UKMW prompts Guardian correction to truncated Jackie Walker quote about Jews and slavery

It's important to stress that Walker's accusation that many Jews were chief financiers of the slave trade is not true according to an examination by historian Eli Farber, documented in his book 'Jews, Slaves and the Slave Trade: setting the record straight'. Jews' role in the slave trade was actually minimal, according to Farber's research

There was a small but important omission in a March 7th Guardian article by Jessica Elgot, “Labour members may be expelled over claims of antisemitism and bullying”.

Here’s the part in question, pertaining to recent developments concerning Momentum’s former vice-chair, Jackie Walker.

Walker, who was removed from her position in Momentum, also said she was concerned about definitions of antisemitism used by the party, saying she had not seen a definition she could “work with”.  The long-time activist had previously been suspended from the party after she wrote on Facebook that Jewish people had been “financiers of the sugar and slave trade”. She was later reinstated.

The actual quote – according to every major media report on the row we’ve read as well as a screen shot of her actual FB comments included below – was that “many Jews” had been the “CHIEF” financiers of the sugar and slave trade. Here’s her original quote from Facebook:

This is an important omission given the context, as merely saying that (some) Jews were slave financiers is narrowly true, and far different than saying many Jews were the “chief” or primary slave financiers – the latter representing a far more libelous claim.

Further, it’s important to stress that Walker’s accusation – possibly inspired by an antisemitic book published by Nation of Islam called “The Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews” – is not true according to an examination by historian Eli Farber.  Farber documented his research in a book titled ‘Jews, Slaves and the Slave Trade: setting the record straight’.   Jews’ role in the slave trade was actually minimal, according to Farber’s examination of original sources. (Interestingly, the “Jewish responsibility for the slave trade” narrative is also advanced by prominent white supremacists.)

After tweeting the journalist about the error, we complained to the Guardian Readers’ Editor office about the quote, and editors upheld our complaint.  Here’s the new passage:

Walker, who was removed from her position in Momentum, also said she was concerned about definitions of antisemitism used by the party, saying she had not seen a definition she could “work with”. The long-time activist had previously been suspended from the party after she wrote on Facebook that Jewish people had been “the chief financiers of the sugar and slave trade”. She was later reinstated.

They also noted the correction with an addendum at the bottom of the article. 
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