To think we should avoid London right now?

[StayorgoLDN]

Due to visit London in the next few weeks.

Anxious with Palestinian protests and so forth in the news. I don’t want to be near that with young children, and worried that it may escalate to some sort of attack.

We are not Jews, but presuming as the U.K. is supporting Israel that we’ll all be fair game ie there might be an attack/bomb somewhere prominent to send a message to gov.

Have been in London during terrorist attacks before and I’d rather avoid.

AIBU to consider rescheduling our family trip to next year?

It’s hardly as if Belfast in the 70s/80s was an ideal holiday destination.

Except you’re talking about London, not Gaza.

I agree with this. To celebrate - and even to ‘yes, but’ - is an incomprehensible lack of humanity.

?? Are you so blinkered by bias that you’re unable to apply any inference skills to reading the post?

It’s not about a desire to see some paintings. It’s about the fear and terror engendered from knowing there’s a groundswell of hatred against you and your family just because of your religion and ethnicity. It’s having to live your life in your own country feeling othered and afraid and constantly having to be vigilant in case of attack from racist bigots.

Sorry, my post above was in reply to this.

Would kids run away from flares? Don't kids like fireworks

I'm standing with @BlurredEdges.

Your statements are antisemitic and unacceptable.

This behaviour will not be tolerated.

@BlurredEdges, you don't have to stand up to this alone. We're with you.

How are mumsy’s comments anymore anti-Semitic than those upthread questioning why the protests weren’t calling out Hamas are anti-Palestinian (or anti-Islam)? Both have questioned whether or not people in Britain are going to condemn either Israel or Hamas for their horrific war crimes. Yet when the focus is Israel, it’s anti-Semitic? Make it make sense.

Why is someone's national loyalty to the UK called into question because they are Jewish? You can be a good British citizen and be of any ethnic group, and also be concerned about events in other countries. I would have thought that was obvious.

In reference to the Twitter video. Shocking to see how extremists walk and talk on the streets in the U.K. Well done to all the people who call for open borders. This is what you get. I hope it is not my innocent family who are violently attacked . We are not Jews but are very concerned and been for a while. Would it stop with the hate to the Jewish community? I think not.

I missed the part about allegiance to “Britain or Israel” - my apologies. That was a stupid comment to make (especially since the British government are actively support Israel in their attacks on Palestine, hence the need for the protests in the first place).

You can protest all you want. My concern is the marginalisation of any ethnic group because of a perceived loyalty to another nation, which may or may not be the case. Target the Israeli embassy or whatever you want, but not every British Jewish person, and certainly not synagogues.

@Maireas That’s fair.

some sort flares/fireworks were being fired into the air (not at ground level) at the demo in Kensington High Street, There were lots of young children there. No fear that I saw.

@DrinkingMyWaterMindingMyBiz

If the situation in Gaza ramps up so will the protests, they can get out of hand. And the call to retaliate on nations that support destruction of Gaza will become stronger.

What I went through previously in London when there was an attack was similar to the atmosphere of 70s/80s Belfast. As are large, frequent protests.

You pay to go on holiday and relax, I have disabled kids and it takes a lot to prepare for such a trip, everything it set like clockwork for them to be able to cope.

Them having to walk past something like that demo yesterday would have set them off to the extent that at least a day would be lost regulating them.

I don’t want that. If I hadn’t booked flights already we’d not be considering it at all.

@ErcolSofa probably about 30 minibuses full of police parked all along Whitehall and in surrounding side streets around Leicester Square - the roads were all closed so probably parked in places they normally wouldn't park?

@Sigmama

My children are autistic.

Both impacted by noise/crowds/unexpected events.

One of them would be on the ground crying.

The other would see a big crowd of people and run to join the “party” as can be sensory seeking (depends on the day) and has no concept of danger.

As you can imagine that is difficult to deal with and can lead to an entire day being ruined.

We are at minimum changing hotel and are looking at more activities outside central London. If it gets any worse we will cancel and take the financial hit of rescheduling.

I was worried about this - had a visit to London planned for yesterday and was in two minds, went anyway (5 of us) and it was absolutely fine, spent the afternoon into night and it was lovely, lots of people around but not once was there an air of hostility or any bad vibes, absolutely lovely day.

can't help but ask.
How would anyone even know that you were jewish?

❤️.

@StayorgoLDN it sounds like you have justified reason to not want to bring your DCs to London right now, whether or not you’re being over-cautious is a different matter, but being concerned about ND children being amongst crowds is really enough reason to cancel the trip.

I just really want posters to stop talking about London as if it is the Gaza Strip and acting as if Londoners who are (rightly) condemning Israel for their ongoing treatment of Palestians are going around attacking ordinary Jewish people. Stop creating more divide than there already is.

police parked where you wouldn't expect them to be?
Normal practice when there's a big demo/event for them to park reserve forces discretely/semi out of view so that they don't seem to overpower things/provide a focus, but at the same time can quickly be deployed to any "incident" if they feel that they need to be. They are of course also more mobile if not plonked in the middle of an event.

@DrinkingMyWaterMindingMyBiz

I absolutely know London is not like the Gaza Strip.

But am realistic about what my family would be able to cope with.

I was hoping people would say the issue at KHS station was a once off.

However, hearing there is permanent encampment at the Israeli embassy and multiple recent large protests… it wouldn’t be workable.

Could you imagine being near an entire street of cars beeping and trying to communicate with/move an autistic under those circumstances.

It would be one thing if I could lift them out of there but they’re too big.

Could anyone direct me to where there is information about upcoming protests??

Or tell me how much notice groups have to give?

This would be helpful in letting me replan everything.

I cannot understand why you would entertain London with an autistic child. Sensory problems are surely triggered by bustling cities, at any time. I don't mean this in an unkind way.

@StayorgoLDN none of your reasons for not coming are unreasonable (although, to be clear, there are several embassies around High Street Kensington, which is why people mention protests in that area being a regular occurrence, not just the Israeli embassy. It’s also not really a place tourists tend to be around. South Kensington is far more touristy and doesn’t typically see the same level of protest.)

My comment about people describing London like it’s the Gaza Strip was more about the general tone of the thread than you personally.