By Ashley Young-
The Jewish Representative Council of Manchester have fired its deputy head after telling the Board of Deputies that Raymond Solomon “will no longer represent the organisation”, following his question as to whether the murder of George Floyd was “racist.”
In a statement about the situation, Mark Levy, the group’s CEO said the question over Floyd’s murder, tabled to Board President Marie van der Zyl “in no way represents JRC policy.”
The move to dismiss Solomon came shortly after the Jewish News publication revealed that the deputy had asked Board President Marie van der Zyl to justify a claim in the communal organisation’s blog that Floyd’s murder by a U.S police officer in May 2020 was “racist.”
Solomon, who had only months ago stood as a Tory council candidate in Bury, had suggested the trial of Derek Chauvin did not involve claims he was racist.
The Deputy, who is on the national council of the Zionist Federation, then stated: “Therefore, could I respectfully ask the president to kindly share the evidence that the Board has to justify the word ‘racist’.”
Rebuking him, the Board President wrote:”I stand by these words and would use them again.
“This was a brutal, racist murder. The images of a white polie officer kneeling on the neck of George Floyd shocked the world with its racist intent.
“I am very surprised that a deputy for the Manchester Rep Council would seek to minimise the racist dimension of the police officer’s actions.”
In an attempt to defend her husband’s actions, wife Karen posted on the ZCC online debate forum:”What has happened to democray and freedom of speech within the Jewish community.”
One missing feature in the whole incidence is why the deputy head thought the murder may not have been racist, and why his reasons for thinking so were not firstaddressed and discussed.
Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into the neck of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, for 9 mins and 29 secs, sarking uproar and a public debate about police brutality and racism.
Despite the sacking, sources at the Board said ending contracts with the communal organisation was not that simple..”
Marc Levy, Manchester Jewish Representative Council CEO said“The JRC have informed the Board of Deputies that Raymond Solomon will no longer represent the organisation.
“The question tabled in no way reflects JRC policy and represents the views solely of the individual in question.
New Constitution
The organisation is expected to soon vote on a new constitution that will underpin the JRCs new structure as it executes on its ambitious new manifesto in support of the Manchester Jewish Community.”
The Zionist Federation of the UK and Ireland said it was disappointed to read of one of its National Council members who represents the Manchester Zionist Central Council, challenging the nature of the murder of George Floyd in May 2020.
They added the brutal, racist murder of George Floyd gave rise to an unprecedented wave of both national and international condemnation which once again shone a spotlight on America’s not uncommon mistreatment of its black population at the hands of its police forces.
Richard P Woolf Chair of the Federation condemned his remarks unequivocally saying “To seek to minimise the obvious racist dimension of George Floyd’s murder stands not only in stark contrast to world opinion, but also to the ethos of the Zionist Federation.
“I call on Mr Solomon to immediately resign as a member of the National Council and note that should he refuse to do so a resolution removing him will be tabled at the meeting of National Council being held early next week.”
The move to dismiss Solomon came shortly after Jewish News revealed had asked Board President Marie van der Zyl to justify a claim in the communal organisation’s blog that his murder by a US police officer in May 2020 was “racist.”
Solomon, who had only months ago stood as a Tory council candidate in Bury, had suggested the trial of Derek Chauvin did not involve claims he was racist.
The Deputy, who is on the national council of the Zionist Federation, then stated: “Therefore, could I respectfully ask the president to kindly share the evidence that the Board has to justify the word ‘racist’.”
However, in an angry rebuke the Board President wrote:”I stand by these words and would use them again.
“This was a brutal, racist murder. The images of a white police officer kneeling on the neck of George Floyd shocked the world with its racist intent.
“I am very surprised that a deputy for the Manchester Rep Council would seek to minimise the racist dimension of the police officer’s actions.”
Despite claims by the JRC to have parted ways with Solomon, sources at the Board said ending contracts with the communal organisation was not that simple.
One pointed to the lengthy row over the departure of Roslyn Pine.Another source said Solomon’s comments “did not suprise them.” They added his appointment was “an accident waiting to happen.”
Since March 2021, 165 Black people have been killed by the police in the United States in that year. This compares to 124 Hispanics, 11 Native Americans, and 314 White people.
There are people who have highlighted the fact that more white people have been killed by U.S police than black people without putting those figures into context of the ratio of white to black people in America as a whole.
The rate of police shootings of Black Americans is much higher than any other ethnicity, at 37 per million people. This rate stands at 28 per million for Hispanics and 15 per million for Whites.
It is still worth noting that fatal police brutality against white people has occured on many occassions, but the circumstance of each killing is different in each case.