How have we come to a state where the police confront someone for being overtly Jewish?

[mids2019]

Just how?

I think at best this inept policing at worst vile anti semitism.

I suppose it is now in the open that central London has become effectively a no go area for Jews given the potential for abuse from hate marchers.

Can't we just stop these marches so Jews can go about their business?

This.

You have misunderstood why it is antisemitic.

It is antisemitic to hold British Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the Israeli government. To expect British Jews to denounce Israel before you will be 'welcoming' to them is antisemitic.

Falter was not holding up any pro-Israel banners, nor an Israeli flag demonstrating support for Israel. He merely was openly Jewish.

I asked for evidence of your claim that Jewish people have to carry a banner denouncing Israel? Is there a memo? A link? Or is that your opinion?

It is very polarising to be spreading baseless claims and might frighten people who want to join and protest against the mass graves and indiscriminate killings of civilians.

Yes.

This in the UK.

The marches are divisive and serve no Real purpose and appear to spread hatred.

I explained. The evidence is in how they are treated.

So no evidence? Just a baseless claim and using a known agitator who is rightly being called out (Gideon Falter) as the basis of your claim that all Jewish people must denounce Israel by carrying a banner?

Is there any common sense on this board?

The videos of him being called Nazi and scum, and the police being concerned for his safety for being openly Jewish are quite worrying, don't you think?

@noblegiraffe choosing to ignore the full video?

The Jewish man was obviously at risk from the mob because of his Kippah.

Why? If the protests are not anti-Jewish, then why?

Totally. Context is everything.

I heard it compared to the situation forty years ago during the time of the Yorkshire Ripper when women were advised not to go out at night or go out alone. Women who were blamed for dressing attractively. There was a definite feeling then that women who wore tight clothing or short skirts were asking for it. Thankfully, one hopes that we have moved on since then and people aren't told to hide away because they are openly female. The same applies to religious clothing. No one should be told to get off the street because they are Jewish or Sikh or Muslim.
It also reminds me of the Muslim patrols of Whitechapel harassing openly gay people who strayed into 'their ' area. They were harassed and verbally abused. It is disappointing that there are posters on here who believe certain groups cannot move freely on our streets because they belong to the wrong group and that their mere presence is provocative.

@Brumhilda‘s point is really important. The police can’t contain these marches properly. So they have little choice but to ‘manage’ a situation by saying they will arrest, in this case, the single person who hasn’t done anything wrong in order to maintain order.

That’s a really worrying situation.

I saw a clip of GF being verbally abused by marchers and to me it seemed that one of the abusers was either on drugs or mentally ill, or both. He may of course also be an anti-semite, but marches like these are bound to attract people who are looking for a fight or have their own problems. It’s potentially very volatile.

I feel extremely sorry for Jews in London right now. Imagine not being able to move freely about your own city because of crowds of people who make it dangerous and also being the one threatened with arrest because that’s the only way police can manage things. This is not the way a civilised society should be.

They are worrying to some. Others seem to think there is nothing to worry about. It's awful.

He was a counter protester. The police were obviously aware of this. They will keep counter protesters away from each other, for obvious reasons.

Someone who appeared to be from the main pro-Palestinian march would also not have been allowed near area where pro-Israel supporters were. Not in order to "have a polite chat about the issues". Not because "that's where I happen to be going and that way is the shortest route". Not because "I have a fundamental right to walk down this street". The police have heard all these before.

The police might have judged someone to be from one side of the march or the other based on what they said, who they were with then or before, their behaviour or their appearance.

They should obviously not be judging people to be on one side or the other based on clothing that simply reflects their religion, such as a kippa or headscarf. They should obviously distinguish between this and badges or clothing that are specifically chosen to show something political. But since they accurately identified this man as a counter protester, what does it matter?

@TryingToSeeTheFunnySide
Do you propose police patrol Whitechapel's advising gay people that their presence is provocative? It is obviously difficult for the police but if a situation is threatening for any group of people, action needs to be taken to ensure our streets are safe for all.

The son of a Hamas leader said.

https://x.com/59Goldstein/status/1780881264590909449

I thought it was very provocative and manipulative of the Jewish guy to turn up. He wasted police time, tyeing them up with his own agenda. It looks to me like he was there to make his own statement (I am not afraid of you, I am guessing), of course it's a risk to have him walk through and I was relieved to see support coming through from superiors for the officer.

This in a nutshell. It’s very rare I feel sympathy towards the police but the man was clearly trying to do his best to keep the peace in a highly stressful situation that has the potential to get out of control at any minute, just because of the sheer numbers of people there. The fact that these marches haven’t descended into complete anarchy (again just because of the numbers and potential for trouble makers to turn up) is actually a testament to the MET. Can’t believe I’ve just said that. His words were clumsy but it’s not inept policing.

Sorry, what? I was just saying that I altered my opinion (of the news story) once I realised the context, and watched what actually happened.
I'd previously been given the impression that the Jewish man had been approached by the police, and discriminated against and threatened with arrest.
Since watching more of the footage and getting the context, it's clear that's not what happened. To be fair 🤷‍♀️

@twoforj0y
Provocative and manipulative to be openly on our streets?
Anyone has a right to be on our streets, be they women or gay people , Sikhs, Muslims, Jews. It is dangerous to start deciding who may or may not be allowed to move freely on our streets.

@Catico have you watched the whole footage? If not, please do. It totally changed my opinion of what occurred.

I feel sorry for the policeman but his role is to safeguard anyone who encounters threatening situations and I am surprised the people organising the marches did not make it clear that anyone on the March shouting abuse to bystanders would be asked to leave. I have sympathy with people wanting to peacefully protest but it must be just that, peaceful.

Why would he be at risk? I thought the protests were peaceful?

Well that’s par for the course isn’t it because we all know that Jews are sneaky.

so sneaky that all he had to do was show up being identifiably Jewish in the vicinity of this March and the police feared for his safety. He made the protestors look bad by inciting them to shout “nazi” at him.

sneaky, sneaky Jew.