March against anti-Semitism draws thousands in London
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Some people sang in Hebrew while others chanted "Bring them home" in reference to the hostages.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Thousands of demonstrators against anti-Semitism marched in London on Nov 26 to protest against a rise in hate crimes against Jews since the attack by Hamas militants on Israel in October and Israel's subsequent bombardment of Gaza.
Protestors carried placards bearing the messages “Shoulder to shoulder with British Jews” and “Zero tolerance for anti-Semites”.
Others showed the faces of Israeli hostages held by Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Some people sang in Hebrew while others chanted "Bring them home" in reference to the hostages.
“I’m here to support my Jewish community and I think we must stand up for ourselves – otherwise if we won't stand for ourselves, who will, you know?” said student Avraham El Hay.
London's Metropolitan Police received reports of 554 anti-Semitic offences between Oct 1 and Nov 1, up from 44 a year earlier, a more than 10-fold increase.
“I want this march to achieve for people to understand there is no place for racism in this country,” Ms Kate Worth, a travel agent, said. “We are all equal. And it's absolutely unacceptable what is happening right now for Jewish people.”
Police arrested far-right activist Tommy Robinson at the start of Nov 26's march after he refused to leave the area at the request of police officers.
Organisers of the demonstration had asked Robinson not to attend because of the distress his presence was likely to cause.
The march on Nov 26 took place a day after the latest demonstration in the British capital by pro-Palestinian protestors calling for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Police estimated 45,000 people marched in the demonstration on Nov 25. They did not immediately have an estimate for the size of Nov 26's march. REUTERS
