August 25, 2025 | by Barry Weisleder
As the Zionist genocidal onslaught continues, the carnage has provoked an increase in prejudice that is expressed through forms of bigotry such as antisemitism and Islamophobia. The Yves Engler campaign condemns such prejudice, without reservation. Racism has no place in our movement. The continued conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism weakens the struggle against all forms of prejudice.
It’s well known that the New Democratic Party suffers from a severe ‘democratic deficit’. Its leaders and directors have frequently blocked political contestants, and have removed nominated candidates who seek to become NDP members of parliament. Party controllers have routinely prevented debate of socialist policy resolutions, and have ignored any adopted radical policies. They need no help in steering the party to the right and censuring discussion.
Unfortunately, a handful of leftists, most of whom are not NDP supporters, have made it their priority to attack the most articulate socialist to run for NDP leadership in generations. These ‘critics’, intentionally or otherwise, offer arguments that encourage party officials to disqualify Yves Engler, putting a damper on political dialogue. This constitutes a broad attack on workers’ democracy, both within and beyond the NDP.
Constructive criticism is always welcome. Every campaign has room for improvement, and no campaign is beyond reproach. But allegations that wrench words out of context, that grossly exaggerate nuance written in private e-correspondence many years ago, that imagine a non-existent alliance with fascists, or that conflate anti-Zionism with antisemitism, do a disservice to the movement for progressive change.
It is just and necessary to expose organizations that fund, recruit, and cheer for the Zionist settler-colonial project — including Jewish-led bodies that do so. To refrain from holding accountable all organizations that aid and abet genocide would be a racist concession to the imperial order. It would assist major powers, such as the United States, in their goal of recruiting Jewish Zionists to provide cover for imperialist attempts to dominate the energy resources of West Asia. It would silence supporters of Palestinian liberation, and would excuse the growing array of municipal ‘bubble zones’ that ban free speech and protest near places of worship. The Yves Engler campaign remains steadfast in total opposition to all forms of bigotry and racism, including our vigilant opposition to antisemitism.
The people of Gaza are currently facing mass starvation and a final assault intended to ethnically cleanse the strip. It is truly abominable that these false claims have been raised at the moment of genocidal escalation, while the Zionist state, armed by Washington, Ottawa, and their allies, is implementing its ‘final solution’ for the people of Gaza and the West Bank.
This is the time to unite pro-Palestinian forces, including within the NDP where progress has recently been made. Choosing to launch a smear campaign against a prominent voice in the Palestine solidarity movement, employing bad-faith arguments contrived from years-old quotes, ripped out of context in order to advance a political agenda, is beyond disgusting. Through their action and inaction, some ‘critics’ have exposed their own racist outlook. They have worked harder to undermine Yves Engler than they have to oppose genocide. History will judge them harshly for it.
The Yves Engler campaign will continue to do everything in its power to stop the genocide in Gaza. We will do this by building a mass movement against capitalism, colonialism, imperialism, and Zionism. We will continue to fight for the only thing that can end the imperialist domination of the world, and the racism that flows from it: democratic socialism.
SOURCE :
