To think there are very few allies against Anti-Semitism?

[Longingdreamer]

This month, I have had experienced Anti-Semitism twice. Both times I was with my children.

Both times, my children were distressed, and no one around did anything to protect us or raise the alarm. When we asked for help, we were dismissed. We were in very busy public spaces both times: a tube platform, then a high street.

I reported the first episode to the police. I'm not even sure if it's worth reporting the second episode. Sadly it feels so mainstream, and the authorities are not supportive when I report it either.

The LU staff just told us to leave, which sent us directly into the path of the perpetrators again. They really couldn't care less, and it showed.

I had asked for the police to be called and to be taken somewhere safe.

@BastardesEverywhere

"The phrase 'Anti-Semitism' has been so awfully overused in the last couple of years"

Has it really. Would you care to give examples of that assertion. Your experiences would be particularly noteworthy if you were part of that minority, ie Jewish.

There’s no derailing. Just explanation.

All I’ll say about your comments on the creation of Israel is that you’re fundamentally wrong.

Jesus christ, would you say that about anyone other than Jews. Made it up did they?

You’re not wrong and it’s very depressing. Report to CST as well as the police if you haven’t already

I didn’t realise how ingrained anti-semitism is, I’m starting to think people don’t even realise they are racists. I think the genuinely think Jews are all terrible people and they are just saying it as they see it.

If you aren’t sure whether you are a racist try substituting the word “black” for any statement you make. If it seems a bit racist them you are probably a racist. God I feel disgusted already. Sorry OP you shouldn’t be facing this.

The rise of right wing populism in Europe is definitely fiddling this problem. We see it every day with blatant and open islamaphobia in the streets and in the press and the centuries of endemic anti-Semitism to the point is just seen as acceptable lol at how many anti Semitic conspiracies have gone mainstream in the last few years gnomes of Zurich/new world order, etc
Even equating Judaism with Zionism is an issue. The majority of Jews are not Zionist. Jews are not responsible for the actions of Israel, the extreme right wing government and political scientists are, but lots of people are using the actions of the fascist state to target Jewish people just trying to live their lives

As brown person, I can assure that unfortunately it really wouldn’t be taken more seriously.

Your poor kids. I empathise op - I have been on the receiving end of racial abuse in public many times, including as a small child and in the vast majority of cases people just watched it happen. It's such a horrible feeling.

I hope you are OK.

The majority of Jews are not Zionist

You are wrong. The majority of Jewish people do identity as Zionist.

What is your definition of the word?

I do feel that if it was any other form of racism it would be taken more seriously.

Believe me, it would not. Black people reporting racism are treated as an inconvenient nuisance unfortunately.

I think too few people are willing to speak up in person for any kind of prejudice sadly. Sorry you and kids experienced this, OP.

The difference is that sadly a lot of people who express concern about how people are treated in Gaza are silenced with the term antisemitic. Therefore if people do still try to speak out about things like children dying of malnutrition in Gaza they feel that, in order to protect themselves from the accusation, they need to caveat what they say with ‘I’m not antisemitic.’

This is probably the only thing I have written online about the situation in the Middle East for about 5 years because even on an anonymous forum it’s not worth risking the accusation of antisemitism.

It is not acceptable for op and her children to be harassed in the street and it is not acceptable for people to walk on by.

Is it now considered anti semitic to say that anti semitic is an overused term?

It is far more dangerous to be Jewish in the UK than to be any other minority, based on the statistics.

That's shocking, @Longingdreamer , I had no idea. I'd be interested to see the study that found that.

No you clearly say that you believe that anti-semitism is overused. It means you think people claiming that there is a rise in anti-semitic incidents are complaining unfairly and inaccurately.

If you would tell a black person that a rise in documented racist incidents towards black people is overblown because the word racism is just overused you would probably look like a racist.

I don’t think this is true. I would like to see the statistics that bears this out

Have you seen Mandy Patinkin's rant last week (I think) against Bibi Netanyahu and his government? The reasons for the reception you got are explained in it.

The one and only time I experienced anti-semitism directly, the guy (white, middle aged, pro-hamas moron) was knocked out. I can’t say by whom as I, and others, weren’t paying attention when the knockout happened - unfortunately, for the moron, it was later discovered no cameras worked.

It was Christmas and he was calling for Jews to be murdered, I was with my child and the guy was getting children involved in his bullshit (with parents unable to shut them up). I believe he learned his lesson.

I know it is worrisome but there are allies out there. But they can’t be everywhere. Also the police do fuck all. But at least it goes in both directions.

You’ve demonstrated the exact issue.

It’s “overused” because it is everywhere. The out and out nastiness. The micro aggressions. I have experienced antisemitism all my life. To the point where I only tell people I trust that I was raised Jewish.

Do you mean the anti-Semitism to OP at the underground? That’s not a reception, that’s abuse.