The British Museum has postponed a Jewish Culture Month event after learning that “registered attendees were individuals intending to deliberately disrupt the event.”
The museum announced Wednesday that the talk – Ancient Israel and Judah in the British Museum – was postponed “due to security concerns” and would not take place as scheduled on Thursday. The talk was to be given by Dr. Paul Collins, Keeper of the Department of the Middle East.
In a statement, the museum said it was recently informed that a “significant proportion of registered attendees were individuals intending to deliberately disrupt the event, preventing others from participating in good faith and undermining the purpose of the program.”
The museum said that it fully recognizes the importance of lawful protest and freedom of expression, but equally, that it has a responsibility to ensure that the events it hosts can proceed safely, securely, and without intimidation for speakers, staff, and visitors alike.
Following discussions with organizers and security partners, a joint decision was allegedly taken to postpone the event to a later date.
The museum stated the decision was made to 'protect the event'
“This decision was made to protect the event – not to diminish it,” the museum said. “We will continue to support Jewish Culture Month and remain committed to providing a space where history, culture, and scholarship can be explored openly, respectfully, and without disruption.”
The Board of Deputies of British Jews called it “highly regrettable” that individuals have sought to deliberately disrupt a Jewish Culture Month event celebrating Jewish cultural heritage at the British Museum.
“Jewish Culture Month has seen many of Britain’s great cultural institutions partner with us in celebration of British Jewish culture, community, and creativity, and we will not allow the actions of extremists to prevent the British public from enjoying these events,” BoD said.
The organization said it will be working with the British Museum to reschedule the event as soon as possible.
MP Priti Patel said the cancellation of the event “is a sad indictment of the hatred our Jewish communities are experiencing.”
KC David Wolfson queried the “security concerns,” saying if “publicly-funded institutions cannot host such events without folding to pressure, serious questions arise about that funding.”
Historian Simon Sebag Montefiore said it is “dark times when a talk about Ancient Judah and Israel is canceled ‘for security concerns.’”
“Pathetic cowardice,” lamented historian Simon Schama.