Edie Friedman, at The Blogs

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Aug 12, 2021, 1:39 PM

For many refugees, illegal routes are the only option

Lord Dubs with campaigners for refugees in January, including Edie Friedman of JCORE (right) via Jewish News

We recently marked the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the 1951 Refugee Convention. This event should be met with pride (Britain was one of the original signatories of the convention), but also sadness that the situation of refugees throughout the world is more precarious...

Jul 21, 2020, 4:17 PM

Ten simple and much-needed steps for British Jews to help combat racism

A protester raises her hands as police start to arrest demonstrators refusing to get off the streets during an imposed curfew while marching in a solidarity rally calling for justice over the death of George Floyd, on June 2, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E via Jewish News)

For four decades the Jewish Council for Racial Equality (JCORE) has been working to raise awareness of racism, and never have we had such a genuine interest from people asking how they can help tackle it. Since the murder of George Floyd by police officers...

May 8, 2020, 12:53 PM

Why are BAME communities disproportionately hit by Covid-19?

The coronavirus pandemic has brought to the fore many different issues and complexities. We at JCORE, along with our colleagues in the race and refugee sector, have been struck with the way this pandemic has impacted on the lives of people from black, Asian and...

Feb 21, 2019, 4:11 PM

With the case of Shamima Begum, our emotions must be separate from the law

Shamima Begum

The reported decision by the Home Secretary to remove citizenship from Shamima Begum is a worrying development. Inevitably emotions run high over this case – the brutal actions of her apparent former IS companions are unspeakable and difficult to comprehend, nor will they elicit much...

Aug 9, 2018, 11:41 AM

Boris Johnson’s burka remarks are not about free speech, but hate

Boris Johnson. (Photo credit: Victoria Jones/PA Wire via Jewish News)

Boris Johnson’s remarks are not only inappropriate and offensive, but also need to be seen within the wider context of other racist comments he has made previously – “picaninnies” and “water melon smiles” when referring to Black people, for example – together with his recent...

Sep 20, 2017, 11:57 AM

Why you should back our campaign for refugee kids

It’s impossible to imagine what it must be like to hide for months in a forest near Calais, or live for years amid the squalor of an overcrowded refugee camp in Lebanon or Greece. But if you’re a young refugee on your own, that’s how...

Feb 1, 2017, 4:27 PM

Reinvigorating the refugee welcome movement

Our Jewish values and history teach us that it is essential that people are treated as individuals and that specific nationalities and religions must never be stereotyped or demonised. We of all people know the dangers of allowing negative attitudes about groups to prevail. Once...

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About Me

Dr Edie Friedman is Executive Director of The Jewish Council for Racial Equality