March against antisemitism on Sunday

[SharonEllis]

1.30 pm Royal Courts of Justice to Parliament Square

Well, that is quite obviously really wrong, too, and I would give, literally, the very same answer as I did above!

No, our bosses do not get to dictate our opinions! And, no, they don't get to dictate that we shouldn't have any - or, at the very least: shut up about them, please - either!

Be pro-Israel. Be pro-Palestinian. Be "I actually don't give a shit - but I'm livid about climate change!" ... Be whatever! But: you get to have opinions, and having to work for a living does NOTHING to diminish this as a right!

Oh my God that’s amazing! I’m utterly delighted! I was absolutely gutted not to be there. I only found out about it at the end of last week and already had a commitment Sunday morning I could not get out of without badly letting other people down. I did spend ages look into all the different options for me to get there but none of them meant I could get there in time.

However, thanks to a poster on here posting about the march I have found out about the Campaign for anti-Semitism and joined them as an ally.

Thank you to all those who went to the march & have posted such encouraging comments. It was an amazing afternoon - peaceful and friendly and uplifting. There were Ukrainians, Kurds, dissident Iranians, Indians showing their solidarity alongside Jews and non-Jewish Brits. Lots of humour too & I met some lovely & fascinating people. There were a few Israeli flags, of course. Most Jews have friends or family in Israel (some have relatives amongst the hostages) & for many Israel is part of their identity. If I fly a Union Jack does it mean I uncritically support the current UK government? Of course not, that would be ridiculous.

I hope it brought some comfort to British Jews and demonstrates how much support therr is for them.

I was there, carrying one of the many "shoulder to shoulder with British Jews" placards. Not a mask in sight. Not a single hate-filled chant heard. No smoke bombs or vandalism.

I'm not Jewish, but I have friends and family who are, and I know how scared they are right now. My friend messaged later to say how much it meant to her that I was there.

Of course I want a ceasefire, of course I want peace, of course I want a resolution to be found. But today, I just wanted my friends to know that I cared.

I fly a Union Jack does it mean I uncritically support the current UK government? Of course not, that would be ridiculous

Absolutely this.

Support for a country does not mean support for its current government.

Solidarity for a country and its citizens that have suffered a terrorist atrocity does not mean support for its current government.

This is from Reuters 2 minutes ago.
Where are posters getting 105,000 from?

They said 105k when they were doing the speeches.

According to LBC, no:

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/bbc-staff-barred-from-joining-march-against-anti-semitism/

The reality is the only reason this march is going ahead now is in the context of the conflict and in response to the regular saturday marches. We are in the run up to an election, and the main opposition party has been bitterly divided in how it responds to this conflict. Our response to the conflict and it's domestic impact will (rightly) be part of the discussion in the run up to the election.

Whilst antisemitism is (should be!!!!) uncontroversial I can see that, right now, this march and the saturday marches are both inextricably entwined with an unfolding political story, both internationally and domestically. I can see why the BBC would be uneasy about it's reporters at least attending either.

Yes I agree.
But then why is carrying a Palestinian flag considered support for hamas?

To add, I've just now watched a snippet of coverage on the BBC website. People wrapped in the Israeli flag, holding posters of the hostages, shouting "bring them home".

Now, that absolutely is a message I agree with. But it is a partisan message supporting one side in an ongoing conflict. Given that the BBC has a stance of impartiality amongst it's news staff (and given it routinely stops them from attending other political demonstrations) I can see why it is taking the stance it is.

@itsahardlife i didn't know it was.

I feel like with some posters it's the virtual equivalent of pissing on our chips.

The march was enormous and a massive success. No chanting for death to anyone. No demanding of the demise of anyone or land behind returned. No trying to intimidate. No nazi, genocide or nasty signs. No call to arms.... call to chicken soup from one. The only shouting I heard was 'bring them home'

Two arrests.... 'Tommy robinson' and a man being antisemitic. Out of all those thousands of people.

@quiteoldad are you equally of the view that carrying a Palestinian flag means the holder is conveniently ignoring Hamas’s rape and torture of women and children?

I don’t think carrying the Palestinian flag is the same as supporting Hamas. Chanting “from the river to the sea”, ripping down posters of kidnapped children, explicitly anti - Semitic slogans and images of paragliders etc are another matter.

I think it was similar numbers at the Palestinian March. Only 18 arrests out of the approx 300,000 that attended

Yes, like the 'humous not Hamas' one. I was there, it was lovely and peaceful, am really glad i went. There is a rise in active antisemitism in the UK. I think it's important for people to come together to say that is not ok, and to support Jewish people here, whatever your feelings on the war.

Not quite. The police are arresting people retrospectively when they review footage of antisemitic behaviour and support for proscribed terrorist organisations. Its hard to find the numbers but after each pro-Palestinian march they post pictures of people they are looking for.

SharonEllis I feel exactly the same!

The police confirmed the figure of 105,000 while I was there.

So good to see - a peaceful, dignified march to support the Jewish people in the Uk. A stark contrast to the pro Palestinian marches in my home city where people have been screamed at and intimidated for drinking a coffee in Starbucks or elderly people trying to go into their local bank Branch on a sat morning being blocked from entering - scary, intimidating and ineffective

I agree

Those marches where Palestinian flags were flown were marches that were intended as a display of solidarity with Palestine. As you said, the flag is not necessarilry condoning the actions of Hamas.

But this afternoon's march was not a Solidarity With Israel march. It was against antisemitism. Israel should not have been brought into it, by doing so, it blurred the message.

Why has my post been deleted @mumsnet?

Genuinely WHY were there so many Israeli flags at this supposed anti semitic march?

Pro war then?!

BumWad It was against antisemitism, not an antisemitic march. I was there with dh and loads of friends.. all proud as ever to be Jewish. Amazing atmosphere.

@BumWad I thought we had dealt with that?

Apologies Ibiza that is what I meant a March against anti-semitism, that I am 100% on board with. My understanding is blurred when I have seen so many Israel flags flying around, does that mean it was a pro Israel and pro war march too?