My letter to Goldsmiths Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team about the exclusion of Jewish members of staff from involvement with planning Holocaust Memorial Day.

 Dear Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team

Since writing to you I have 'discovered' that, following the Antisemitism Report, the university made a commitment in relation to Holocaust Memorial Day.

Here it is:

'12. Holocaust Memorial Day and associated events
The inquiry recommends Goldsmiths should:
Include consultation with or consideration of Jewish students and staff at the university.”
In response Goldsmiths will:
Annual Holocaust Memorial Day - Fund and support annual Holocaust Memorial Day event led by Jewish students and staff. '

Can I draw your attention to two phrases: 

'...with or consideration of Jewish students and staff at the university.' (from the Inquiry Report)

'...Holocaust Memorial Day event led by Jewish students and staff.' (from Goldsmiths' response to the Inquiry)?

The Antisemitism Inquiry's Report was published in May 2025. It follows that you have had six months to fulfil your commitment to support HMD 2026,  'led by Jewish students and staff'. This did not happen. Why not? 

You wrote to me explaining that, "Given the breadth of scholarship and creative work produced across the institution, it is not practicable for centrally coordinated HMD activity to identify or include all relevant staff-authored publications outside of the Trust’s nationally promoted resources for the year.'

The sole reason why it was not 'practicable...to identify or include all relevant staff-authored publications...etc' was because you failed to keep to the commitment that the university gave to host an HMD even 'led by Jewish students and staff'. If you had honoured that commitment, you would have found out immediately what expertise and experience lies within 'Jewish staff'. I can't and shouldn't speak for the student body.  

Quite clearly, you are in breach of the university's commitment to host HMD 'led by Jewish students and staff', and indeed in breach of your own 'Equality, Diversity and Inclusion' terms of reference. Can I ask what you are doing in the name of equality, diversity and inclusion, if you are not observing equality, diversity and inclusion? As before, I make the remark that you are pursuing a policy defined by Miranda Fricker as 'Testimonial Injustice'. In other words, you are guilty of the very thing that your team is there to mitigate against. An analogy would be for an 'Anti-racism team' to treat people in a racist way. 

Could I also suggest that if or when you write to me, you don't issue me with recommendations as to what I should do in relation to Holocaust Memorial Day? I am thinking here of you suggesting that I should make contact with the HMD Trust in relation to my books. I found this suggestion patronising and just a little bit offensive. 

I will consult with my colleagues as to how best to take this matter forwards. In the meantime, I will continue to make this matter public. 

Regards

Michael Rosen