A student at the Slade School of Fine Art, exhibiting at the 2024 degree show, stated that she refuses to sell her artwork to Zionist collectors.
Betty Ogun posted on Instagram “I will never, ever support genocide. I will not sell to Z*onist collectors and I will continue to do what I can to support human rights, peace and equal rights for all. Free Palestine”
UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) wrote to Mary Evans, director of the Slade School, which is part of University College London (UCL), to let her know about her student’s attitude, and to point out that Ms Ogun is in breach of Section 29 of the Equalities Act 2010 (“the Act”). This prohibits persons supplying goods to the public from discriminating against persons with protected characteristics by not supplying them.
By refusing to sell her work to Zionists, Ms Ogun is directly discriminating against persons who hold the philosophical belief of Zionism, i.e. those who believe in the right of the Jewish people to a State in their ancient homeland. She is also indirectly discriminating against Jewish people and Israelis, since most Jewish people and most Israelis are Zionists.
It appears from Ms Ogun’s Instagram post, where she says she won’t sell to Zionist collectors but also supports equal rights, that she does not understand fully the meaning of ‘Zionist’ or equal rights.
UKLFI also pointed out to the Slade that there appears to be a shortcoming in their teaching, if the curriculum does not include instruction on the legal framework that self-employed artists will be required to adhere to.
Ms Ogun’s current stance would make it impossible for any gallery or agent to offer her work, without risking falling foul of the Equality Act.
Ms Ogun also appears to be in breach of UCL’s policies on institutional racism and inclusion[1] and on religion and belief equality.
UKLFI has requested that the Slade and UCL investigate Ms Ogun’s discrimination against Zionists, Jews and Israelis, and discipline her in an appropriate manner.
UKLFI has also requested that they introduce instruction on equality and discrimination, so that students will in future understand that discriminating against Jews and Zionists is a form of racism.
Caroline Turner, a director of UKLFI commented: “If students think that they can discriminate against Zionists at the same time as supporting equal rights for all, there is clearly some failing in their understanding of discrimination. I hope that schools, universities and workplaces will deal with this failure.”
[1] https://www.ucl.ac.uk/slade/inclusion/slade-statement-on-institutional-racism-1/