Caller accuses Nicky Campbell of being prejudiced

A BBC caller has defended Diane Abbott’s controversial letter after the Labour MP was accused of dismissing the racism Jewish people have experienced. Gilian claimed she was calling in to add “balance” to Nicky Campbell’s segment discussing Ms Abbott’s remarks about how white groups including Jewish people and Travellers “are not all their lives subject to racism”.

The woman, who said she was a Jewess, told Nicky: “I’m not going to attack her to make your programme… as I have no problem with what she said.”

Ms Abbott wrote a letter published in The Observer on Sunday, arguing these groups can experience “prejudice” but Jewish and Irish people as well as Travellers have not been “subject to racism”.

The letter read: “They undoubtedly experience prejudice. This is similar to racism and the two words are often used as if they are interchangeable.”

“It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their lives subject to racism.

“In pre-civil rights America, Irish people, Jewish people, and Travellers were not required to sit at the back of the bus.”

Gilian argued Ms Abbott “may not have chosen the best way to express her views but they are valid”.

She said: “If you look at Stephen Lawrence case, if you look at stop and search policy and the numbers, if you look at institutional racism, if you look at the Met and the racism that’s being investigated there… there is racism in our society because people are individuals and some choose to be racist.

“People of colour did have to sit at the back of the bus. You can’t say it is either or. Both are valid and both are evil because they don’t value human beings in the right way.”

In response, Nicky said Ms Abbott’s comments seemed “ignorant and historically illiterate” and that they dismissed what Jewish people have experienced.

Don’t miss…
Car crash leaves man dead and 2 fighting for life after BMW hits tree[LATEST]
Thousands on one mobile network ‘did not get emergency test alert'[INSIGHT]
8am GP appointment ‘scramble’ to be scrapped next month[NHS]

Since her letter was published, Ms Abbott has apologised and said she accidentally sent a draft version of her letter.

In a statement published yesterday, she wrote: “I wish to wholly and unreservedly withdraw my remarks and dissociate myself from them.

“The errors arose in an initial draft being sent. But there is no excuse, and I wish to apologise for any anguish caused.

“Racism takes many forms, and it is completely undeniable that Jewish people have suffered its monstrous effects, as have Irish people, Travellers and many others.”

Elsewhere in her phone call, Gilian said: All prejudice is prejudice. And in my opinion Mr… when you are speaking like you are, you are showing as much prejudice as the next person.”

Nicky asked: “Who am I prejudiced against?”

Jilian added: “You sound like you’re very against Diane Abbott… yes she may not have said something very wise. Yes I know she said it and she is obviously heavily burdeoned… about the prejudice that people of colour experience.”

Source: Read Full Article