A British university defended one of its professors following a petition launched against her after she posted on social media that “white lives don’t matter.”
Priyamvada Gopal, a professor in colonial and postcolonial literature at Cambridge University, posted a series of tweets Tuesday saying “white lives don’t matter” and “abolish whiteness” and the backlash prompted the university to issue a statement that said that professors have the right to express their opinions, according to Summit News.
“The University defends the right of its academics to express their own lawful opinions which others might find controversial and deplores in the strongest terms abuse and personal attacks,” Cambridge’s statement said, defending Gopal from criticism. “These attacks are totally unacceptable and must cease.”
The University defends the right of its academics to express their own lawful opinions which others might find controversial and deplores in the strongest terms abuse and personal attacks. These attacks are totally unacceptable and must cease.
— Cambridge University (@Cambridge_Uni) June 24, 2020
Some online took issue with Cambridge’s decision, pointing out that it did not stand by intelligence researcher Noah Carl and Jordan Peterson when their affiliations with the university were canceled over controversial things they said.
“Nope,” author Douglas Murray tweeted in response to Cambridge’s statement. “Nobody believes that. We remember the cases of Noah Carl (@NoahCarl90) and Jordan Peterson (@jordanbpeterson). Your institution dropped them in 2 secs once the mob came for them. But it’s interesting you’re standing up for someone who actually is a race-baiter this time.”
Nope. Nobody believes that. We remember the cases of Noah Carl (@NoahCarl90) and Jordan Peterson (@jordanbpeterson). Your institution dropped them in 2 secs once the mob came for them. But it’s interesting you’re standing up for someone who actually is a race-baiter this time. https://t.co/xcygEiOLuW
— Douglas Murray (@DouglasKMurray) June 24, 2020
“You cut ties with @jordanbpeterson over a photo he took with a fan he met for literally 30 seconds,” political commentator Dave Rubin tweeted about the news.
You cut ties with @jordanbpeterson over a photo he took with a fan he met for literally 30 seconds. https://t.co/O1WFvP7iat
— Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) June 25, 2020
Gopal was initially suspended from Twitter for violating its “hateful content policy” after user complaints.
Her response to the criticism was to stand by what she originally said and tell her Twitter followers that her suspension was lifted and that Cambridge promoted her following the remarks.
“When I talk about abolishing whiteness, I talk about political practices and ideologies. Systems of oppression, whether white or brown, should be abolished,” Gopal later clarified. “It’s about abolishing a race hierarchy where whites are at the top.”
Gopal said she had received more than 50 abusive emails and multiple death threats.
“Thanks to everyone who wrote to @Twitter: the ludicrous ban has been lifted. I am therefore delighted to share with you personally, that last night Cambridge promoted me to a full Professorship,” Gopal tweeted Thursday morning. “The hate mails & threats are coming in non-stop but @CambridgeCops are following up.”
Thanks to everyone who wrote to @Twitter: the ludicrous ban has been lifted. I am therefore delighted to share with you personally, that last night Cambridge promoted me to a full Professorship. The hate mails & threats are coming in non-stop but @CambridgeCops are following up
— Priyamvada Gopal (@PriyamvadaGopal) June 25, 2020
I would also like to make clear I stand by my tweets, now deleted by Twitter, not me. They were very clearly speaking to a structure and ideology, not about people.
— Priyamvada Gopal (@PriyamvadaGopal) June 25, 2020
