Jews Against Boris
 Jews Against Boris    | |
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| Motto | Boris Johnson is embracing nationalism and bigotry in his efforts to keep power. We're organising to stop him. |
| Interest of | Rivkah Brown |
| Member of | Business for Inclusive Growth |
Jews Against Boris (JAB) is a group of young, left-wing Jews who are campaigning against Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party during the UK/2019 General Election.
Toppling the PM
Freelance journalist Francesca Newton writes:
JAB started its campaign in November. While not officially affiliated with Labour, it’s attempting to topple the prime minister from his Uxbridge seat by canvassing for his Labour opponent, Ali Milani. Members of the group are also attending Labour canvasses in other marginal seats, particularly those with Conservative incumbents who have helped to normalise far-right rhetoric, which JAB considers the true threat to British Jewish life.
“Boris Johnson and the Conservatives pose an immense risk to us and to all other minorities,” a member of JAB tells me. Their campaign is fuelled by frustration at the Tories’ attempts to paint Corbyn as racist while ignoring bigotry within their own ranks, and from their own leader. “Our safety, our real safety, comes when we are in solidarity with other communities who are also threatened by the far right.”
"No thanks, I'm Jewish"
JAB tells me that since its launch, the Judaism of its members has been interrogated multiple times. Over the weekend, I attended a canvass with JAB in North London, after which we debriefed in a café. One member told me he’d visited a house where the occupant opened his door, saw Labour pamphlets, and said, “No thanks, I’m Jewish”.
JAB’s members don’t generally bring up their Judaism while canvassing unless it’s relevant. The canvasser didn’t have time to respond with “I’m Jewish too,” before the door closed again.
Another canvasser spoke to an individual who claimed they didn’t see any point in voting Labour since the party had “lost the Jewish vote,” and so won’t win. Around the table, this sparked concerns that Jews are not only being divided from Labour activism: Jews could actually end up being blamed for a Labour defeat.[1]
Canvassing in Uxbridge
On 17 November 2019, thirty JAB activists went door-knocking for Labour Party candidate Ali Milani in Boris Johnson’s seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
Rivkah Brown, one of the JAB canvassers, said:
- “My personal relationship with the Labour Party has been complicated by the events of the last few years, and I understand why many in my community feel unable to vote for them.
- “However all racisms are interconnected and Jews cannot be safe while other minorities are under threat. Boris Johnson has incited a hateful and divisive politics that endangers all marginalised people. That is why being part of a group of British Jews who show solidarity with other communities is so important at this election.
- "I'm proud to campaign for the working-class Muslim immigrant, Ali Milani, who is – in an incredible act of poetic justice – going to defeat our born-to-rule Islamophobic prime minister."[2]
