Is the penny finally starting to drop about anti semitism and hate marches?

[mids2019]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/may/04/starmer-c al l-society-response-rising-antisemitism

I think we are now seeing the cumulative impact of the anti senitism that has built up over the last 3 years where there has been a permissive environment with politicians hesitant to intervene in events in the streets that have incubated anti Jew sentiment.

All political parties apart from the hate apologist Greens are now waking up to the fact we need better policing and perhaps legislation. I for one will acting a vote for a party that recognises hate marches for what they are and also willing to tackle the vile posts appearing on social media (and Labour have reacted too late too little). Enough is enough for a Jewish community that lives in perpetual fear.

There were protests on the evening of the Manchester synagogue attack. There was an application to protest while the October 7th massacre was ongoing. They protested the weekend after the Manchester synagogue attack when the police specifically asked them not to protest so that resources could be dedicated to protecting Jewish sites in the wake of the attack.

These protestors can get to fuck if they want to claim that their protests aren’t deliberately provocative.

I’m pretty sure that Polanski wouldn’t amend his opinion of the Tommy Robinson marches on the say-so of a black person who attended, but expects others to about his marches on his say-so. 🤷‍♀️

Agreed.

My point is that it 'tells you' nothing other than they wanted to start the march at the BBC which is almost half a km away from a synagogue.

That is incredibly upsetting. My late grandmother was adopted by a woman from a very prominent Quaker family, way back in the year dot. Her adoptive mother was Elizabeth Fry's daughter. If any group should know better it is the Quakers and they should be deeply ashamed. Since when have they become so political and antisemitic? Horrible.

It’s right round the corner. They could have easily had the protest at a different place, or on a different day.

Almost half a kilometre is really not that far.
Anyway, they can meet somewhere else or on a different day 🤷‍♀️

I’ve just googled it out of curiosity and the walking distance from BBC Broadcasting House to the Central Synagogue is apparently 160 metres.

reading an article on this 2025 march the news states

1/ why they want to protest on a Saturday. Logical and obvious reasons given and Nothing to do with the Jewish holy day. Why would it, British Jews have nothing to do with Gaza.

2/ at the time the police state there have been no attacks at synagogues near other marches.

I assume they wish to meet up at the bbc because they want to highlight
the murder if journalists in Gaza ( it was in the news a lot at the time )
and increase reporting and raise as much awareness as possible.

Im not aware the bbc have a head office anywhere else in London so this is an obvious choice. Most people on the marches won’t even know where synagogues are, they are going to show support for Palestinians.

British Jews have nothing to do with Gaza

This is all completely logical imo.

'No attacks on synagogues' is a pretty low bar, isn’t it?
From the article about the marches pp linked upthread:

"While many come with good intentions and no desire to commit offences or spread hate, many others do not.
"We have routinely seen arrests for racially and religiously aggravated public order offences, for stirring up racial hatred and for supporting terrorist organisations. It is not normal to see criminality of this nature or on this scale at what are billed as peaceful protests.

"These persistent attempts to assemble and march in this way, together with the prevalence of hate crime and support for terrorism, has led many Jewish Londoners to feel intimidated and afraid of these protests.”

https://news.met.police.uk/news/4000-officers-prepare-for-day-of-protest-in-central-london-509274

Thanks
I’ve been reading these articles about this coming weekend

Police reports also highlight the Islamophobia on the Tommy Robinson marches..

However
my post was clearly highlighting the reason for the bbc location and the reason for marching on a Saturday

I agree all attacks and intimidation of anyone by demonstrators or observers is wrong but
The police noted at the time of the 2025 application for a March starting at the bbc there had been no attacks at synagogues. It’s therefore relevant to the discussion on whether congregating at the bbc was an issue at the time.

This Saturday in London there are two marches
A pro Palestinian March for Nakba
and a Unite Britain ( Tommy Robinson ) march
along with
The FA cup final

So for those thinking marches should happen on another day they might want to use logic and see clearly why Saturday is always the big day for marches.
It is blatantly obvious

• One hundred and sixty-four antisemitic incidents in 2024 targeted synagogues, including buildings, congregants and staff. Congregants on their way to or from prayers were victims in a further 59, compared to 157 and 50 respectively in 2023. This is a net rise of 8% in incidents affecting synagogues and the people travelling to, from, or already inside them, from 207 to 223 reports – the most that CST has ever recorded in a year. Synagogues are symbolic and often very visible targets for those seeking a target for their anti-Jewish hate. Fifty-eight (35%) of the 164 incidents directed at synagogues were hateful and threatening messages delivered by phone or email.

Antisemitic Incidents 2024 – CST Publications – CST – Protecting Our Jewish Community

My statement stands as it’s direct from the Met police
At the time of the 2025 March there had been no attacks on synagogues near marches.

That’s what the Met said.
RTT

This is one of the many news reports at the time
the Guardian

‘ Earlier this week, the force told the protest organisers, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, to alter their plans in order to avoid disruption to worshippers at the synagogue and had threatened to impose the conditions to stop the rally.

In response to the Met’s demand, the PSC said on Wednesday it “utterly condemned” the use of “repressive powers”.

“The Palestine coalition rejects the implication that our marches are somehow hostile to or a threat to Jewish people,” the group had said in a previous statement. “The Met police have acknowledged there has not been a single incident of any threat to a synagogue attached to any of the marches.”

The Central Synagogue on Great Portland Street is a few hundred yards from Broadcasting House on Portland Place.

Thirteen Holocaust survivors and survivor descendants have signed a joint letter to oppose the Met’s decision to prevent the march from gathering outside the BBC.

“We are writing as Jewish Holocaust survivors, and descendants of survivors, to protest against this clear attempt to dissuade people from opposing the Gaza genocide,” the letter reads. “Along with thousands of other openly Jewish protesters, we have attended numerous Palestine demos in London and have received nothing but support and warmth from our fellow demonstrators.”

It was interesting to read that they were quietly burying the memory of Elizabeth Fry, I've always admired her contribution to prison reform. The Quakers have really lost their way.

Yes I am surprised at them.

It doesn’t really matter whether there have been attacks on synagogues directly connected to these marches.

The fact that there have been 'arrests for racially and religiously aggravated public order offences, for stirring up racial hatred and for supporting terrorist organisations' on these marches should be reason enough to keep them away from places where Jewish people congregate.

I have read the thread. But there had been multiple attacks on synagogues that year. At least 28 antisemitic incidents took place in Westminster either at, or in transit to or from, anti-Israel marches or vigils for the hostages. And so the police were obviously worried about Jewish people having to walk past the March when coming to and from the Synagogue.

But apparently the right of people to have a march at that exact place and time is more important than the safety of Jewish people.

Read my post

This is about marches and clearly why the Met made the statement. No attacks on synagogues within marches means no attacks on synagogues . For anyone to suggest otherwise is demonising the marches

This issue is in the news at the moment with clear criticism of the verbal attacks made by officials

This 14 May 2026

‘ PCS Statement to Met Police management board
The statement is in response to comments made by the commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, which appear to question the lawful right to protest.

On 1 May, Met Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley claimed in an interview with The Times that organisers of pro-Palestine marches had repeatedly proposed routes intending to pass synagogues, which he said, “feels like antisemitism.”
The Palestine Coalition called on Sir Mark Rowley to retract his remarks, saying that none of the 36 pro-Palestine marches held since October 2023 had intended to pass synagogues as an objective.
On 6 May, they reported Sir Mark to the Mayor’s Office and the police watchdog, saying that he has acted in a racially discriminatory way in inferring that protests against fundamental violations of international law by Israel and by Britain are antisemitic.
Police data for the year ending March 2025 recorded a 19% increase in offences targeting Muslims, with a notable spike following the Southport murders and subsequent disorder.
PCS has expressed concern about what it views as double standards by the Metropolitan Police Service. It notes that Sir Mark Rowley has characterised marches in support of Palestinians as antisemitic, directly linked to attacks on the Jewish community, while not making comparable public comment on the increase in hate crime against Muslim communities.
PCS is affiliated with Stop the War and Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and many of our members attend these marches, including members of the Jewish community.
Our statement to the management board concludes: “On behalf of our trade union and its members, we are deeply concerned that an unelected police official has made unfounded comments that call into question the lawful right to protest.”
PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “The Met Police chief’s comments about the peaceful Palestine demonstrations are inaccurate and deeply concerning. At the same time, his silence on the threat posed by the far right is striking. As a trade union, we stand firmly against racism in all its forms, including antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred and all racist rhetoric. We will continue to speak out for unity, justice and the right to peaceful protest.”

Did you know that pro Israel marches were going on as Israel were slaughtering 1000s of children, as they were starving 2 million people of aid, raping people in detention, as Israel were accused by Amnesty, MSF, Oxfam, HRW and more of committing genocide, as a warrant was out for the arrest of the leader of Israel for war crimes and crimes against humanity. As this was happening people were waving Israeli flags and holding signs saying I stand with Israel in full and complete knowledge of what Israel were doing at the time.

If you want to call pro Palestinian protesters deliberately provocative then I think we can agree anyone who waved an Israeli flag under the backdrop of mass slaughter and starvation was being deliberately provocative.

So you agree that organising a pro-Palestine march on October 7th, holding one the same day as the synagogue murder and refusing to cancel one after the murder so police could protect Jews was deliberately provocative? But you’re trying to justify it with ‘the other side are also doing it’?

So why did CST report multiple attacks against Synagogues, and near the marches?

The police said no attacks on synagogues during marches

Where does it say in the CST report there were. ?

Agree