📰 Our Fight Weekly | An ill-advised ban | 2026-06-04
This week we focus on the government's counter-productive ban on notorious anti-Israel social media personalities, Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur. Far from challenging anti-Semitism it has only strengthened it.
When banning anti-Semites fuels anti-Semitism
This week the government banned two American commentators from entering the UK. On the face of it a straightforward decision: keep out those spreading anti-Semitic hate. But look closer and something deeply troubling emerges.
By taking a technocratic approach and hiding behind bureaucratic language, the government has actually managed to create the worst possible outcome. It's made the bigots look like free speech martyrs, fuelled the myth that you can't criticise Israel, and shown it has no idea how to actually challenge anti-Semitism.
Read on for what happened, why it matters, and why the whole story has left us in an even darker place than when we started.
Our Fight
This past week
Last Thursday, May 28th, we held our first in-person discussion, on Islam and Islamism (a special thanks to Sandra for hosting). It was open to anyone who is making a regular donation to Our Fight. The discussion will be available as a podcast online soon.
On Tuesday, May 27th, and Saturday, May 30th, we made Our Fight group visits to the Nova Exhibition. Each visit is uniquely moving, and each visit reveals more. There are videos and stories that you may not have previously noticed, and each day there are different testimonies to hear: from Nova survivors, ex-hostages, family and friends. On Saturday it was encouraging to see uniformed police officers taking the time to engage with the exhibition.
See below for details on how to join us for a visit.
Our Fight group visit to the Nova Exhibition. Photos: Braham Cohen and Kurpa Patel
Coming up
Tuesday, June 9th, 8pm: An Evening with Adele Raemer. Those who came on our trip to Israel last year for Yom HaShoah will remember that one of the highlights was a tour of Kibbutz Nirim with Adele. Her powerful account of what happened to her kibbutz and to her friends on the morning of October 7th affected everyone who heard it. But just as moving were the stories of resilience and rebuilding that her community is undertaking. She is only in London for a brief visit, so make sure you don't miss this.
Adele Raemer speaking with the Our Fight delegation in 2025. Photos: Michael Ulman and Damian
Wednesday, June 10th, 5.20pm: An Our Fight group visit to the Nova Exhibition. Pre-book your ticket directly from the exhibition website, and select the 5.20pm slot. Meet outside the venue entrance from 5pm.
Saturday, June 13th, 12.40pm: An Our Fight group visit to the Nova Exhibition. Pre-book your ticket directly from the exhibition website, and select the 12.40pm slot. Meet outside the venue entrance from 12.20pm.
Thursday, June 25th, 6.30pm: Our next in-person discussion will be on Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism. It will be held in central London. These discussions are open to members who make a regular donation to Our Fight. More details in the next newsletter.
Tuesday, June 30th, 7.30pm: Our amazing friends at Comedy Unleashed are organising a fundraiser for Jewish community charities, as well as for Our Fight and Stop the Hate, called Stand Up for Jews! The response has been incredible, and all of the tickets were sold in only a few days. If you missed out, there is a waiting list that you can join.
Thursday, July 9th, 3.30pm: A group visit to the Holocaust Galleries at the Imperial War Museum. More details to follow in next week's newsletter.
You might have missed
On Holocaust Memorial Day, in 2025, Our Fight took the Yad Vashem exhibition The Auschwitz Album to London's streets. We used the posters to begin a conversation about the Holocaust, and why it's now more important than ever to ensure it is not obscured or forgotten. Watch this short film to hear from those involved, and about some of the responses we received.
Worth a read
Don't ban the Hamas apologists, says The Free Press.
The Editors
For members
On Thursday, June 25th, we'll be holding an in-person discussion on Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism, which is free to anyone who makes a regular donation to Our Fight. More details will be provided in next week's newsletter.
Our next catch-up meeting is on Monday, June, 8th, at 6.30pm. These weekly catch-up meetings are held in person in central London, and full details are in our WhatsApp group.
We need your help
We desperately need your financial support. If you can make a donation, become a regular contributor or even buy some merch for that special mensch in your life, it all helps. Check out our site on Shopify and find the donate button, below.
If you are able to support our work, please make a donation, or become a regular contributor.
And as always, thanks for being part of this,
Mark Birbeck
Founder and Director
Our Fight
