CAA to write to Brent Council after second memorial tree to Jewish refugees snapped in possible antisemitic incident

A second memorial tree to Jewish refugees has been snapped in what some locals are claiming is an incident of antisemitic vandalism in Wembley.

The Memorial Tree, dedicated by the Association of Jewish Refugees at King Edward VII Park in Brent in North London, has reportedly been snapped by hand.

The incident comes after the first memorial tree, planted in 2021, was also destroyed, and in May 2022 its plaque was smeared with dog excrement.

A replacement tree was recently planted and the plaque was positioned for protection behind wire fencing. It, however, has now also been targeted.

We are grateful to the members of the community who brought this to our attention.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The evidence suggests that this damage is deliberate, and, coming after a similar incident of vandalism against the previous memorial, represents a disturbing pattern of hate. The police must investigate. We shall also be writing to the local authority.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2021 showed that over two thirds of British Jews believe that the authorities, in general, are not doing enough to address and punish antisemitism.