Some 60,000 people, including former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and several government officials, took to the streets of London in a march against antisemitism. This is the first demonstration against Jewish hatred in the British capital since the Hamas attack on October 7, after the numerous and massive rallies in favor of Palestinians where people chanted pro-Hamas slogans.
Thank you London 🇮🇱❤️🇬🇧
📸 @eurojewcong pic.twitter.com/XXoACrGssr
— Israel ישראל 🇮🇱 (@Israel) November 26, 2023
554 crimes against Jews between October and November 2023
In fact, Sunday's rally was the largest demonstration against antisemitism in recent decades. It took place a day after another large demonstration in favor of the Palestinians in the streets of London that resulted in 18 arrests. According to the authorities, since the outbreak of Israel's war against Hamas, there have been 554 hate crimes against Jews compared to 44 in the same period of time in 2022.
The most common phrases chanted and written on banners were "Never Again is Now," "Zero Tolerance for Antisemites" and "Shoulder to Shoulder with British Jews." Participants also filled London with flags of the United Kingdom and Israel.
British Jews 'will not be intimidated'
In statements reported by the BBC, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis addressed the crowd gathered in Parliament Square. He said that British Jews "will not be intimidated" by antisemitism. The Chief Rabbi said, "We call for community cohesion to be strengthened and we will always be proud to uphold the best of British values."
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and members of the current government such as Security Minister Tom Tugenhadt and Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, participated in the march. Also in attendance was Labour's Shadow Secretary of State for Science Peter Kyle.
Familiar faces
In addition, television personalities such as Vanessa Feltz and Robert Rinder, as well as actors such as Tracy-Ann Oberman, Elliot Levey, Maureen Lipman and Eddie Marsan, were also in attendance. Marsan urged those gathered to ask "moderate people in this country to stand up and face down extremism and bigotry and antisemitism and Islamophobia and all forms of racism."
At the #MarchAgainstAntisemitism, @eddiemarsan laments that “This isn’t the Jewish community’s first rodeo,” and @TracyAnnO warns that “If you come for the Jews, you come for us all.” pic.twitter.com/PhGqmEX43D
— Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) November 26, 2023
