I may delete this entire thread immediately after I post it (or anytime thereafter) but Priya's honesty is prompting some from me.

A few weeks ago, I "joked" that the part of my job that surprises people the most were the death threats.

It wasn't a joke.

1/ https://twitter.com/PriyamvadaGopal/status/1380140120855183363

At the time, the police were investigating the most serious death threats I've received to date.

Usually, I get a couple emails/DMs each year along the lines of "shut up & die bitch." I consider these to be impolite requests, not threats.

The latest were not impolite requests.

I don't know what prompted them other than the lunacy that infects white supremacists who believe they must cleanse their own race of all traitors & who somehow they put my name at the top.of their list.

3/

It was time-consuming AF to address. Police reports in 2 countries, reports to campus security & IT. The US police had no idea how to investigate this so I spent time learning so I could teach them.

Thankfully, the Essex Police knew what to do so that process wasn't repeated.

Emotionally, I was strained & exhausted.

I wasn't ready to share the reality with people. But suddenly, I was apologising to colleagues, editors, grant partners & pretty much everyone outside my family & a few friends for being late on something or another.

4/

But, it was never going to be a day late or 2. It would be a week or a month or 2, depending on factors I couldn't control.

So, I had to start telling people. Which was more time & more emotion.

5/

Occasionally someone would suggest I might want to be a little less outspoken, lock my twitter profile, etc. I know these things are said with good intentions they assing responsibility to the wrong person.

Someone's outspokenness is never the reason for these kinds of threats.

Through this, I discovered most Unis have no protocol for what to do when staff face these threats. I was fortunate because my Head of School took the situation seriously and worked to protect me. When/if I work on campus, I'll be safer than I was before.

7/

This causes some inconvenience.

My profile is still missing from the Uni website as they work on some things. I've missed a few media opportunities as people have a harder time contacting me &I spend a little time each day worried people will think I was fired.

8/

But even when I have my personal pity-parties-for-1, I recognize how privileged I am that it took 40+ years before a white supremacist chose to target me. I'm privileged that it is rare & remains unlikely.

Priya is not that privileged.

The @DailyMailUK's targeted campaign against @PriyamvadaGopal is dangerous AF. It aims to rile people up without regard to the fact that one of the unhinged will eventually try to eliminate the danger the DM says she poses.

They need to stop.

10/

They seemingly don't care about the emotional impact of their work, either, but what we're seeing from them is equivalent to a targeted physical assault aimed at harming her. Its not news, no matter how they try to spin it. It's irresponsible & unethical conduct.

11/

I also hope @Cambridge_Uni has taken the steps necessary to reduce her workload during this time. Asking her to work as normal is unrealistic & harmful.

Finally, I hope Universities & @ucu will work to develop appropriate protocols for when staff are threatened like this.

12/

It should not be the case that each new threatened academic has to chart their own course. It takes too much time and energy at a time when their time & energy is already drained.

13/

Also if you're still reading, pop over to Priya's thread & offer her some solidarity. She deserves it.

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