On a recent Sunday, the streets of London were filled with a sea of people, their numbers reaching into the tens of thousands. They had gathered for a cause that was both urgent and deeply personal: to stand against antisemitism. Among the crowd was a familiar face, former British Prlending his support to this critical issue.
The march was not just a spontaneous gathering, but a powerful response to a pro-Palestinian protest that had taken place the day before, drawing large crowds.
Tens of thousands march against antisemitism in London
'This was a huge statement saying we are not going to take antisemitism in the street in London or across the UK anymore' Journalist @JoshRomOnAir says pic.twitter.com/KXC8MVNTZY
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) November 27, 2023
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was not alone in his participation in the march against antisemitism. He was accompanied by a host of other high-ranking government officials, all united in their resolve to stand with the Jewish community. One notable figure among them was UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, whose presence added a significant religious dimension to the political statement being made.
The march was not just a demonstration of solidarity, but also a historic event. According to the organizers, the turnout was unprecedented, making it the largest anti-antisemitism march in London in over a century.
The marchers, a diverse and passionate crowd, held aloft a variety of symbols that spoke volumes about their cause. Among these were the Israeli flags, fluttering proudly in the breeze, a testament to the Jewish heritage that the marchers were defending. Alongside these were the Union Jacks, a symbol of the United Kingdom and a reminder that this fight against antisemitism was taking place on British soil.
But perhaps the most powerful symbols of all were the banners that the marchers carried. Emblazoned with the words “Never Again Is Now” and “Zero Tolerance for Antisemites,”
November 26, LONDON — Tens of thousands of people including former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson gathered in London on Sunday for a march against antisemitism, a day after large crowds turned out for a pro-Palestinian rally.
— Kayhan Life (@KayhanLife) November 27, 2023
Today dozens of Jews appreciated our presence to… pic.twitter.com/fV1BkSr66o
The march that took place on Sunday was not an isolated event, but rather a response to a broader context of escalating tensions. The catalyst for these tensions was the recent war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, a conflict that has reverberated far beyond the borders of the Middle East.
“Anything which is associated with the Jewish religion now feel that they’re under attack and they have to look after themselves, have their own security,” said Malcolm Canning, 75, from London. “I never thought this would get to this stage in this country. And it’s very, very upsetting to see it.”
Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who is more commonly recognized as, Tommy Robinson, was taken into custody by the police during a recent march.
The march where Yaxley-Lennon was detained was not his first public appearance this month. He was also present at an Armistice Day march in London, where he was part of a group of counter protesters.
According to the police, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was asked to leave the place due to alarm that his presence could potentially lead to situations of “harassment, and distress” for others present at the location.
Gideon Falter, who holds the position of Chief Executive at the Campaign Against Antisemitism, made a significant statement regarding the rally. He expressed that this rally was not an isolated event, but rather a response to several weeks of pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Falter stated, these pro-Palestinian protests had created an environment in the capital that was unwelcoming and even hostile to Jews, to the extent that he described it as a “no-go zone for Jews.”
The individual expressed deep concern over the escalating number of antisemitic incidents in the United Kingdom, a surge that coincided with the onset of the war. He voiced strong condemnation of the disturbing signs displayed at the protests, which he described as “appalling”.
Among these were placards depicting the Star of David being discarded into a trash bin, accompanied by a caption that read, “Please keep the world clean.”
This past Saturday marked a significant event as tens of thousands of demonstrators, advocating for the rights and welfare of Palestinians, took to the streets in a peaceful protest. The total number of participants underscored the widespread support for the cause.
The primary demand of these protesters was the establishment of a permanent cease-fire in the ongoing conflict.
According to law enforcement authorities, the majority of the demonstrators conducted themselves in a peaceful manner, adhering to the principles of non-violent protest. However, a total of 18 individuals were taken into custody by the police. The offenses leading to these arrests varied, but they included serious charges such as the suspicion of inciting racial hatred.
The rally that took place on Saturday was orchestrated by the Stop the War coalition, a group dedicated to promoting peace and opposing conflict. The coalition made it abundantly clear that the participants of the rally were united in their opposition to all forms of discrimination, including racism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia.
On November 11, during the Armistice Day commemoration in London, a significant event unfolded. A large-scale demonstration was organized by pro-Palestinian supporters, who marched through the city streets in a peaceful manner.
However, this peaceful demonstration was met with resistance from a group of counter-protesters. These individuals, described by the police as “soccer hooligans”, were associated with far-right ideologies. They attempted to disrupt the peaceful march and instigate conflict.
The organizers of the march that took place on Sunday have made a significant statement. They have claimed that this gathering was the largest of its kind since a historic event in 1936.
In 1936, the British Union of Fascists, led by Oswald Mosley, had intended to march through the heart of the East End, an area with a large Jewish population. This planned march was met with a formidable opposition. Hundreds of thousands of people, including anti-fascist Jews, local trade unionists, communists, anarchists, and socialist groups, united to block the entrance of the British Union of Fascists.
On Sunday march, the organizers have drawn a parallel between these two events. They have highlighted the scale of the recent gathering, stating that it was the largest since the 1936 demonstration. This comparison underscores the magnitude of the recent march and the strong public sentiment it represents.
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