Tributes to Corbyn-supporting academic David Graeber, who dies aged 59
American anthropology professor who coined the phrase 'we are the 99 percent’ passed away in London last week
An American anthropology professor in London who defended Jeremy Corbyn and played a prominent role in the Occupy Wall Street movement has died suddenly at the age of 59.
David Graeber, who coined the phrase ‘We are the 99 percent,’ came to the UK in 2007, lecturing at Goldsmiths University for six years before joining the London School of Economics in 2013.
Born in New York and raised in a cooperative apartment block, he was influenced by his working-class Jewish parents. His father, who was born in Kansas, had been a Communist in his youth and fought in the Spanish Civil War, while his Polish-born mother, a garment worker, was active in the textile industry’s union.
Graeber was still a teen when he first identified with anarchism and his later research led to books about such issues as the effects of debt, the use of direct action, the reducing work/life balance and the changing nature of employment.
In his adopted home, he supported the then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn against the charge that he was antisemitic, telling an interviewer last year: “If you look at the people who have left the party over antisemitism, most aren’t Jewish. A lot of the people who still remain close to Jeremy Corbyn are Jewish. It’s absurd.”
He had earlier penned a short but blistering attack on those he felt were smearing Corbyn, accusing them of using Graeber’s personal safety “as a political chess piece” and of “crying wolf when there are real wolves at the door”.
Graeber died suddenly on 2 September and is survived by his wife Nika.
If you look at the people who have left the party over antisemitism, most aren’t Jewish. A lot of the people who still remain close to Jeremy Corbyn are Jewish. It’s absurd
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
