Zio is a pejorative term for Zionists, commonly used by anti-Zionists. The term is often considered antisemitic, particularly by Zionists.
About
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) lists "Zio" on their Translate Hate Glossary. The AJC claims that the term "Zio" is used by antisemites to disguise their antisemitism as merely anti-Zionism, asserting that "Zio" is actually a short-hand euphemism for "Jew".[1] Mosaic Magazine has said that "Zio" is a "new anti-Jewish slur".[2] Ben Samuels, writing for Haaretz, has claimed that the term was popularized first by David Duke and then later by leftists and members of the British Labour Party.[3] The Zionist writer Ariel Sobel has also claimed that "Zio" is an antisemitic slur with roots within antisemitic right-wing extremist circles that has been adopted by progressives.[4]
"Zio" can be used as a noun or as a hyphenated or unhyphenated adjective. "Zio-Nazi" is a common pejorative term for Zionists. Other variations of "Zio-" include Zio-Communism, Zio-economics, Zio-supremacism, and Zio-occupied America.[2]
In 2016, the British Labour Party released an inquiry into antisemitism stating that "Epithets such as...‘Zio’ and others should have no place in Labour party discourse going forward." Speaking at the inquiry's launch, Jeremy Corbyn declared that "‘Zio’ is a vile epithet that follows in a long line of earlier such terms that have no place whatsoever in our party."[5]
In 2017, the organizers of the Chicago Dyke March faced accusations of antisemitism after their Twitter account used the term "Zio tears".[6][7][8]
Tony Greenstein, a Jewish anti-Zionist from the United Kingdom, was accused of antisemitism in 2018 for using the term "Zios", among other allegations, and was expelled from the British Labour Party.[9][10]
See also
References
- ^ "Zionist / "Zio"". American Jewish Committee. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ^ a b "Who're You Calling a "Zio"?". Mosaic Magazine. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ^ "'Violent History' of 'Zio': How Chicago's Dyke March Adopted an anti-Semitic Slur Dear to White Supremacists". Haaretz. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ^ "Why Are Progressives Using an Anti-Semitic Slur Coined by the KKK?". The Jewish Journal. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ^ "Labour antisemitism report tells members to stop using 'Hitler, Nazi and Holocaust metaphors'". The Independent. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
- ^ "Chicago Dyke March Collective Revels in 'Zio Tears' in Twitter Rant". Haaretz. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
- ^ "This Is a Safe Space. No Jews Allowed". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
- ^ "Chicago Dyke March Drops Pretense, Deploys Anti-Semitic Term Popularized by Neo-Nazis". Tablet Magazine. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
- ^ "Tony Greenstein's 'notorious antisemite' libel claim dismissed by court". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ^ "Britain's Labour expels Jewish anti-Zionist activist over 'anti-Semitic' remarks". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
