UK: Labour supporters attack journalist for article about antisemitism in party

Beth Rigby interviewed former BBC-chief Danny Cohen, who expressed concern about antisemitism in the Labour Party:

Speaking to The Times of London, Danny Cohen expressed deep concern over rising anti-Semitism in Labour, which he said precluded Jews from supporting it.

“If you are Jewish how can you vote for them? How could you? For me it would be like being a Muslim and voting for Donald Trump, how could you do it?” Cohen said, referring to the American presidential hopeful’s call for a ban on Muslims entering the US.

Cohen also slammed what he called a lackluster response from the party to anti-Jewish sentiment within its ranks.

“You have to feel absolutely confident that it is totally unacceptable and it won’t be tolerated and I personally haven’t felt comfortable that it is happening yet in the Labour party,” he said.

In response, Rigby has come under attack on Twitter from the party's supporters. 

Rigby: "I've blocked more people in past 24hrs on Twitter than I have in past 7yrs after tweeting story on Cohen & antisemitism in Lab. V revealing"

Some of the comments Rigby got: A Labour candidate accused Rigby (or Cohen) of "peddling untruths for political gain" and of being "liberal antisemites".

 

Mira Bar-Hillel, an antisemitic Jewish journalist, made fun of Cohen's concerns, saying: "Let me guess: Finkelstein, @DAaronovitch, Oliver Kamm - Jews downtrodden and in fear of their lives"

Labour activist Joe Sucksmith expressed his 'concern' to Rigby.  Saying: "you seemed to be implying the Twitter response validated Cohen's "concerns". I've obvs misinterpreted"

Notice how seriously Sucksmith takes Cohen's 'concerns'.   In fact, his response is validation enough of Cohen's concerns.   Antisemitism is acceptable and tolerated in the Labour Party.