APA Jewish man has written a moving letter explaining why the Jewish community need to stand up for Muslims in light of the recent rise in Islamophobia.
The letter was sent to James O’Brien – a presenter for LBC radio – by a listener of Jewish ancestry, on Holocaust Memorial Day. It called for greater focus on the experience of Muslims in the UK, especially in the wake of a sharp rise in Islamophobic attacks in recent months, the i100 report.
His letter said:
I just wanted to say that although I am not a religious man I have a strong Jewish heritage. Today being the 71st anniversary of the Holocaust, which is very personal to me for obvious reasons, I think we really need to make the link as to how Muslims are being subjected daily to such lazy prejudices, just as my ancestors were, all those years ago.
LBCJosh went on to argue that ‘Jews, more than anyone, need to stand up for the Muslim community’, and that they need to take a stand against ‘vile rubbish’ in the press and leave the ‘Middle East nonsense to one side for the moment’.
He added:
We need to remember that not long ago it was us who were on the receiving end of this treatment, and we all know where that ended up…
…It feels like we’re receding into a society that is also happy to say ‘No Muslims’. Just look at what is happening in the states with that lunatic Donald Trump. We simply cannot tolerate this.
That’s all I wanted to say. Keep the peace.
APHe also explained how his family had emigrated from Russia during the pogroms in the early 19th century and how, during their time living in East London, they frequently saw signs reading: “No dogs, No Irish, No Jews”.
An obviously moved O’Brien responded to the message by saying:
On today of all days I am happy to provide you with an opportunity to bring that message to a slightly wider audience, in the probably naive hope that some people might listen.
More of a concept than a journalist, Tom Percival was forged in the bowels of Salford University from which he emerged grasping a Masters in journalism.
Since then his rise has been described by himself as ‘meteoric’ rising to the esteemed rank of Social Editor at UNILAD as well as working at the BBC, Manchester Evening News, and ITV.
He credits his success to three core techniques, name repetition, personality mirroring, and never breaking off a handshake.