Momentum activist suspended from Labour after posting mock video of councillors 'Jewish dancing'
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A Momentum activist has been suspended from Labour after posting a mock video of local councillors which was considered anti-Semitic.
Daniel Harris posted a video on social media, featuring three characters in traditional Orthodox Jewish dress.
He has since apologised for causing offense with the video, but blamed his suspension on "a political ploy by the Right in Labour"
The figures, dancing to a song about Hanukkah - had the faces of three Labour councillors for Brighton and Hove superimposed on their bodies.
The video was accompanied by the message: “Merry Christmas Warren Morgan, Caroline Penn and Anne Meadows. A bit of fun!”
(Image: SWNS-London-+44 (0)1179066550)
Mr Harris, a member of Corbyn-backing pressure group Momentum, was suspended from Labour last night, following complaints about the video.
The video has since been removed from his Facebook page and replaced by a similar video featuring three elves.
Last night, Harris said: “I can see now that the post can be seen as offensive and anti Semitic and I wholeheartedly apologise for the offensive I have caused.
"As a gay man who has been victim to two incidents of homophobic hate crime this year, I know full well the challenges people from minority groups face."
It’s thought the video was created using the ‘Elf Yourself’ app, which allows users to paste friends’ faces onto holiday themed dancers.
(Image: SWNS-London-+44 (0)1179066550)
Jewish Labour movement Ivor Caplin said the group had submitted a formal complaint about the video, adding: “There are people who think they can defend Dan Harris for this – there may need to be a wider investigation by the party.”
In an online post, Harris said he was “utterly devastated” to have been suspended, and blamed the move on a “political ploy by the Right in Labour.”
He added: “I want to condemn all forms of racism. As a gay man who has been victim to two incidents of homophobic hate crime this year, I know full well the challenges people from minority groups face.
‘I would never take part in any form of racism. I fight for vulnerable people in the community and, as a result of being fairly vocal on issues, I believe this whole incident is a political ploy by the Right in Labour to deny working-class voices and smear the Left.
“Finally I want to end with an apology if my post did offend anyone, it was certainly never meant to offend. It was meant to bring seasonal joy, not more divisions.”