This afternoon, political leaders from across parties joined the Jewish community and allies at a rally outside Downing Street.
A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The days in which the Jewish community will be reassured merely by expressions of solidarity from political leaders are passing. Even the politicians speaking onstage themselves accepted that words are not enough. Under two successive governments, the authorities have inertly watched the ‘intifada’ being not only ‘globalised’ but localised here in Britain. They have appeased the extremists, who have become more and more emboldened on their attacks on Jews. Drastic action is needed if Britain is really finally to face down the extremists, which is what the crowd that assembled today expect.”
Speaking to the crowd were: Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis; Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Conservative Party; Pat McFadden, Labour’s Secretary of State for Work and Pensions; Sir Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats; Richard Tice, Deputy Leader of Reform UK; Keith Black, Chair of the JLC; Adrian Cohen, Acting President of the Board of Deputies; Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism; Bishop Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy; Fiyaz Mughal; Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy, co-leads of Progressive Judaism; Lord Walney and Saul Taylor, President of the United Synagogue.
Boy George also sent a recorded message of solidarity.
Chief Rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis
“It is unacceptable that poisonous antisemitism has become normalised in the UK. It is unacceptable that our communities can only function behind high fences and with security guards. It is unacceptable that social media platforms continue to spew out Jew hatred with impunity. It is unacceptable that Iran is inspiring violence against British citizens on British soil.”
He called for the Iranian Ambassador to be expelled and the IRGC to be proscribed.
“This is an opportunity for British society to confront antisemitism at long last and deal with it effectively.”
Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Conservative Party
Appeared onstage to considerable applause.
“I promised that I will stand with you. I promised that I would do everything that I could to let you know that you are not alone and Britain stands with you. We have to call out hate when we see it. There are many different pockets of antisemitism in this country but I am most worried about the growth of extremism and terror around the world. There are many who are afraid to call it what it is. We do need to stand against Islamic extremism. The people that want us to be afraid must not be allowed to win.
“I stand with you millions stand with you Britain has been a sanctuary for Jewish people and it must always be a sanctuary for Jewish people.
“Antisemitism is the best early warning signal about threats to humanity.”
Pat McFadden, Labour’s Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Greeted with jeers from the crowd
“Friends, I hear you I am with you I want to fight antisemitism alongside you. No Jewish people should feel that they need to live a smaller life in the United Kingdom.
“I know that statements of solidarity are not enough. That is why we are going to change the laws.”
Sir Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats
“I am here to stand up with you against antisemitism wherever it raises its ugly head. We have seen the awful rise of radical awful antisemitism and the attacks on the Jewish community in the most appalling way. It has to stop.
“Words are not enough. You’ve heard them too often. We need action from the Government. We need to make sure that the police approach is zero tolerance towards hate and harassment on the Jewish community.”
He also called for action against the IRGC, which the Liberal Democrats have called to be banned.
“Extremism is the enemy of the Jewish people. Extremism is the enemy of our country.”
Richard Tice, Deputy Leader of Reform UK
“It is a tragedy because there has been an absolute absence of courage and absence of leadership in this country and the result is that the scourge of antisemitism has been allowed to flourish in our beloved country. We’re sick and tired of warm words from waffly politicians.”
He called to ban the hate marches, proscribe the IRGC, ban the Muslim Brotherhood, and “take on the failure of leadership in our universities,” proposing penalties for failure to tackle antisemitism on campuses.
“An attack on the Jewish community is an attack on British values. And it would be just the beginning. I stand with the Jewish community. We all stand with the Jewish community.”
Keith Black, Chair of the JLC
“Jewish lives in this precious land have been stained by a hatred that stalks our streets. If this country yields to this plague, it will condemn this Jewish community to yet another exile. We are fighting for the very soul of this nation. It is a fight for British values.”
Adrian Cohen, Acting President of the Board of Deputies
“In recent months we have seen a wave of antisemitism that has shaken our community. This is no perception this is real. What is at stake is not just Jewish security. To confront hatred and extremism is not a Jewish responsibility it is a national responsibility.”
Gideon Falter, Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism
“Those who called to “globalise the intifada” have succeeded. And now Britain is in the grip of its own localised intifada. We are in the early days of the Britifada.
“Jews stabbed. That’s the Britifada! Murder on Yom Kippur. That’s the Britifada! Synagogues ablaze. That’s the Britifada! Hatzola ambulances pelted with rocks and torched. That’s the Britifada! Jewish children nearly mown down in a car ramming. That’s the Britifada!
“The attacks are coming thick and fast. Because Britain has become radicalised.
He called to ban the hate marches, ban the IRGC and ban the Muslim Brotherhood.
“End the Britifada! Britain, face down extremists!”
Bishop Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy
“Antisemitism is evil and it must be confronted wherever it arises. Antisemitism is not simply another passing prejudice. History teaches us that wherever antisemitism flourishes democracy itself begins to erode.
“No society can call itself free while any community is under threat and has to live in fear.
“The Jesus I follow was born Jewish, lived Jewish, worshipped as a Jew. For Christians, it is a matter of spiritual integrity.
“Antisemitism is primarily a problem of those of us who aren’t Jewish. Let us be the generation that interrupts hatred before it becomes violence.”
Fiyaz Mughal
“As a British Muslim member let me tell you that you are not alone. Unfortunately, there are some in my fellow faith community that I have to say sadly are part of the problem. There are some that believe in Islamist extremism that are making all of our lives difficult. After they come for you, they’ll come for me.”
He noted that the Leader of the Opposition spoke about Islamist extremism, “yet this Government can barely get it out their mouths.”
“I salute the strength that Jews have shown in just simply defending their communities and their human rights.
“For those in my community, where are they when it matters?”
Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy, co-leads of Progressive Judaism
“We stand here determined, determined to be safe as Jews in this country. The opposite of antisemitism is not only security: it is the ability to live open and confidently in the country that is our home.
“Jewish life cannot be only about fear. There must be real action against antisemitism. Serious action, sustained action.”
Lord Walney
“I am so proud to be standing here today to be standing with you and I just want to say to my Jewish friends in the audience that I am ashamed and angry about what it is happening in this country.
“Stop these hate-infested marches. Take the gloves off against the evil Iranian regime, starting with banning the IRGC. Above all it means a sustained society-wide effort, this Government or another government, to name and defeat Islamism.
“You know better than anyone the essential transformative power of hope.”
Saul Taylor, President of the United Synagogue
“Is it just me or do you also feel that in there [10 Downing Street] they don’t understand what we are going through?
“Jews openly targeted on the streets of Britain only because they are Jews. If this were another community it would be a national outrage. Where is the so called ‘anti-racist’ movement?
“As we know too well, Jews don’t seem to count.
“I call on the Government, as I did after the Kenton arson, to call this what it is, it is an epidemic of anti-Jewish hate. We need and demand urgent action. We need our friends, the good freedom loving people of Britain to stand with us.
“Jews should not need protecting 24/7 in Britain. Successive British governments have not done enough. The constant vilification of Israel has fuels the flames of antisemitism across our nation.”
Boy George
Recorded message: “I don’t want to be thanked for doing what is right. God bless you all.”
