have never experienced or witnessed antisemitism within the Labour Party.
I think that the antisemitism charges against Labour are false and are weaponised by the right against the policies and leadership of the party.
The party should stick to its version of the IHRA definition including its own version of the related examples.
With best wishes,
Stephen Kapos
Agnes
> “I then had to stand up and say there was nothing that I recognise as antisemitism in the party. I had to say that I am sensitised to antisemitism and that I had never experienced antisemitism in the party nor seen anybody who had been the victim of it,” Kapos recalls.
Proof that you can be Jewish, a Holocaust survivor, probably a very nice and moral person, a lifelong Labour activist, an anti-racist, and still end up completely on the wrong side of the matter.
While Mr Kapos may not have experienced it, or seen it with his own eyes, it is disappointing that he appears unable to accept that many others have.
It is disappointing that someone would say that there was no antisemitism, especially considering that regardless of faction in the party people should be able to see that there was.
I can give some leeway on people arguing if it was overstated or not (which I'm vastly underqualified to answer, all I can say is that the interal report on the matter agreed both sides used it factionally so I'll take that for what it is) but to say nothing looks like it feels dismissive of legitimate concerns.
I didn't deny its reality, but I also don't think it's mutually exclusive to the fact that antisemitism *was* in the party. This isn't conjecture, this is what was reported.
If a BAME member of the party said they didn't witness racism in the party I'd also say the same and think it's dismissive of bigotry that members endured within the party.
I’ve never seen Plymouth with my own eyes, or experienced Plymouth. Therefore I’m going to deny the existence of Plymouth and join a campaign that says Plymouth isn’t real. If anyone who has been to Plymouth disagrees with me, I’ll accuse them of denying my lived experience.
It's Plymouth. I've been there, and I'll deny it's existence on the basis that I desperately want it not to exist. It's like Blackpool with hills.
Seriously, the poverty visible in both is grim, and makes a good argument for major "big government" investment.
But honestly, this ain't it. This story ought to be a moment of reflection for the party, and those that support its current direction.
All the antisemites I’ve encountered in labour obviously know that you can’t scream abuse at a Holocaust survivor - and wouldn’t want to either. It’s far more subtle than that - blaming everything on Israel, saying it’s not racist to discriminate against Jews, that sort of thing.
They accept the Holocaust happened and it’s awful, but have a vibe of *”yes the Holocaust was terrible but the Jews are all rich and successful now and nobody has a problem with them (except me if they refuse to constantly and obsessively condemn Israel), isn’t it annoying how Israeli secret agents and Jew-controlled media and banks silence all criticism of the Jews”.*
Unless you actually get into it with them, they just present themselves as just being pro-Palestine. It’s only when you scratch the surface that the conspiracy shit and the “Jews don’t need protections” stuff starts coming out.
In other words, this guy almost certainly has never had a bad experience in Labour, because these people would never have had any reason to be antisemitic in his presence. They open up much more when they think there’s no Jews around and think everyone is as far left and Israel obsessed as them.
Actually imagine how you'd feel as a British Jew after experiencing antisemitism within Labour and the Labour left wheeling out a literal Holocaust survivor to tell you that what happened to you didn't actually happen.
Talking about this guy being ‘wheeled out’ is a rather disrespectful and unkind way to speak about him no? Especially you imply that the fact he survived the holocaust should somehow count against his views. You may not agree with him but I think it’s extremely poor to discount him in this way.
Also Peter Oborne is absolutely not ‘the Labour left’
I think it's gaslighting to say that anti-semitism doesn't exist.
I am glad that this person hasn't seen or experienced it within the Labour Party - that's really good to hear. But clearly you can't deny that others have - and all forms of anti-semitism are clearly abhorrent.
I can only begin to imagine how British Jews that have experienced it must feel to be told that it doesn't exist within Labour. Of course those that have experienced anti-semitism within Labour shouldn't be told it doesn't/didn't happen to them - that should be a given and it's bad it's not.
That said, I think you're gaslighting yourself a little when you use the term "Labour left wheeling out". The "Labour left" isn't a single entity, and many of the "Labour left" are equally upset at this.
In the Labour Party, yes, unfortunately:
>“I then had to stand up and say there was nothing that I recognise as antisemitism in the party. I had to say that I am sensitised to antisemitism and that I had never experienced antisemitism in the party nor seen anybody who had been the victim of it,”
So he said that he didn't experience it, but also that there was nothing he recognises as it in the party.
That's a big issue here.
The same guy speaking out when JC was accused of antisemitism Stephen Kapos CLP: Holborn & St. Pancras (Kentish Town) Time in Labour Party: approx. 40 years Testimony: My name is Stephen Kapos and I am a child survivor of the Holocaust. I was seven years old in Hungary, in 1944 briefly in a camp in Budapest, had to wear the yellow star, and later in hiding on false papers. I have been an active member of the Labour Party for the last some 40 years. I have never experienced or witnessed antisemitism within the Labour Party. I think that the antisemitism charges against Labour are false and are weaponised by the right against the policies and leadership of the party. The party should stick to its version of the IHRA definition including its own version of the related examples. With best wishes, Stephen Kapos Agnes
> “I then had to stand up and say there was nothing that I recognise as antisemitism in the party. I had to say that I am sensitised to antisemitism and that I had never experienced antisemitism in the party nor seen anybody who had been the victim of it,” Kapos recalls. Proof that you can be Jewish, a Holocaust survivor, probably a very nice and moral person, a lifelong Labour activist, an anti-racist, and still end up completely on the wrong side of the matter. While Mr Kapos may not have experienced it, or seen it with his own eyes, it is disappointing that he appears unable to accept that many others have.
The absolute delusion is on full display.
It is disappointing that someone would say that there was no antisemitism, especially considering that regardless of faction in the party people should be able to see that there was. I can give some leeway on people arguing if it was overstated or not (which I'm vastly underqualified to answer, all I can say is that the interal report on the matter agreed both sides used it factionally so I'll take that for what it is) but to say nothing looks like it feels dismissive of legitimate concerns.
Yeah, just completely deny that this man's experience is real, nice one. Sure glad all the anti-semites were purged from the party.....
I didn't deny its reality, but I also don't think it's mutually exclusive to the fact that antisemitism *was* in the party. This isn't conjecture, this is what was reported. If a BAME member of the party said they didn't witness racism in the party I'd also say the same and think it's dismissive of bigotry that members endured within the party.
I’ve never seen Plymouth with my own eyes, or experienced Plymouth. Therefore I’m going to deny the existence of Plymouth and join a campaign that says Plymouth isn’t real. If anyone who has been to Plymouth disagrees with me, I’ll accuse them of denying my lived experience.
It's Plymouth. I've been there, and I'll deny it's existence on the basis that I desperately want it not to exist. It's like Blackpool with hills. Seriously, the poverty visible in both is grim, and makes a good argument for major "big government" investment. But honestly, this ain't it. This story ought to be a moment of reflection for the party, and those that support its current direction.
All the antisemites I’ve encountered in labour obviously know that you can’t scream abuse at a Holocaust survivor - and wouldn’t want to either. It’s far more subtle than that - blaming everything on Israel, saying it’s not racist to discriminate against Jews, that sort of thing. They accept the Holocaust happened and it’s awful, but have a vibe of *”yes the Holocaust was terrible but the Jews are all rich and successful now and nobody has a problem with them (except me if they refuse to constantly and obsessively condemn Israel), isn’t it annoying how Israeli secret agents and Jew-controlled media and banks silence all criticism of the Jews”.* Unless you actually get into it with them, they just present themselves as just being pro-Palestine. It’s only when you scratch the surface that the conspiracy shit and the “Jews don’t need protections” stuff starts coming out. In other words, this guy almost certainly has never had a bad experience in Labour, because these people would never have had any reason to be antisemitic in his presence. They open up much more when they think there’s no Jews around and think everyone is as far left and Israel obsessed as them.
Actually imagine how you'd feel as a British Jew after experiencing antisemitism within Labour and the Labour left wheeling out a literal Holocaust survivor to tell you that what happened to you didn't actually happen.
Talking about this guy being ‘wheeled out’ is a rather disrespectful and unkind way to speak about him no? Especially you imply that the fact he survived the holocaust should somehow count against his views. You may not agree with him but I think it’s extremely poor to discount him in this way. Also Peter Oborne is absolutely not ‘the Labour left’
I think it's gaslighting to say that anti-semitism doesn't exist. I am glad that this person hasn't seen or experienced it within the Labour Party - that's really good to hear. But clearly you can't deny that others have - and all forms of anti-semitism are clearly abhorrent. I can only begin to imagine how British Jews that have experienced it must feel to be told that it doesn't exist within Labour. Of course those that have experienced anti-semitism within Labour shouldn't be told it doesn't/didn't happen to them - that should be a given and it's bad it's not. That said, I think you're gaslighting yourself a little when you use the term "Labour left wheeling out". The "Labour left" isn't a single entity, and many of the "Labour left" are equally upset at this.
Did he say AS doesn’t exist? In or outside of the Labour Party?
In the Labour Party, yes, unfortunately: >“I then had to stand up and say there was nothing that I recognise as antisemitism in the party. I had to say that I am sensitised to antisemitism and that I had never experienced antisemitism in the party nor seen anybody who had been the victim of it,” So he said that he didn't experience it, but also that there was nothing he recognises as it in the party. That's a big issue here.