March against antisemitism in London as Tommy Robinson arrested ...
Around 40,000 to 50,000 people expected to attend Campaign Against Antisemitism march
Thousands gather to march against antisemitism through central London
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Tommy Robinson has been arrested at a march against antisemitism in London after police warned the far-right was“not welcome”.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the march, held the day after a pro-Palestinian protest in the capital called again for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Former prime minister Boris Johnson is among those attending.
Ahead of the march, the Met warned that any offences “whether from within the protest or from any groups trying to challenge or interfere with the march” would be dealt with, as both the force and ministers have stressed the need for the UK’s Jewish community to feel safe on the streets.
There had been fears in that Mr Robinson, the former leader of the far-right grouping, could disrupt the protest organised by charity Campaign Against Antisemitism.
Robinson had previously been seen among the crowds of counter-protesters who clashed with police during ceasefire protests held on Armistice Day.
The weekend marches took place as a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel is still holding following the release of two groups of hostages
Immigration minister Robert Jenrick and security minister Tom Tugendhat joined celebrities including Vanessa Feltz, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Rachel Riley and Robert Rinder at the march, which saw marchers join in singing as they proceeded through the city.
Organisers called the rally the largest gathering against antisemitism London had seen since the Battle of Cable Street in 1936, when hundreds of thousands of people blocked a planned march by Sir Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists through an area populated by many Jewish families.
Barney Davis26 November 2023 19:12
In the first 18 days of October, there was a 1,353% increase in antisemitic offences and a 140% rise in Islamophobic offences, the Met Police said at the time.
The Community Security Trust, which collects reports of antisemitism in the UK, recorded at least 805 antisemitic incidents between 7 and 27 October; the highest ever recorded in a 21-day period.
Tell Mama, which counts Islamophobic incidents, recorded 291 incidents of anti-Muslim hate between 7 and 19 October, a sixfold increase on the same period last year.
Barney Davis26 November 2023 18:50
The Met Police have said they have arrested a man heard making antisemitic comments as 105,000 depart the March Against Antisemitism.
The force posted on X: “The March Against Antisemitism has concluded.
“As the crowds left along Whitehall, a man was heard to make antisemitic comments.
“He was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.
“In total, there were two arrests during today’s operation.”
(Met Police)
Barney Davis26 November 2023 18:16
Speaking in Parliament Square she said: “We’ve learned from history the sharp price to be paid when good people stay silent and I’m grateful to each and every one of you here today for refusing to be bystanders.
“We’re going to have to get serious about fighting this now if we want to turn things around.
“We’re going to start having to have tough conversations. We’re going to have to stand up to the mob and we’re going to need strong stomachs.
“But together I believe we can and we will.”
Rachel Riley attended
(Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
Barney Davis26 November 2023 17:26
He told the antisemitism march in London: “Fundamentalists always scream loud to drown out the voice of reasonable people, moderate people.
“Well in my experience people aren’t moderate because they’re turning a blind eye to injustice, people are moderate because they can see both sides of the debate, both sides of an argument, and they can sense the greater truth.
“But I think now it’s time for moderate people in this country to stand up and face down extremism and bigotry and antisemitism and Islamophobia and all forms of racism.
“So I’m here today to defend my culture, my culture is diversity and I’m proud of my culture.
“And I’m also here to stand in solidarity with my Jewish friends, the people I grew up with, the people I went to school with, the people I work with, and I tell you all you are not alone.”
Barney Davis26 November 2023 17:18
Former EastEnders actress Tracy-Ann Oberman told marchers: “We’re seeing a frightening and swift rise in antisemitism, Jewish attacks on our children not being able to go to school wearing their blazers with a Jewish insignia or skullcaps, our children and ourselves advised to take off any sign of being Jewish.
“I have so many friends and neighbours and people who contact me on social media saying they will take their mezuzahs off their doors, that they feel frightened, they feel isolated and alone.
“But we are not alone. We are a successful and flourishing multi-ethnic and multi-faith capital city of a multi-ethnic and multi-faith country.
“A tolerant democracy where all racism, including racism against Jews, is not tolerated.
“We have to call out antisemitism for what it is, it is an incitement to hatred, it is an incitement to divide.”
(left to right) Chief Rabbi Mirvis, Eddie Marsan, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Rachel Riley, Maureen Lipman (second from right) and Vanessa Feltz (right) (Jordan Pettitt/PA)
(PA Wire)
Barney Davis26 November 2023 17:16
Addressing Sunday’s march at Parliament Square, he said: “Since October 7, antisemitic crime has surged in this country by over 1,000%.
“Demonstrations marched through our cities, marched through our capital where people glorify terrorism, where people incite racism against Jews.
“And indeed, as we saw yesterday, yet again, carrying placards showing a Star of David thrown in the bin with a caption that says ‘please keep the world clean’, messaging that would not have been out of place in 1930s Germany, it is appalling.”
(Victoria Jones/PA Wire)
Barney Davis26 November 2023 16:28
Speaking at Sunday’s march in Parliament Square he said: “Since October 7 we have witnessed here in the UK an alarming rise of antisemitism, but we will not be intimidated.
“We call for a strengthening of community cohesion and we will forever be proud to champion the finest of British values.
“So with regard to the poisonous spread of antisemitism, what should the response of the British people be?
“Number one, call it out when you see it. Number two, call it by what it really is – Jew hatred.
“Number three, be vigilant and report every incident. Number four, we must arrest every single perpetrator and bring every single one of them to justice.
“Number five, we must teach our children that the superheroes of our society are those who pursue peace and loving kindness, and not those who glorify violence and murder, and we must teach people that they must draw their conclusions from historical facts and not from what they see and hear on social media.”
Barney Davis26 November 2023 16:26
Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle said he was speaking “very proudly” as deputy of Labour’s Friends of Israel.
He said: “We all wait with deep anxiety as we await the release of further hostages. To be here and stand shoulder to shoulder with British Jews.
“I am enormously proud of the leadership Keir Starmer has shown in combatting antisemitism and standing up for the Jewish British community,
“We cannot escape and cannot ignore the tsunami of antisemitism that has swept the country since October 7.
“Your community will never stand alone.”
Barney Davis26 November 2023 16:04
Speaking on behalf of the Government, The Minister of State for Immigration said: “Tonight we mourn with those that mourn and grieve
“We pray for the hostages and we demand their immediate release.”
Chants of “Bring them home” break up the speech.
He said: “Know your government will not rest until each and every one of them is back in the loving embrace of their families. We stand with Israel.”
He said he will revoke visas of known antisemites and dispel them from the country.
“There is one fundamental freedom we must reclaim that is the freedom from fear.
“A Britain where Jewish people are afraid is not Britain.”
(Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
Barney Davis26 November 2023 15:50
