University of Manchester: Don't censor artists

Following lobbying from pro-Israel groups, the University of Manchester decided to censor the exhibition 'Cloud Studies' at the Whitworth gallery by removing the artists accompanying statement expressing solidarity with Palestine.

The artistic collective Forensic Architecture have withdraw from the exhibition as a result of this censorship. Join us in calling on the University of Manchester to immediately reverse its decision, and ensure artists are able to express their views without political censorship.

Vice-President for Social Responsibility

Deputy President & Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Chair of the Board of Governors

President & Vice-Chancellor

Whitworth Gallery

Chancellor

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I’m writing to express my deep concern about the University of Manchester’s decision to censor the Cloud Studies exhibition at the Whitworth Gallery, and the understandable response of Forensic Architecture to withdraw its work as a result. Recent events, including the attempted dispossession of Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah and the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza in May, highlight the need to bring attention to the ongoing oppression of Palestinians by the state of Israel. Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinians has been ongoing since 1948, and is an undeniable fact of history. <a href="https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/04/27/threshold-crossed/israeli-authorities-and-crimes-apartheid-and-persecution">Human Rights Watch</a> and <a href="https://www.btselem.org/publications/fulltext/202101_this_is_apartheid">B’Tselem</a> have recently published reports clearly demonstrating that Israel is committing the crime of apartheid, as defined under international law. They join a long list of legal experts – including those appointed by the UN – and Palestinian civil society in calling Israel an apartheid state. It is essential that Palestinians are able to accurately describe the oppression they face, and for people to be able to express solidarity with their struggle for freedom, justice, and equality. Palestinian solidarity is deeply ingrained within the broader anti-racist movement. The decision of the University of Manchester to censor that solidarity is a disservice to anti-racist campaigners, and to suggest accurately describing Palestinian oppression is displaying anti-Jewish prejudice demeans the fight against actual antisemitism. The University of Manchester should also be made aware that the pro-Israel groups lobbying them have their own deeply racist ties. This includes UK Lawyers for Israel, who have <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/london-event-starring-pro-settler-group-has-rightfully-sparked-controversy">platformed at their events the far right Israeli organisation Regavim</a>. It also includes North-West Friends of Israel, who sent members to attend the March of Flags in Jerusalem, where far right Israelis march through the Palestinian quarters of occupied East Jerusalem chanting “Death to Arabs”. Please immediately reverse your decision to censor Palestinian solidarity, and ensure artists are able to express their views free from political censorship. I very much hope that the important Cloud Studies exhibition will be able to resume.

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University of Manchester: Don't censor artists