Many of the participants in the march, which started from the courts and headed to Parliament, carried Israeli and British flags
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of London today against anti-Semitism, a day after fresh pro-Palestinian mobilization in the British capital.
Many of the participants in the march, which started from the courts and headed to Parliament, carried Israeli and British flags or placards with the slogan “Zero tolerance for anti-Semitism”.
Some showed pictures of hostages being held by Hamas after its deadly attack on Israeli soil on October 7.
“On October 7 we woke up to a new reality and we were all shocked by it,” Omer Plotniarz, a 37-year-old music therapist who marched with his wife and child, told AFP. “We want justice for our babies, for our wives, for our brothers and sisters, everyone to come home,” he added.
Another protester, 52-year-old Debbie Goldberg, wrapped in an Israeli flag, said: “We are here to support Israel, to demand the release of all the hostages. We are here to ask for peace and an end to this nightmare.” Goldberg said she is originally from Argentina but holds Israeli citizenship.
According to the Jewish charity Community Security Trust (CST), a record 1,324 anti-Semitic acts were reported in Britain between October 7 and November 15. Last year, in the same period, there were 271. London’s Metropolitan Police reported receiving 554 reports of anti-Semitic acts between October 1 and November 1 (up from 44 in the same period last year). Islamophobic acts also tripled, reaching 220 in the previous month.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson also took part in the march organized by the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism.
At the beginning of the demonstration police arrested the founder of the far-right EDL organization Tommy Robinson after he refused to leave the scene. The organizers had asked him not to participate because his presence could cause tension.
The police have not announced any estimate of the size of today’s mobilization. He said about 45,000 people took part in yesterday’s demonstration.
Source :Skai
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