Before folks gathered for the march towards antisemitism, a big space round Westminster had been cordoned off to visitors with massive numbers of law enforcement officials from across the nation lining the route in central London.
Ahead of the biggest demonstration held by British Jews for the reason that Israel-Hamas struggle started, organisers from the Campaign Against Antisemitism mentioned the massive pro-Palestinian marches which have been held within the capital have made London a “no-go zone for Jews”.
As the crowds gathered, Boris Johnson spent a short while assembly marchers to point out his assist, whereas a number of celebrities helped lead the demonstration.
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Presenter Rachel Riley advised Sky News: “I’m out right here at present as a result of Jews on this nation really feel scared, they really feel underneath assault, some persons are scared to ship their kids to high school.
“I’ve been looking over my shoulder like I never have before.”
But in a close-by cafe, controversial far-right activist Tommy Robinson was dwell streaming to his on-line followers.
Organisers of the march had warned he wouldn’t be welcome, after he signalled his intention to attend.
Police warned him if he left the cafe to hitch the march they’d transfer him on. As he got here out, officers surrounded him.
He advised them he was there in his capability as a journalist, however police led him away and he was later arrested.
March organiser Stephen Silverman advised Sky News he did not need Mr Robinson aligning himself with their trigger.
“This march is about tolerance, it’s about inclusion, it’s about kindness,” he mentioned.
“Anyone who wants to use it in order to exploit hate, or sew division is not welcome.”
Many on the march spoke to their very own experiences of antisemitism. But they accepted that the struggling of Palestinians had introduced lots of of hundreds of British folks out onto the streets in current weeks.
“We obviously, obviously sympathise with innocent people of any description caught up in any conflict anywhere in the world,” one man mentioned.
“We really mean that but it’s not OK to therefore equate and then attack British Jews for a conflict happening halfway across the world.”
Another girl condemned a number of the chanting in the course of the pro-Palestinian marches.
“People are allowed to have free speech but I think when you have ‘from the river to the sea’ – in the Jewish community that means one thing and that’s what we’re quite fearful about,” she mentioned.
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The march was peaceable, with chants of “bring them home” as folks held up posters of Israeli hostages nonetheless being held by Hamas.
Actor Eddie Marsan – who is not Jewish however has beforehand spoken of antisemitism abuse he has acquired for enjoying a Jewish character – was among the many crowd.
“There’s going to be moderate people on pro-Palestinian marches and there’s going to be moderate people here and what I’m here to do is to encourage moderate people to stand up and have a voice and to take on the extremists at any side,” he mentioned.
“That’s what we need – we need more moderate people standing up.”
Organisers estimated 60,000 took half within the first march towards antisemitism held in London for the reason that Israel-Hamas struggle started. The march completed simply after 6pm.
A complete of two arrests have taken place as of 6.10pm, together with Mr Robinson. The Metropolitan Police mentioned: “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.”
Addressing those marching during his speech, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis told the crowd at Parliament Square British Jews “is not going to be intimidated” by antisemitism.
He mentioned: “We call for a strengthening of community cohesion and we will forever be proud to champion the finest of British values.”
Other celebrities noticed within the crowd included Vanessa Feltz and Robert Rinder, in addition to actors Tracy-Ann Oberman, Elliot Levey and Maureen Lipman.
Antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes motivated by racism have elevated dramatically for the reason that outbreak of the Israel-Hamas battle.
In the primary 18 days of October, there was a 1,353% enhance in antisemitic offences and a 140% rise in Islamophobic offences, the Met Police mentioned on the time.
The Community Security Trust, which collects stories of antisemitism within the UK, recorded no less than 805 antisemitic incidents between 7 and 27 October; the best ever recorded in a 21-day interval.
Tell Mama, which counts Islamophobic incidents, recorded 291 incidents of anti-Muslim hate between 7 and 19 October, a sixfold enhance on the identical interval final 12 months.
Source: information.sky.com”