A lot of people marched in London on Sunday to speak out against antisemitism, just a day after a very large group gathered for a pro-Palestinian rally. This march was attended by tens of thousands of people, including former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other high-level officials. The main purpose of the event was to show support and solidarity for the Jewish community and to speak out against antisemitism. The organizers of the march said that this was the largest gathering against antisemitism in almost a hundred years.
People at the march proudly waved flags of Israel and the United Kingdom, and held signs with powerful messages such as “Never Again Is Now” and ”Zero Tolerance for Antisemites.” These messages were meant to show that people will not stand for any form of hate or discrimination.
The march was organized amidst growing tensions due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. People who participated in the event expressed their concerns about the rise of antisemitism and its impact on the Jewish community.
Malcolm Canning, a 75-year-old from London, shared his distress over the current situation, stating, “Anything associated with the Jewish religion now feels under attack and people feel like they have to take care of their own safety. This is something I never thought I would see in this country. It’s very upsetting.”
One notable incident at the march was the detention of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, by the police. Yaxley-Lennon, a former leader of the far-right English Defence League, was among counterprotesters who clashed with police during a march earlier this month. He was detained for refusing to leave after being warned about causing distress to others with his presence.
According to Gideon Falter, the chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, the rally was organized in response to the weeks of pro-Palestinian protests that had made London a “no-go zone for Jews.” He also condemned the presence of “appalling” anti-Semitic placards at these rallies.
On Saturday, tens of thousands of people participated in a pro-Palestinian protest that called for a permanent cease-fire in the ongoing conflict. While the majority of the protesters remained peaceful, 18 people were arrested for offenses such as inciting racial hatred.
The organizers of Saturday’s rally, the Stop the War coalition, emphasized that their cause is against discrimination of any kind, including racism, Islamophobia, and antisemitism.
This march was not the first time that London has seen clashes between pro-Palestinian and far-right counterprotesters. During the Nov. 11 Armistice Day demonstration, pro-Palestinian protesters marched peacefully, while far-right counter-protesters clashed with police trying to prevent them from attacking the march.
The organizers of Sunday’s march said that this was the largest gathering of its kind since 1936, when hundreds of thousands of people blocked a planned march by the British Union of Fascists through a Jewish neighborhood. This event served as a powerful reminder that the fight against antisemitism and discrimination must continue, and that everyone must stand together in solidarity and unity.
It is deeply unsettling to see antisemitism on the rise amidst pro-Palestine demonstrations. As someone who respects the rights of all people, this development is profoundly disappointing and concerning. We need to learn how to separate political views from baseless hatred; it’s both possible and necessary to stand with Palestine without promoting or encouraging antisemitism. Let’s remember the real enemy here should be hatred and ignorance, not individuals who just happen to hold different religious beliefs.
While it’s encouraging to see people stand up against antisemitism in such large numbers, it’s important to remember that this shouldn’t diminish support for Palestine. Condemning antisemitism doesn’t mean supporting Israeli government actions. We should strive to maintain that crucial distinction. The fight is against oppression, not religion. Therefore, human rights and justice must be upheld for everyone involved.
I absolutely agree. It’s heartening to see such a powerful display of unity against antisemitism, and it emphasizes our shared responsibility in addressing and combating all forms of hatred, intolerance and discrimination. But it’s equally important not to generalize or demonize those who are expressing their concern and dissent over the Israeli government’s actions. Conflating criticism of a state’s actions with animosity toward a religious or ethnic group is unfair and obstructs the path to dialogue and understanding. Upholding justice, human rights, and peace should be our shared goal and it should transcend all political divides.