Artists pull work from Whitworth gallery
JVL Introduction
So Manchester University has pulled a statement of solidarity with Palestine from an exhibit at the Whitworth Gallery.
Forensic Architecture, whose exhibit it was, said that the statement “refers to well-documented realities in Palestine, endorsed by major human rights groups.”
“That the University of Manchester [pulled the statement] following the pressure from a self-appointed lobbying group known to platform the extreme-right settler movement in Israel disregard well-accepted principles of academic and artistic freedom and is an affront to the principles of human rights, in Palestine and elsewhere, that FA’s exhibition promotes.”
We can only applaud Forensic Architecture’s principled stand on what is a clear-cut issue of freedom of cultural expression and a panicky university capitulation to partisan pressure to censor this freedom.
See related posts: Fog and rain over Cloud Studies at the Manchester International Festival and What is going on at the Whitworth???
This article was originally published by the Guardian on Mon 16 Aug 2021. Read the original here.
Artists pull work from Whitworth gallery after Palestine statement removal
Solidarity message removed from exhibition by Forensic Architecture after UK Lawyers for Israel campaign
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This is an excellent template to stop such bullying in future.
If every time there’s misbehaviour on one side, the other side reacts appropriately and uses all methods possible to explain its actions to the wider world then the bullying becomes counter-productive. The bullies will have to change tactics. It’s even (remotely) possible their consistent failures might lead to some rethinking of their ultimate goals. After all, how would it advantage even the most vicious land-grabbers if their behaviour cost Israel the protection of their most important ally (the USA)?
The problem is Linda that the ‘wider world’ rarely gets to hear about such things. I just did a search, and as far as I could see, only the Guardian covered it out of the MSM. The Jewish newspapers covered it of course, but with the usual spin that one would expect from them.
Palestine Solidarity have circulated a draft pro-forma protest email to Manchester University.
I have submitted it with appropriate comments.
I hope others will do likewise.
M.U. must not be allowed to think that their capitulation in the face of bullying is without consequences.
Censoring the critical voices works horridly well, I agree.
Offered here are ideas I hoped at one stage that I could use to bypass the blockers. It’d be great if anyone can adapt and use them …
1. find sympathisers amongst your own contacts who’re willing to set up and service a database of different interest groups (with their own websites) that accept guest posts linked to their interests – eg amateur / community history and sociology groups, faith groups, etc. You only (HAH!) need 5 or 6 intelligent, organised, empathetic, risk-aware people to make a start …
2. work out what content would fit WELL with the other posts on these websites and how you should format it (eg a wry one-liner may be best for some sites)
3. monitor the websites until there’s a good opportunity of putting something in that serves their interests and yours. Write it in language that won’t trigger the search terms used by the would-be censors.
As there are potentially thousands of such small websites it’s highly likely you’ll be able to put over a fair amount of what you want to say IF you’re prepared to stick at it.