Thousands march against antisemitism in London

Watch: Thousands attend march against antisemitism in London

By Anisa Kadri, in central London & Nathan Williams
BBC News

Tens of thousands of people have marched through central London at a demonstration against antisemitism.

Organisers estimated 100,000 took part in the first march of its kind since the Israel-Gaza war began, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The rally comes amid a steep rise in hate crime, especially against the capital's Jewish community.

English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson - who was asked not to attend by organisers - was arrested by police.

There had been concern that he might disrupt the demonstration.

The Met Police later said in total two people had been arrested. As well as Mr Robinson, 40, who was detained at the start of the march, police arrested a man for making antisemitic comments when crowds were leaving Whitehall.

The large crowd gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice and made its way along Whitehall to Parliament Square, where a rally was held.

Placards bearing slogans like "Shoulder to shoulder with British Jews" and "Never again is now" were seen being carried by those taking part.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis told the crowd at Parliament Square British Jews "will not be intimidated" by antisemitism.

He said: "We call for a strengthening of community cohesion and we will forever be proud to champion the finest of British values."

The Campaign Against Antisemitism estimate Sunday's march to be the largest gathering of its kind since the Battle of Cable Street in 1936, when British Union of Fascists supporters were stopped from marching through east London, an area with a high Jewish population at the time.

PA Media

Tracey-Ann Oberman, Eddie Marsan, Rachel Riley and Maureen Lipman were seen at the march

Reuters
PA Media

Tommy Robinson was led away by police officers - organisers had made clear he was not welcome

Several recognisable faces were spotted in the crowd, including TV personalities Vanessa Feltz and Robert Rinder, and actors Tracy-Ann Oberman, Elliot Levey and Maureen Lipman.

Countdown host Rachel Riley told the crowd: "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."

Actor Eddie Marsan gave a speech urging "moderate people in this country to stand up and face down extremism and bigotry and antisemitism and Islamophobia and all forms of racism".

Comedian David Baddiel, who attended the march, described the day as "emotional, bonding, well-attended and shambolic".

He joked: "No-one had any idea where we were going or who was speaking. It was indicative, as ever, of how Jews really don't run the world."

As well as Boris Johnson, security minister Tom Tugenhadt, immigration minister Robert Jenrick and Labour's shadow science minister Peter Kyle were among political figures in attendance.

Crimes against Jewish people motivated by racism have increased dramatically since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza conflict.

There were 554 reports of antisemitic offences in London between 1 October and 1 November in London, compared with 44 in the same period last year.

Islamophobic hate crime is also on the rise, with 220 offences in the same period, compared to 78 last year.

Sunday's rally against antisemitism comes after the latest large pro-Palestinian demonstration to be held in London since renewed fighting broke out in the Middle East.

The Met Police said 18 people had been arrested "during a significant policing operation" that was put in place around the pro-Palestinian march on Saturday, though the "overwhelming majority" protested lawfully, a statement said.

The force has come under pressure over its policing of pro-Palestinian demonstrations, and has pledged to crack down on placards and chanting which are judged to constitute a hate crime.

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