Peter Tatchell disrupts Jeremy Corbyn speech with misguided Syria protest
Peter Tatchell and friends disrupt Jeremy Corbyn’s speech marking the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – for no very good reason.
Who can disagree with the Twitter user who asked: “Why is #PeterTatchell protesting Corbyn at a #HumanRightsDay event? Why isn’t he protesting against May”?
The human rights campaigner disrupted a speech by Mr Corbyn at an event to mark the anniversary of the United Nations general assembly signing the universal declaration of human rights in 1948.
He demanded that Labour should call for humanitarian aid to be sent to Aleppo by air, and fellow protesters brandished posters calling for sanctions against Russia, for bombing the city.
“We do think there should be aid given to the people in Aleppo; we do think the bombing should end; we do think there should be a ceasefire; we do think there should be a political solution; we do think the war should end in Syria.”
Mr Corbyn was, quite naturally, taken by surprise. He left the platform to seek advice, then returned to put the record straight.
He said: “Emily Thornberry, on our behalf, during Foreign Office questions and on many other occasions, has made it absolutely clear that we do think there should be aid given to the people in Aleppo; we do think the bombing should end; we do think there should be a ceasefire; we do think there should be a political solution; we do think the war should end in Syria. We are absolutely supporting the people.”
In other words, Mr Tatchell was absolutely wrong to be protesting against the Labour leader on this matter.
Why hasn’t he launched highly visible public protests against Theresa May, whose government voted for the Royal Air Force to launch air strikes on Syrian targets last year?
Possibly the worst aspect of this is that it has allowed unscrupulous individuals in the mass media – and social media – to take Mr Corbyn’s words out of context.
At one point, off-stage, he can be heard asking, “When did we condemn the bombing?”
Taken out of context, that could be used to suggest he was saying Labour had not done so. In fact, he was simply asking for clarity on when it happened.
This was a shameful, turncoat display by Mr Tatchell, who should have known better. What induced him to do it?
Protesters led by Peter Tatchell have disrupted a speech by Jeremy Corbyn, calling on the Labour leader to demand action to end the conflict in Syria.
Corbyn halted his speech while several protesters held up banners with slogans including “Step up and demand action in Syria” and “End the suffering in Aleppo”.
Tatchell, a human rights campaigner who has previously supported the Labour party, shouted over the party leader to demand he do more to condemn the actions of Russia in the Syrian conflict.
As the protesters stood silently in front of Corbyn, the Labour leader said: “It’s all right, it’s OK.”
Source: Peter Tatchell disrupts Jeremy Corbyn speech with Syria protest | UK news | The Guardian
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ah those blair babies wont go
I am not against Tatchell’s protest per se, and I am sure Corbyn is not against it either. However, I do think the protest on Corbyn’s platform plays into the hands of the so-called ‘moderates’ in the Labour Party. Corbyn has made his stance on the Syrian conflict abundantly clear; and Tatchell should be protesting on the Tory platform.
Wrong time, wrong target, wrong party. Otherwise, perfect. Thanks, Tatchell
How about the UK stop backing the US in its terror wars then there would be no need for Stepping up and demand action in Syria” and “End the suffering in Aleppo” he is another moblie mouth typical Blair
Who, Tatchell?
Clearly Tatchell has realised he hasn’t been mentioned for some time and thought he would let us know he is still alive.
I agree – I also wonder who is really behind this – is it Tatchell, or is he working with, or on behalf of someone else.
His actions made me feel both very angry, and like weeping at the same time.
Mr Tatchell wouldn’t have got anywhere near Maybe May to say what he said and if there was the remotest chance that he did he would have been instantly hushed up and promptly marched out of the venue.
I think this Mr Tatchell did Mr Corbyn and the Labour Party a favour tbh Mike; unknowingly, he helped to debunk the myth that the Labour Party isn’t opposing the government. Mr Corbyn dealt with the situation very respectfully and got clarity for the facts before he made his responding statement.
It’s worth remembering that Tatchel supported the bombing of Lybia.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8399079/Libya-Shami-Chakrabarti-and-Peter-Tatchell-are-at-odds-over-Gaddafi.html
I think we need to ask where has Peter Tatchell been all this time, I think he also owes us all an explanation as to why he chose to attack Jeremy rather than the other culprits who wanted to support the bombing of Syria- when Jeremy was openly campaigning against it.