New Green mayor dropped controversial orator after his antisemitic remarks
The city's new mayor has dropped her new orator after concerns were raised about antisemitic remarks he shared on social media.
Cllr Tor Pingree, the new Mayor of Worcester, has severed ties with Giovanni 'Spoz' Esposito as her orator after she learned of controversial comments he had made on social media, including one where he shared a post likening Zionists to 'maggots'.
Steven Winston, managing director of National Jewish Assembly, said: “The IHRA Working Definition makes clear that criticism, per se, of Israel is not antisemitic.
"However, it also recognises that when discourse moves into dehumanisation, longstanding conspiratorial tropes, or narratives that deny or delegitimise Jewish self determination, legitimate criticism can cross a line.
"For the overwhelming majority of Jews, Israel is not an abstract political issue but a core component of Jewish identity, rooted in thousands of years of history, prayer and tradition.
"That is why most within the Jewish community would view these comments as antisemitic”
Mr Esposito has been approached for comment but did not respond in time for publication.
COMMENTS: Giovanni 'Spoz' Espositio has made and shared a number of comments criticising Israel (Image: Supplied)
Cllr Pingree, a Green Party city councillor for St Clement and county councillor for Worcester - Riverside was selected as the city's mayor on Tuesday, May 12.
She said: "I take antisemitism very seriously. I was not aware of these comments before I appointed Mr Esposito as my orator.
"In the light of these comments, I have decided that it is not appropriate for him to continue as my orator. I will be appointing a new orator shortly."
We had previously reported how Cllr Pingree selected poet Esposito as her orator, an unpaid ceremonial civic appointment and alternative to the more traditional role of chaplain.
OUTSPOKEN: Poet and now former orator, Giovanni Spoz Esposito (Image: Supplied from social media)
This honorary role is typically given to a local poet or artist who is appointed by the incoming mayor to compose and recite original works for major civic events, ceremonies, and council meetings.
However, a group called LetsStopTheHate revealed previous comments Mr Esposito had shared on X (formerly Twitter).
One, shared by him but written by someone else, says 'Labour is a dead horse riddled with zionist maggots hell bent on spilling more blood and protecting their own interests'.
He also shared a post by AIPAC Tracker which says 'there is no such thing in international law like a right of a state to exist'.
There are also multiple, expletive-laden comments about Israel made directly by Mr Esposito.
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He also uses language like 'IDF fascist scum' and calls Israel a 'vile coloniser/oppressor of the non zionist inhabitants of Palestine' and writes: "Israel have NEVER wanted a two state solution, so helped Hamas into power so they could obliterate Gaza."
In one post, he writes: "Israel is an apartheid state. Remove its fascist government and execute them for crimes against humanity."
A spokesperson for LetsStopTheHate, who did not want to be named, said: "Mr Esposito has over the past 12 months posted and re-shared comments that can at best be considered hate speech, at worst antisemitic racist bigotry.
"I find it quite disturbing that a person in a significant high profile position as the mayor of Worcester would employ the services of such a person."