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ACORN confirms to CAA that its national board has swiftly expelled member who turned away Jewish man, saying “no time for Zionists sorry”, in example of best practice in dealing with antisemitism

ACORN, the renters’ union, has confirmed to Campaign Against Antisemitism that it expelled a member after its Manchester branch posted a response to a prospective Jewish member on Instagram saying “no time for Zionists sorry” and “We are a pro Palestine organisation”.

The Instagram account then proceeded to block the prospective member on the social media platform. It was clear from the prospective member’s account that he is Jewish, as he uses his Hebrew name and describes himself as a “full-time” Jew”, and “new immigrant in the diaspora”.

ACORN had already apologised swiftly and unreservedly, mounting an immediate investigation.

Following the conclusion of the investigation ACORN convened its national board this evening.

In a statement sent to Campaign Against Antisemitism, Acorn said: “On Sunday morning, two direct messages were sent from ACORN Manchester’s Instagram account by a then unidentified individual. Following an investigation, the individual responsible has now been identified and was expelled from the organisation by ACORN UK’s national board on Tuesday evening.”

The statement continued: “ACORN UK unequivocally condemns the antisemitic messages that were sent. We would also like to reiterate our apology to all our Jewish members and the wider Jewish community for the upset and offense caused. We will be keeping our social media access processes under continual review, having already taken steps to improve these in order to avoid an incident like this from happening again. We would like to thank everyone for their patience whilst the investigation was promptly carried out. The outcome has now been communicated to those affected.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This was an appalling act, but ACORN has made very clear that it was the act of an individual whose antisemitism is not tolerated by their union. ACORN acted swiftly to apologise, investigate and take robust action, expelling the member responsible. This is an example of best practice in dealing with antisemitism. We commend ACORN on turning this incident of anti-Jewish discrimination into a case study in best practice. We also applaud the victim and their friends for bringing this matter to light.”

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Praise for Acorn for swiftly acting against Manchester branch which refused membership to a Jew saying “no time for Zionists sorry”, but CAA will monitor the outcome of the investigation

Acorn, the renters’ union, has swiftly and unreservedly apologised after its Manchester branch posted a response to a prospective Jewish member on Instagram saying “no time for Zionists sorry” and “We are a pro Palestine organisation”.

The Instagram account then proceeded to block the prospective member on the social media platform. It was clear from the prospective member’s account that he is Jewish, as he uses his Hebrew name and describes himself as a “full-time” Jew”, and “new immigrant in the diaspora”.

In a statement, Acorn said: “On Sunday morning, two direct messages were sent from Acorn Manchester’s Instagram account by an as yet unidentified individual. Acorn UK’s national board met the same day and unequivocally condemn the antisemitic messages sent from the Manchester Instagram account. In no way do they represent the views of our organisation which seeks to unite all low and moderate income communities.

“Acorn UK apologises to all our Jewish members and the wider Jewish community for the upset and offense caused. An investigation has been launched and this will be prioritised to ensure it is concluded in a timely manner. All members with access to the Instagram account have been suspended whilst this investigation takes place. 

“Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, it is clear there has been a lapse in our social media access practices. The account in question was accessed with a single shared password that was distributed internally, which has prevented oversight of communications made on behalf of the branch. This has been reviewed and amended with immediate effect to ensure that incidents like this do not happen again. Access to the account has been taken under the ownership of the National Organisation, and we will continue to review the security and accountability of our communication channels.

“The outcome of the investigation will be communicated to those affected and we will not be commenting further until this has been concluded.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism will be monitoring the outcome of the investigation and expects that the culprit and any accomplices will be expelled from the union for this racist act.

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Police investigating antisemitic e-mail sent to Jewish Chronicle and numerous local councillors

Thames Valley Police are reportedly investigating an antisemitic e-mail sent to a Jewish newspaper, the JC and numerous local councillors.

The e-mail, which was apparently also sent to several local authorities and other media organisations, including The Sunday Times and Dorset and Chester Councils, came from a group calling itself the Keep Britain Pure League.

The e-mail is understood to have claimed that Jews “are in charge of the money” and that “the only think [sic] Hitler did wrong, was not kill enough of them.” It was signed off “Heil Hitler”.

The two individuals named as the group’s leader and media co-ordinator insist that they have nothing to do with the organisation or the e-mail.

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police reportedly told the JC: “We have received a report relating to this email and it is being investigated as malicious communications. We are working to establish the source of the correspondence. No arrests have been made.”

We are grateful to the local councillor who brought this matter to our attention.

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Leader of neo-Nazi Hundred Handers group unmasked in new report that also warns against far-right Patriotic Alternative

The leader of a neo-Nazi group behind numerous stickering campaigns has been unmasked.

The anti-fascist group Hope Not Hate has identified Sam Melia as the leader of Hundred Handers, an anonymous network of activists who have carried out far-right stickering campaigns across the country and worldwide over the last two years.

The stickers, which feature far-right slogans and imagery and antisemitic tropes, have been seen in cities in the UK, Europe, United States and Australia.

Mr Melia, who has reportedly supported the proscribed neo-Nazi terrorist group, National Action, is now believed to be working with Patriotic Alliance, another far-right group that was formed by Mark Collett, the former head of publicity for the British National Party (BNP), in 2019.

Mr Collett is a senior figure in the far-right in the UK. An author with almost 100,000 subscribers on YouTube, he also previously served as the chairman of the BNP’s youth division. Mr Collett is understood to have dabbled in Holocaust denial, collaborated with the infamous American antisemite David Duke, and espoused antisemitic and racist views.

According to Hope Not Hate’s report, Patriotic Alliance is “a racist far-right organisation with antisemitism at its very core. They aim to combat the ‘replacement and displacement’ of white Britons by people who ‘have no right to these lands’.” The group reportedly holds that “it is Jewish elites, particularly, who are orchestrating the ‘replacement’ of white Britons.”

Meanwhile, a neo-Nazi, David Holmes, 63, has been jailed for engaging in a racist stickering campaign in Derbyshire.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has monitored and reported on far-rightstickeringoperations, including on university campuses, for a long time, including by the Hundred Handersgroup. We continue to call on the authorities to take action against these seemingly low-level incidents, including because they are gateways into more heinous and dangerous activity.

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Police officer appears in court charged with membership of proscribed neo-Nazi National Action terrorist group

A police officer has appeared in court after being charged last month with being a member of the banned neo-Nazi terrorist group National Action following his arrest in March.

Benjamin Hannam, 21, appeared in the Old Bailey and did not enter any pleas for the five charges, which cover other allegations, including possession of indecent images and fraud.

He has been suspended from duty in the Metropolitan Police following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.

It is alleged that he belonged or professed to belong to the proscribed group between December 2016 and January 2018 and that he falsely represented himself in his application to join the Metropolitan Police in this connection.

Other members of National Action were recently convicted and sentenced to prison for their role in the organisation.

National Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in December 2016 following a long campaign by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others. Under section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000, membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation is a criminal offence.

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Elderly patient reportedly ‘hit’ by hospital worker “after being identified as Jewish”

An elderly hospital patient was reportedly ‘hit’ by a healthcare worker “after being identified as Jewish”, according to the JC.

The alleged incident took place at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, and was reported to the newspaper by a fellow Jewish patient, who claimed that the worker had identified the two Jewish patients to the others in the ward and then hit one of the patients on the knee. When the elderly patient complained that the worker had hurt his knee, the worker lifted him by his shoulders and shook him.

According to the report, the administrator of the hospital, North West London University NHS Trust, apparently confirmed that a complaint had been received and that it had been referred to the Metropolitan Police.

A spokesperson for the North West London University Trust told the JC: “We can confirm that we recently received a complaint about an alleged assault that is said to have occurred a few weeks ago on one of our wards. We have acknowledged the complaint and are referring it to the Metropolitan police for investigation as we normally would in these circumstances.”

However, the Metropolitan Police apparently could not locate a report when asked.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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New report shows worrying levels of antisemitism in Britain’s Muslim community, including higher levels among the university-educated

A new report has revealed worrying levels of antisemitism in Britain’s Muslim community.

The report, authored by Dr Rakib Ehsan, showed that:

  • 34% of British Muslims polled thought that Jews have too much control over the global banking system;
  • 33% believed that Jews have too much control over the global political leadership; and
  • 44% thought that British Jews were more loyal to Israel than to the UK.

All of these figures are considerably higher than polls of the general population conducted by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

The report, published by the Henry Jackson Society, also found that British Muslims who have been university-educated are more likely to hold those antisemitic views, as do British Muslims who attend a mosque more frequently.

The greater likelihood of antisemitic views among university-educated British Muslims suggests that universities, far from cultivating tolerance and understanding, may in fact be incubators of intolerance. Certainly Jewish students have continually found universities to be hotbeds of antisemitism in the UK.

The polling was conducted by Savanta ComRes in late 2019 and surveyed 750 British Muslims.

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Virtual Zoom shiva for grieving husband disrupted by neo-Nazis broadcasting antisemitic messages and images of swastikas and Hitler

A virtual Zoom shiva for a grieving husband mourning his late wife was disrupted by neo-Nazis broadcasting antisemitic messages and images of swastikas and Hitler.

The shiva, a period of mourning following a funeral, was “Zoom-bombed” by neo-Nazis on Wednesday evening, shortly after the funeral took place.

According to the JC, attendees described it as “horrific” and “an awful sight on different screens” featuring “swastikas and cartoonish-type propaganda that wouldn’t have been out of place in Nazi Germany” as well as “films of the Nazis [and] of Hitler”, “images of people saluting Hitler”, and expressions of Holocaust denial.

There were reportedly three or four disrupters who had entered the session under names like Anne Frank and Adolf Hitler.

The deceased had been very active in the Jewish community in Liverpool, and her husband said of the incident: “it was particularly insensitive, the world is full of crazy people – but we are proud Jewish people, and my view is: bring it on, let me meet them face to face.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Whoever thought it impossible that neo-Nazis could go any lower than their sick ideology has brought them will find that it is in fact possible, because the ingenuity of vile antisemites knows no limits. We extend our condolences to the mourners and appeal to the police to bring the offenders to justice.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has previously reported on the phenomenon of ‘Zoom bombing’ and has urged communal institutions to take precautions to safeguard against antisemitic disruption of online events.

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Man who told Jewish student “I’m a German — we should have gassed the f***ing lot of you” reportedly identified after media appeal

A Jewish student who videoed a couple after one of them told her “We should have gassed the lot of you” has posted on Facebook that she believes the perpetrator has been identified.

In the course of an altercation about seating at The Hedley Verity pub in Leeds, Danielle Greyman was told that she looks like a Jew and “We should have f***ing gassed the lot of you” by a man with a local accent who claimed to be “a German”, apparently to drive home his antisemitic abuse.

Ms Greyman said that she began to record a video of the man and his companion after he asked whether she was Jewish in the midst of their argument.

As the man turned his attention to Ms Greyman’s Judaism, he made the hateful antisemitic remark. Ms Greyman retorted: “If you want to gas my people, I will take you to court. I’m not joking — I will ruin your whole f***ing life.”

Wetherspoons staff asked the couple to leave and banned them from returning.

A spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: “Police were called at around [17:45 on Thursday] to a report of a hate incident which is believed to have happened a short time prior. The victim reported being verbally abused by three suspects outside a bar on Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, before the suspects made off. Enquiries remain ongoing and officers are making attempts to speak to the victim. Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting log 1439 of 06/08. Any incidents motivated by hostility and hate are unacceptable and are taken very seriously by West Yorkshire Police.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has attempted to contact the victim to offer assistance in ensuring that the perpetrators face the full force of the law.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Clearly this man felt completely comfortable telling a Jewish student that he felt the Holocaust was unfinished business in broad daylight in a busy pub. He must face the full force of the law. We are encouraged that West Yorkshire Police is taking this seriously and that the perpetrator has reportedly been identified, and we stand ready to assist the victim should she decide to contact us.”

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Power of CPS to shut down private prosecutions must be reformed, CAA says in evidence to House of Commons Justice Committee inquiry

Campaign Against Antisemitism has submitted evidence to the House of Commons Justice Committee in its inquiry into private prosecutions, drawing on our wealth of experience in this area.

Although the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) usually undertakes prosecutions of criminal activity, individuals and civil society organisations, like Campaign Against Antisemitism, can launch private prosecutions if the CPS fails to act, and we have done so in the past. However, the CPS can then take over such private prosecutions, with a view either to continuing them or to discontinuing them.

Our submission to the inquiry focused on the role of the CPS in taking over private prosecutions.

The concerns we raised were twofold: “firstly, the CPS is able to refuse to prosecute and then to prevent a private prosecutor from prosecuting; and secondly, a challenge to such intervention by the CPS is judged against an almost impossibly high bar.”

With regard to the first point, we noted that “A decision by the CPS not to prosecute can be a decision to deny justice. Private prosecution exists as a check on that power, to enable individuals and organisations, like CAA, to pursue justice when the state does not.”

Accordingly, we recommended that “The CPS should not be permitted to regulate itself in this manner. Whilst it should be at liberty to take over private prosecutions in order to continue them, any decision to discontinue a private prosecution should be made by an independent party. We submit that the independent party should be a senior barrister acting as a reviewer of private prosecutions.”

Concerning challenges to decisions by the CPS, whether not to prosecute or to discontinue a private prosecution, we observed that “A decision by the CPS not to prosecute or to discontinue a private prosecution is subject to judicial review, however the courts have interpreted their discretion very narrowly. Campaign Against Antisemitism has sought judicial reviews and both succeeded and failed, however there are many occasions when we have not sought judicial review because we know the bar to be set almost impossibly high.”

We therefore recommended that “judicial review of a decision [by the CPS] not to prosecute or to discontinue a private prosecution should be judged on the balance of probabilities and not on the existing threshold. This would force the CPS to consider decisions to prosecute or to discontinue private prosecutions more carefully, and would ensure that more crimes are heard by the criminal courts and not written off by the CPS with almost no accountability.”

The full submission can be downloaded here.

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CAA action results in three new criminal charges against notorious antisemite Alison Chabloz

Action by Campaign Against Antisemitism has resulted in new criminal charges against the notorious antisemite Alison Chabloz.

Ms Chabloz is a virulent antisemite and Holocaust denier who has an extensive record of using social media to publicise her hatred for Jews and to convert others to her views about Jewish people.

Following a private prosecution by Campaign Against Antisemitism, which was later continued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Ms Chabloz became the first person in Britain to be convicted over Holocaust denial in a precedent-setting case.

Ms Chabloz is fixated on the idea that the Holocaust did not occur, and that it was fabricated by Jews and their supporters as a vehicle for fraudulently extorting money in the form of reparations. This forms the basis for her second obsession, that Jews are liars and thieves who are working to undermine Western society. Ms Chabloz is also connected to extremist right-wing movements, at whose meetings she gives speeches and performs her songs, in the UK, France and North America. 

The three new charges under section 127 of the Communications Act relate to two internet radio broadcasts featuring Ms Chabloz.

On 1st July 2019, we have alleged that Ms Chabloz was a guest on The Graham Hart Show, an internet radio show, with Graham Hart and Brian Smyth, both of whom are far-right extremists with antisemitic views. Mr Hart, who admits to admiring Hitler, was arrested in May following the presentation of evidence to the police by Campaign Against Antisemitism. During the show, Ms Chabloz said that “the police and the lower ranks, they will never get anywhere unless they become members of the local Freemason lodge, and that is basically the same as becoming a member of the synagogue”, and that “the Jews, they need to stop indoctrinating their children, you know their grandparents were gassed just because they were Jews. No wonder they grow up into psychotic maniacs. They are indoctrinated from birth with this bulls***, and they’ve been doing the same for centuries, even before the Holocaust. But the Holocaust is how most Jews identify themselves. That is the central pillar of Jewishness now, it’s the Holocaust: ‘Oh, we suffered so much’.”

On 5th May 2019, we have alleged Ms Chabloz was a guest on The Realist Report, an internet radio show hosted by John Friend, an American white-nationalist, antisemite and Holocaust-denier. During the show, in which Mr Friend endorsed Hitler’s treatment of European Jews, Ms Chabloz promoted the antisemitic conspiracy theory that the Jews control anything worth controlling; accused the Jewish people of inventing the Holocaust in order to profit financially; suggested that Hitler’s treatment of European Jews was caused by bad Jewish behaviour; insisted that there was nothing wrong with saying ‘Hitler was right’; claimed that the judge who convicted her had been intimidated by the ‘Jewish lobby’; and argued that Jews who did not conform to her idea of a member of Western society should be deported.

A trial date has not yet been set.

Earlier this year, an investigation instigated following action by Campaign Against Antisemitism found that Ms Chabloz had falsely claimed that a court officer – who was horrified to hear the allegation – had agreed with her vile antisemitic views.

Last year, Ms Chabloz had her application for a judicial review denied by the High Court following her landmark conviction on three charges of sending grossly offensive communications via a public communications network. That case began as a private prosecution by Campaign Against Antisemitism, which was then continued by the CPS. The charges related to three self-penned songs in which Ms Chabloz denounced a supposed Jewish conspiracy to dominate the world and attacked the Holocaust as a fraud perpetrated by Jews for financial gain. The conviction set a new precedent in British law, effectively delivering a landmark precedent verdict on incitement on social media and on whether the law considers Holocaust denial to be “grossly offensive” and therefore illegal when used as a means by which to hound Jews.

Ms Chabloz has also been banned from entering France, where Holocaust denial is illegal, for forty years until 2059.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “We are pleased to see that the CPS is moving on these actionable offences committed by a notorious and unrepentant antisemite following action by Campaign Against Antisemitism. If Alison Chabloz continues to pile up convictions with no punitive impact or remedial effect on her behaviour, that is a mockery of justice. If convicted of these charges, Ms Chabloz must face a sentence with real teeth if the criminal justice system wishes to deter others from following her odious example.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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CAA disappointed that Independent Doctors Federation hosted Prof. John Ashton who has a long history of antisemitic comments

The Independent Doctors Federation hosted Prof. John Ashton earlier this week, despite the public health expert’s long history of antisemitic comments.

Prof. Ashton’s record includes comparing Israel to the Nazis and holding Jews responsible for the actions of the State of Israel, both of which are breaches of the International Definition of Antisemitism, as well as trolling Jewish women MPs.

The Independent Doctors Federation describes itself as the leading membership organisation representing Independent medical practitioners in the UK for both specialists and general practitioners.

It is likely that the Federation was unaware of Prof. Ashton’s views when he was invited and hosted.

Campaign Against Antisemitism is grateful to one of the members of the Federation who brought the event to our attention.

After thousands signed our petition calling on the BBC, ITV and Sky News to stop featuring Prof. Ashton on their programmes, Prof. Ashton appears to have had fewer bookings by major broadcasters.

Campaign Against Antisemitism calls on all decent organisations and individuals to shun Prof. Ashton until he makes amends for his history of anti-Jewish racism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2019 showed that antisemitism on the far-left of British politics has surpassed that of the far-right.

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Swastikas graffitied on Jewish home in Stamford Hill leaving family and small children traumatised

Swastika graffiti was reported on a Jewish home in Stamford Hill over the weekend.

The graffiti, on Springfield, left the family and small children traumatised about being targeted and fearing for what may happen next.

The incident, which took place on Sunday 26th July, was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD851 26/07/2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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CAA calls on CPS to go to Crown Court over “pitiful” sentence for teenage brothers who beat visiting senior rabbi bloody, decrying it as “a betrayal of British Jews”

Campaign Against Antisemitism is appalled by the slap-on-the-wrist sentence for two teenage brothers convicted for beating a senior rabbi bloody late last year.

The two brothers, who pleaded not guilty, were given a twelve-month Youth Rehabilitation Order and sentenced to an electronically-monitored curfew from 6:00 to 18:00 for just 30 days, as well as a victim surcharge of £21 each. They were also both ordered to attend a ten-day Diversity Awareness Programme.

The brothers  — who are aged fifteen and sixteen and cannot be named for legal reasons — were said to have shouted “f*** Jews” and “dirty Jew” during the attack, which took place at approximately 21:45 on Friday 29th November as the rabbi walked along Amhurst Park in Stamford Hill. The assailants ran off laughing.

The incident took place during the Jewish Sabbath, when Orthodox Jews do not use telephones, but the incident was reported to the police and Stamford Hill Shomrim, a volunteer Jewish neighbourhood watch patrol.

The 54-year-old victim, a senior rabbi, was visiting Stamford Hill from Israel for a wedding and was left shaken after the attack, with an injured back and a bleeding finger. He immediately left the UK.

The suspects were charged in December and convicted last month with racially aggravated common assault at Stratford Magistrates’ Court on 25th June following a two-day hearing. Sentencing took place today at Stratford Youth Court.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had applied for a longer sentence, as the attack was racially motivated. A spokesperson said at the time of the convictions that “this was an unprovoked and despicable act against a Jewish man who was holidaying in the UK. He was clearly targeted in this hate crime and should not have been subjected to such behaviour in our society,” adding that “I hope these convictions provide the victim with some closure and show just how seriously the CPS takes hate crime, which has a corrosive effect on our society and will be prosecuted robustly.”

Detective Constable Matthew Cooksey of the Metropolitan Police has now said: “Hate crime is not tolerated and we take such offences extremely seriously This incident highlights the efforts we are willing to take to track down suspects. It is upsetting that the boys refused to take responsibility for their crimes by pleading not guilty. I hope the conviction has given some sort of closure to the victim.”

However, it is difficult to square the claim of the police and CPS that antisemitic hate crime is taken seriously with the lenient sentence that the court handed down to the offenders, who did not even admit to the crime.

Stephen Silverman, the Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This was an appalling violent attack on an innocent scholar visiting London, which left him not only with physical injuries but an impression of the UK that sadly our country is beginning to deserve. This failure of the British justice system shows once again that on the rare occasions when antisemites are prosecuted, they face dismally lenient sentences that would not deter anyone.”

“This pitiful sentence is a scandal and makes a mockery of justice. It is a betrayal of British Jews, sending the message that violent assaults motivated by anti-Jewish hatred are barely punished, and signals to victims of antisemitism that their attackers will not face justice. No wonder only a third of British Jews believe that the courts do enough to protect them, when sentences like this demonstrate that Jews do not receive justice in modern Britain. If the CPS means what it said about taking antisemitic crime seriously, it must go to the Crown Court to seek a tougher sentence.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Worcester councillor’s mezuzah is ripped off her door and posted through her letterbox with a swastika, and Worcester Council responds by adopting International Definition of Antisemitism

A local councillor in Worcester has recounted how her mezuzah was ripped from her front door and posted through her letterbox with a swastika drawn onto it.

A mezuzah is a decorative case containing a Jewish prayer which is traditionally fixed to the doorpost of a Jewish home.

Cllr Louise Griffiths, a Conservative, then tabled a motion at Worcester Council to adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism, which the Council unanimously agreed to do.

Cllr Griffiths said: “Antisemitism was not something I experienced on a regular basis, but it has seemingly become part of my daily life in recent years. For me, having the council sign up to this definition of antisemitism is a no-brainer.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has long urged widespread adoption of the Definition. The UK was the first country in the world to adopt the Definition, something for which Campaign Against Antisemitism and Lord Pickles worked hard over many meetings with officials at Downing Street.

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Greater Manchester Police is investigating one of its own officers suspected of etching swastika onto colleague’s belongings

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is reportedly investigating one of its own officers after a swastika was etched onto a colleague’s belongings.

An officer arrived for his or her shift on Sunday only to find a swastika emblazoned on their items in an act the force described as “disgraceful and disgusting”.

Assistant Chief Constable Mabs Hussain said: “I can wholeheartedly say that we are appalled that one of our employees felt that this behaviour was acceptable.

“A colleague has been subjected to a hate crime and there is no place for behaviour like this in GMP or policing nationally, and it’s being treated incredibly seriously.

“It is absolutely unacceptable that an officer has been faced with such an atrocity during their shift and we’re urging any officers or staff with any information to report it.”

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New research shows how far-right groups are encouraging followers to “deliberately infect” Jews with COVID-19 and target other minorities

New research has shown how far-right groups are encouraging followers to “deliberately infect” Jews with COVID-19 and target other minorities.

The Commission for Countering Extremism has said that a variety of groups have been seeking to “breed hate” and promote conspiracy theories, including that the pandemic is part of a Jewish plot.

According to Sara Khan, the lead commissioner, the research shows that there are five primary categories of conspiracy theory targeting Jews, namely that “the virus is fake and part of a Jewish plot to mislead the public, that it’s real and was deliberately created for malevolent purposes, that Jews are the primary spreaders of the virus, that Jewish people are dying in disproportionately higher numbers and posts that incite others to deliberately spread the virus to Jews.”

The research also notes how Islamists are using the pandemic to radicalise followers and promote anti-Western narratives.

Ms Khan has called for action against such conspiracy theories and the groups that promote them.

Various reports, including by Campaign Against Antisemitism, have shown how the far-right and others have exploited the pandemic to target the Jewish community.

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Kent Police investigate far-right stickers with phrases like “Hitler was right” just weeks after CAA revealed how similar stickers were appearing in the area

Kent Police are investigating far-right stickers with phrases such as “Hitler was right”, “they lied about Hitler” and “national socialist now”, just weeks after Campaign Against Antisemitism reported that similar stickers appeared in the area.

The new graffiti was found in Cliftonville and Dane Valley in the first week of July.

The report comes soon after members of the proscribed National Action group were sentenced to prison, having engaged, amongst other activities, in far-right stickering and recruitment campaigns.

At the time, Campaign Against Antisemitism commented that we have monitored and reported on far-right stickering operations, including on university campuses, for a long time, including by the new far-right Hundred Handers group. We continue to call on the authorities to take action against these seemingly low-level incidents, including because they are gateways into more heinous and dangerous activity.

A police spokesperson said: “Kent Police received reports on July 1 and 7 regarding offensive graffiti and other material found on street furniture and buildings in several roads in the Cliftonville and Dane Valley areas. Enquiries into the reports are ongoing as officers work to identify potential CCTV opportunities.” 

If you have any more information, please contact Kent Police on 01843 222289 quoting 46/116043/20.”

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Police officer charged with being member of the banned neo-Nazi terrorist group National Action

A police officer has been charged with being a member of the banned neo-Nazi terrorist group National Action following his arrest in March.

Benjamin Hannam, 21, has been suspended from duty in the Metropolitan Police following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.

Mr Hannam will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in August.

It is alleged that he belonged or professed to belong to the proscribed group between December 2016 and January 2018 and that he falsely represented himself in his application to join the Metropolitan Police in this connection.

He is also charged with other, unrelated but serious offences.

Deputy Superintendant Ella Marriott said: “These are extremely serious charges for anyone to face, and I fully understand and appreciate how deeply concerning it might be for the public, and particularly local communities here in north London, that the charges are against a serving police officer.”

Other members of National Action were recently convicted and sentenced to prison for their role in the organisation.

National Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in December 2016 following a long campaign by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others. Under section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000, membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation is a criminal offence.

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“Die Jewish” graffiti in Birmingham removed by alliance of Jewish and Muslim women

An inspiring alliance of Jewish and Muslim women in Birmingham removed antisemitic graffiti found in the city reading “Die Jewish”.

The group, determined to show that its members and their communities were “stronger together”, removed the graffiti found on a brick wall in Billesley, transforming it into a rainbow.

A local resident discovered the spray painted words and contacted other women across the city to replace it with the hopeful message: “Standing Together Against Hate – Jewish and Muslim women together.”

West Midlands Police reportedly praised the group for their initiative.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The silver lining of antisemitic incidents can be the inspiring response of non-Jewish allies who abhor racism against their Jewish neighbours. The graffiti showcases the worst of Britain, but such responses can show our country at its best.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

Image credit: Benita Wishart / IAB

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“F*** Yids” found daubed on telephone box in Stamford Hill

The phrase “F*** Yids” has been found daubed on a telephone box in Stamford Hill.

The antisemitic graffiti was discovered inside the phone booth outside Stamford Hill Library, Portland Ave, London N16 6SB.

The graffiti was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD7279 06/07/2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Two teenage brothers convicted for violent antisemitic beating of senior visiting rabbi last year

Two teenage brothers have been convicted for the violent antisemitic beating of a senior rabbi who was visiting the UK from Israel late last year.

The two offenders – who cannot be named for legal reasons – were said to have shouted “f*** Jews” and “dirty Jew” during the attack, which took place at approximately 21:45 on Friday 29th November as the rabbi walked along Amhurst Park in Stamford Hill. The assailants ran off laughing.

The incident took place during the Jewish Sabbath, when Orthodox Jews do not use telephones, but the incident was reported to the police and Stamford Hill Shomrim, a volunteer Jewish neighbourhood watch patrol.

The 54-year-old victim was in Stamford Hill for a wedding and was left shaken after the attack, with an injured back and a bleeding finger.

The suspects were charged in December.

The convictions for racially or religiously aggravated assault by beating were handed down at Stratford Magistrates’ Court on 25th June following a two-day hearing. Sentencing is expected on 21st July at the same venue. It is understood that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will be applying for a longer sentence, as the attack was racially motivated.

Peter Alexandrou of the CPS, said: “This was an unprovoked and despicable act against a Jewish man who was holidaying in the UK. He was clearly targeted in this hate crime and should not have been subjected to such behaviour in our society The prosecution case included strong witness evidence and CCTV footage of the attack as well as CCTV tracking the defendants leaving the scene after the assault. I hope these convictions provide the victim with some closure and show just how seriously the CPS takes hate crime, which has a corrosive effect on our society and will be prosecuted robustly.”

A spokesman for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This was an appalling violent attack on an innocent and eminent visitor to our country which left him not just with physical injuries but an impression of the UK that sadly our country is beginning to deserve, as attacks on Jews proliferate. The CPS is right to apply for a longer sentence, both to deliver justice for the victim and a deterrent to safeguard the Jewish community.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

 

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Concerns raised over swastika graffiti in Newcastle park

Concerns have been raised over reports of swastika graffiti in a Newcastle park.

The graffiti sprayed at the popular Newcastle beauty spot Jesmond Dene was also found to have spread coronavirus-related conspiracy theories.

One image depicted the words “NWO” – a reference to the “new world order” conspiracy theory – alongside a swastika inside of a triangle, often used to refer to the ‘Illuminati’, another common antisemitic trope.

Anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination networks have become known as hotbeds of antisemitic conspiracy theories and tropes.

Image credit: Google

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“F*** Zionist lies” graffiti in Fish Island to be investigated and removed by Tower Hamlets following CAA intervention

“F*** Zionist lies” was spray-painted earlier this month in Fish Island and Tower Hamlets will now be investigating and removing the graffiti following an intervention by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

The graffiti by Old Ford Lock and Dace Road in Stratford in East London was noticed by a concerned member of the public, who alerted Campaign Against Antisemitism, which has been in contact with the local authority to have the vandalism removed.

We are grateful to members of the public for reporting antisemitic incidents to us, and if anyone has any further information, please contact us at [email protected].

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Vandals spray “Nazi” and Antifa symbol on statue of Nancy Astor in Plymouth

The statue of Nancy Astor in Plymouth has apparently been spray-painted with the word “Nazi” and a circle with three arrows, an Antifa symbol.

Lady Astor was the first female to take a seat in the House of Commons, and a crowdfunded statue was unveiled last November outside Lady Astor’s home by former Prime Minister Theresa May to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lady Astor’s election.

While Lady Astor was a trailblazer for women’s rights and participation in politics, as well as other reforms, she also held deeply intolerant opinions, including antisemitic views, for example reportedly telling a Jewish MP that “only a Jew like you would dare to be rude to me.” She was also a supporter of appeasement and is said to have indicated sympathy for the Nazis prior to the Second World War.

The vandalism comes at a time of scrutiny of historical monuments and statues, particularly of those believed to have held racist views or profited from racist practices or businesses.

At the time of the unveiling of the statue of Lady Astor, a spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Nancy Astor was a trailblazer for women in politics, and in that respect it is fitting that her statue was unveiled by our second woman Prime Minister. However, Lady Astor also held appalling views on Jews and Nazi Germany. Therefore it is vital that context should be provided for passersby about not only her achievements but also her virulent antisemitism. Hopefully that will serve as a lesson that in our time we must not sacrifice our solidarity with a minority community for other priorities, however worthwhile.”

Image credit: Thomas Godwin

https://twitter.com/Tom_Godwin/status/1275469623543169026

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UPS fires deliveryman who described a customer’s change jar as a “Jew pot”

UPS, the global delivery firm, has fired a deliveryman who described a customer’s change jar as a “Jew pot”.

The incident took place last week in Essex, when the deliveryman arrived at the home of a Jewish family. The victim answered the door and offered payment with her credit card but was declined because the deliveryman did not have a card reader.

The victim returned to the door with a clear plastic container of cash which she kept for such purposes. The deliveryman reportedly leaned in and said “Here we go”, then noticed the jar and asked, “Is that your Jew pot?”

It is a common antisemitic trope that Jews are miserly and hoard money.

The victim said nothing to the deliveryman but reported feeling vulnerable and scared, and reported the matter to the police. It was unclear whether the deliveryman had noticed the mezuzah on the door and therefore recognised the home as belonging to a Jewish family or believed he was making the antisemitic remark to a non-Jewish customer.

The police took the complaint seriously and reported it to UPS, and it is understood that UPS has now terminated the deliveryman’s employment.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We are pleased to have assisted in this matter, in which a deliveryman made a gratuitous and repulsive antisemitic joke, knowingly or otherwise, to a Jewish customer. We are grateful to the police for acting and applaud UPS for its swift and decisive action in terminating his employment. Antisemitism has no place in a business context or anywhere else, and UPS has sent the right message to its staff and industry that bigotry will not be tolerated.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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CAA assisting Jewish man called “dirty Jew” and beaten black and blue, only to have police ignore his case

A Jewish man in Burnley was attacked by three assailants who called him a “dirty Jew” and told the British native to “go back to your own country”.  They physically attacked him, leaving him with numerous injuries to his face including a black eye.

The next day, the victim saw one of the assailants who mocked his injuries and threatened that “next time I’ll do worse”.

The incident took place in Burnley in March, but the police response, promising at first, turned out to be woefully inadequate.

Six weeks of calls by the man and his family to Lancashire Police eventually elicited some action, but the matter has since stalled.

The man then turned to Campaign Against Antisemitism, which is now providing assistance.

The victim said: “The police plaster ‘say no to hate crime’ on their cars but they’ve thrown my case in the trash. I feel that because I live in Burnley and not a Jewish community they don’t care and this has made me lose all my trust in the Police force now, which seems to pick and choose which hate crimes it wants to deal with. This has caused me great distress and has me worried about wearing my kippah proudly outside in case of other attacks.”

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “We are assisting a victim of violent antisemitic crime who was left with a black eye and is now understandably concerned to leave his home wearing any distinguishing Jewish garb or symbol. Not only is this an unacceptable state of affairs in 2020 Britain, but the response by the police to his report has been pitiful. Like many other victims of antisemitism, he has turned to Campaign Against Antisemitism for assistance in dealing with the authorities, and we shall not rest until he has justice.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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CAA welcomes reports that the Government plans to increase sentences for offenders who desecrate places of worship and burial plots

Campaign Against Antisemitism has welcomed reports that the Government plans to increase sentences for offenders who desecrate places of worship and burial plots.

The Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen reportedly raised the matter with the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, in a letter appealing for strict prison sentences for attacks on places of worship, including synagogues, as well as burial grounds.

It is understood that Ms Patel responded within a few hours saying: “It’s going in the sentencing bill and will cover places of worship and cemeteries.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has reported on numerous attacks on synagogues and Jewish cemeteries, including in December 2019.

A spokesman for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Vandalism and attacks on British synagogues over the past several years underscore the urgency of increasing sentences for these hate crimes. The rise in hate crime cannot be deterred without harsh penalties for offenders.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Police investigating calls for CAA personnel to be shot and beheaded after Canary editor says Jews like CAA “gonna get their asses dragged all over town” by BLM as far-left phalanx launches attack over our letter to Sir Keir Starmer

A far-left phalanx comprising Chris Williamson, Salma Yaqoob and Kerry-Ann Mendoza has attacked Campaign Against Antisemitism for sending a letter calling on Sir Keir Starmer to reveal a timetable for the introduction of a reformed disciplinary process in the Labour Party, and for seeking action against Labour figures including Jeremy Corbyn, Dianne Abbott and Salma Yaqoob over past and recent incidents.

Some, like Ms Mendoza, the editor of The Canary, a controversial hard-left blog under investigation by the Government’s Independent Advisor on Antisemitism, used violent language. She tweeted: “The antisemitism witch hunt is seriously about to face off with #BlackLivesMatter I’m telling you now, those anti-Black, anti-Palestinian racists are gonna get their asses dragged all over town. And they have no clue. Because…entitlement.”

After that violent language, there were calls from some on Twitter to shoot and behead Campaign Against Antisemitism personnel dead. Police are dealing with the matter.

Ms Yaqoob, the former Respect Party leader and failed Labour Metro Mayor candidate, declared that Campaign Against Antisemitism’s “priority was never really about tackling racism but silencing those supportive of Palestinian rights.” She also accused us of targeting “Black [and] Asian communities [which] have lost loved ones disproportionately in COVID” and impugned our record on antisemitism as being “somewhat dubious to say the least”. Ms Yaqoob also retweeted a tweet labelling Campaign Against Antisemitism as “bullies”. The tweet was part of a thread accusing us of being “a vicious, right-wing organisation that hounds good people.” She also mocked the Sir Keir and said of Campaign Against Antisemitism’s success at exposing and combating Labour antisemitism: “Shame on every career leftie who capitulated to these idiots.”

Mr Williamson, the disgraced former Labour MP who lost his deposit in his bid to return to Parliament as an independent MP, tweeted that we are “witch-hunters” and “bullies”.

The tweets unleashed an outpouring of hatred towards Campaign Against Antisemitism, which our Online Monitoring and Investigations Unit is capturing.

It is particularly regrettable that at a time of widespread solidarity against racism, these prominent and controversial far-left figures are seeking to undermine efforts to fight antisemitism. Prejudice cannot be beaten with prejudice.

On 28th May 2019, the Equality and Human Rights Commission launched a full statutory investigation into antisemitism in the Labour Party following a formal referral and detailed legal representations from Campaign Against Antisemitism, which is the complainant.

In the first release of its Antisemitism in Political Parties research, Campaign Against Antisemitism showed that Labour Party candidates for Parliament in the 2019 general election accounted for 82 percent of all incidents of antisemitic discourse by parliamentary candidates.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2019 showed that antisemitism on the far-left of British politics has surpassed that of the far-right.

Campaign Against Antisemitism advocates for zero tolerance of antisemitism in public life. To that end we monitor all political parties and strive to ensure that any cases of concern are properly addressed.

 

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CAA marks World Refugee Day with short video about “the forgotten refugees”: the hundreds of thousands of Jews who fled Arab and Muslim lands from the 1940s

Campaign Against Antisemitism has marked World Refugee Day by releasing a short video about “the forgotten refugees”: the hundreds of thousands of Jews who fled Arab and Muslim lands in the Middle East from the 1940s, leaving behind a civilisation built over millennia.

The video is available to watch and share on our Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages.

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“Happy Birthday Fuhrer” stickers appear in Thanet just days after National Action members involved in far-right stickering campaigns are jailed

Neo-Nazi stickers have appeared in a neighbourhood in Thanet, including ones reading “Happy Birthday Fuhrer”, just days after National Action members involved in far-right stickering campaigns were sentenced to prison.

The stickers in Thanet, which were brought to the attention of Campaign Against Antisemitism by a concerned member of the public who noticed them on her Nextdoor app, also featured the phrases “Nationalist Socialist Zone” and “Rest in Honour my Fuhrer”.

The vandalism was on posts around Northumberland Avenue and Millmead.

The report comes just days after members of the proscribed National Action group were sentenced to prison, having engaged, amongst other activities, in far-right stickering and recruitment campaigns.

At the time, Campaign Against Antisemitism commented that we have monitored and reported on far-right stickering operations, including on university campuses, for a long time, including by the new far-right Hundred Handers group. We continue to call on the authorities to take action against these seemingly low-level incidents, including because they are gateways into more heinous and dangerous activity.

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Dog faeces and eggs thrown at Jewish family’s home in Stamford Hill

Dog faeces and eggs were thrown at a Jewish family’s home in Stamford Hill in what the victims believed was a racially motivated attack.

The incident took place on Lordship Road on 17th June and left the family shaken and scared.

It was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD8865 17/06/2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

(Photo credit: Google)

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Man shouts “shame Nazis didn’t put the gas higher” and “The Germans should have killed all of them” at Jewish mother and baby on the bus

A man shouted “shame Nazis didn’t put the gas higher” and “The Germans should have killed all of them” at a Jewish mother and her baby travelling on the bus.

The assailant was a 60-year-old man, and the incident left the victim feeling traumatised.

The attack took place on a number 67 bus at 18:50 on 17th June and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD8963 17/06/2020.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Antisemitic abuse on public transport has become a regular feature of London life for many Jews, and the police and prosecuting authorities take action to bring offenders to justice.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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If Piers Morgan really did dress up as a Nazi and yell “Heil Hitler” while goose-stepping, he must take responsibility and make amends

According to Guido Fawkes, the outspoken television presenter Piers Morgan dressed up as a Nazi for a party in East Sussex, likely some years ago, and yelled “Heil Hitler” while goose-stepping.

Guido Fawkes issued a photograph purporting to be of Mr Morgan in Waffen-SS uniform to substantiate its claim. The Waffen-SS ran concentration camps and was responsible for barbaric suffering and murder on a vast scale.

It appears that Mr Morgan, who co-presents Good Morning Britain on ITV, has not publicly responded to the claim.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Piers Morgan must explain whether and why he dressed up as a Nazi and yelled ‘Heil Hitler’ while goose-stepping. The Nazis inflicted unimaginable suffering upon the Jewish people, industrially murdering one third of the world’s Jewish population, as well as bringing war, death and misery on the entire world. Nazi uniform is hardly appropriate attire for a party. Mr Morgan must clarify what exactly happened and, if the claims are true, make amends.”

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“Jews are all spies! I will beat you up!” shouts male at a visibly Jewish passenger on the 254 bus

A man shouted “Jews are all spies! Next time you spy again I will beat you up!” at a Jewish passenger. When the male Jewish passenger moved to disembark, the man shouted “What’s wrong with all you lot!” before showing him the middle finger.

The incident took place at 1:30pm on 14th June on the upper deck of a number 254 bus in Stamford Hill and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD1317 14/06/2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Two men and one woman perform Nazi salutes in Hendon

Two men and one woman have been seen performing Nazi salutes in Hendon.

The incident took place on 14th June on Brent Street, after the three individuals, who were all white, crossed from Golders Green into Hendon, both heavily Jewish neighbourhoods in North London.

One of the men had a ponytail and was wearing a white t-shirt with black shorts, and the other man was wearing a grey t-shirt and dark trousers with a sweater flung over his shoulders. The woman wore a black t-shirt and black shorts.

The three boarded the number 83 bus on Brent Street at 11:27 before alighting on Queen’s Road at Hendon Central, where they boarded the number 326 bus.

The incident was reported by Shomrim North West London, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101, quoting reference number: CAD3426 14/06/2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Police considering hate crime motive as man charged with attempted murder over stabbing of rabbi in Stoke Newington

The Metropolitan Police Service has confirmed that it is considering a hate crime motive after charging a man with attempted murder following the stabbing of a Hasidic rabbi, who is a father of six, in Stoke Newington last Friday.

Stanley Francis, 44, who is local to the North London neighbourhood where the incident took place, has been charged with attempted murder and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place. His fist scheduled court appearance was at Thames Magistrates’ Court today.

The suspect was held down at the scene by brave nearby builders and passersby until the police arrived.

The victim, a father of six in his 50s, is a renowned teacher in the Satmar charedi Jewish community. He was admitted to hospital with stab wounds but was able to return home over the weekend to convalesce.

DS James Tipple said: “We’re conducting extensive enquiries into this attack and have been gathering evidence. However I know many people saw this attack and, if anyone has any footage or information about this incident, please come forward and tell us what you know.”

One witness present at the scene said: “The person who stabbed a charedi [orthodox Jewish man] got off a bus, he crossed the street, he went to the line which was waiting outside to get into the bank, there were ten people, this one was charedi, and he went straight and stabbed only the charedi. Why didn’t he go for anyone else? My assumption is 100 percent it was a hate crime.”

If you have any more information, please contact Campaign Against Antisemitism on 0330 822 0321 (selecting option 2) or the police on 101 quoting reference number: CAD2315/12/06/2020.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The stabbing of Rabbi Alter Yaakov Schlesinger was a heinous act, and we are thankful that he is recovering. We applaud the brave construction workers and passersby who restrained the armed suspect until police arrived, and the suspect has been charged with attempted murder. As one witness pointed out, the suspect targeted only one person on the street that day: a rabbi. It is therefore right that the police are considering a hate crime motive in their investigation. Violent attacks against Jews in some areas of London have become unacceptably routine, and culprits must be subjected to the full force of the law. We urge the community to remain vigilant and ask that anyone with information about this attack contacts us, Shomrim Stamford Hill or the police.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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National Action sentences show importance of seemingly low-level warning signs like racist stickers on university campuses

The sentences given to four members of the proscribed terrorist organisation National Action this week serve as a reminder of the importance of highlighting and combatting low-level warning signs such as racist stickers on university campuses.

While media attention has focused on Alice ‘Miss Hitler’ Cutter, two of the other offenders were both involved in stickering operations for the group.

Garry Jack, 24, was, according to the judgment of the court, a “dedicated member” of National Action and was “wholly committed to their ideology”. In July 2016 he was apparently involved in “placing inflammatory and racist stickers on the grounds of Aston University” before participating in numerous National Action demonstrations and meetings. Mr Jack “continued to express violent and revolutionary views” after the ban on National Action and attempted to recruit a friend.

In April 2017 Mr Jack was arrested for stirring up racial hatred in connection with the Aston University stickering, but continued his recruitment efforts.

Mr Jack reportedly self-identifies as a Nazi and was given four-and-a-half years in prison

Another of the offenders, Connor Scothern, who is nineteen, was “enthusiastic and wholly committed” to National Action. He was not recruited to the organisation but rather “sought out this group and then engaged enthusiastically with their agenda”.

In February 2017, Mr Scothern purchased 1,000 stickers featuring the likeness of Adolf Hitler and proclaiming “National Socialism. The final solution”. He placed many of these stickers in his local area, and in September 2017 hung a neo-Nazi banner from the side of a car park in Nottingham, his hometown. He sent an image of the banner to the website of NS131, which, the judgment noted, was later proscribed as being an alias of National Action. Mr Scothern reportedly had driven himself “into poverty buying stickers and travelling to socials” of the group’s members.

Mr Scothern, who was apparently a practicing Muslim and activist with the extremist anti-fascist group, Antifa, before joining National Action, was given a sentence of eighteen months in prison.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has monitored and reported on far-right stickering operations, including on university campuses, for a long time, including by the new far-right Hundred Handers group. We continue to call on the authorities to take action against these seemingly low-level incidents, including because they are gateways into more heinous and dangerous activity.

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‘Miss Hitler’ jailed for three years, with longer sentences for other National Action accomplices

A woman who entered a “Miss Hitler” beauty pageant in order to attract new members to the neo-Nazi terrorist group National Action and was found guilty of membership in the proscribed organisation has now been sentenced to three years in prison.

Alice Cutter, who is 23 years old, used the name “Buchenwald Princess” to enter the online ‘National Action Miss Hitler 2016’ contest in June 2016, weeks after her now ex-partner, Mark Jones, visited the execution room of the Buchenwald concentration camp.

Ms Cutter was described in the trial as a “central spoke” of the banned group, exchanging hundreds of messages, including racist and antisemitic material, attending meetings with group leaders despite the ban, posing for a Nazi salute outside Leeds Town Hall in 2016 and attending a demonstration in York in May 2016. She had also joked about gassing synagogues and using a Jew’s head as a football.

Mr Jones is reportedly a “leader and strategist” of the organisation, as well as a former member of the British National Party’s youth wing. The court heard that he held “feelings of admiration” for Adolf Hitler and had a special wedding edition of Mein Kampf. He also gave a Nazi salute on his visit to Buchenwald’s execution chamber.

Mr Jones was sentenced to five-and-a-half years, as the judge said he had played “a significant role in the continuation of the organisation” after its proscription by the British Government following pressure by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Also sentenced were Garry Jack, 24, who reportedly self-identifies as a Nazi and was given four-and-a-half years in prison while Connor Scothern, 19, who was apparently a practicing Muslim and activist with the extremist anti-fascist group, Antifa, before joining National Action, was given a sentence of eighteen months in prison.

Another defendant, Daniel Ward, 28, pleaded guilty to being a member of National Action last year. He was jailed for three years.

According to police, the group was preparing weapons for a “race war”.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We are pleased with today’s sentences, which send a clear signal that those promoting far-right antisemitism will face the full force of the law. But these prosecutions are not enough, and we continue to urge the Crown Prosecution Service to prosecute antisemites of whatever political persuasion so that justice can be delivered for the Jewish community.”

Photo credit: West Midlands Police

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Success for CAA and LBC as Labour activist sentenced over “grossly offensive” message, but CPS fails to pursue charges against other activists in dossier

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has secured a conviction against only one Labour Party activist in a dossier publicised by LBC and referred to the Metropolitan Police by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

The dossier contained some 45 cases of antisemitism in it, with seventeen cases displaying “race-hate incidents” which should have been reported to the police, according to an expert. But Mohsin Rasool was the only activist prosecuted.

Mr Rasool was charged with sending on 26th February 2020 by means of a public electronic communications network a message that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character, contrary to section 127(1)(a) and (3) of the Communications Act 2003.

The first court hearing was on 25th March 2020 and the defendant was granted unconditional bail in absence to 4th May 2020. On that day, the defendant was again granted unconditional bail to 8th June 2020.

A Not Guilty Plea was recorded on 4th May 2020. This was changed to Guilty on 8th June 2020 and the defendant was sentenced to an England and Wales Community Order.

The conditions of the order included a nine-week curfew requirement. He was also ordered to pay the Victim Surcharge of £60 and costs of £150 to the CPS.

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Youths attack Jewish boy, remove his skullcap, chase him and throw stone at him in Stamford Hill

A female witness was shocked to see three youths attack an observant Jewish boy by removing his kippah (skullcap), chasing him and throwing a stone at him.

The incident occurred on 31st May on Lynmouth Road in Stamford Hill and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD7352 31/05/2020.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Acts of antisemitic intimidation and violence against Jewish minors in Stamford Hill are staggeringly common. We applaud Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, for their role in reporting these crimes and deterring many more, and we are grateful to the police for their cooperation. If Jewish children are to have the same freedom as other kids to walk down the street unmolested, the culprits must be brought to justice.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

Image credit: Google

 

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Man who allegedly berated Jewish family on Tube for twenty minutes identified and charged with multiple racially aggravated public order offences

A man who allegedly berated a Jewish family on the London Underground for twenty minutes has been identified and charged with multiple racially aggravated public order offences.

Isher Campbell, 35, of Dudley is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 5th August in connection with the incident last November, which was filmed by another passenger. The suspect, dressed in a hooded tracksuit top and a cap, can be seen on the video reading from what may be a bible and gesturing at a Jewish father and his sons, who are wearing Jewish skullcaps called kippot. He tells them, “I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jewish, and are not, but do lie,” adding: “Behold, I will make them come and worship before your feet, and they will know that I have loved thee.”

The Jewish man can be seen calmly putting his arm around one of his sons and comforting him, saying: “just ignore him.”

An upstanding male passenger, whose face cannot be seen in the footage, confronted the abusive man, who responded by saying “I’m no Christian pastor” and threatens to punch him and telling him to: “F*** off.” A brave observant Muslim woman, Asma Shuweikh, then also intervened, in order to distract the assailant from the family. Ms Shuweikh has recently disclosed that she intends to testify if the matter comes to court.

According to media reports, Mr Campbell is a born-again Christian, although further details have not been disclosed. Although Mr Campbell appeared to be reading from a bible when harassing the Jewish family, it was initially thought that he might be connected with an international fringe sect of Black supremacists that has also been intimidating observant Jewish residents in Stamford Hill and elsewhere in a similar fashion.

Mr Campbell has been charged in connection with that tube incident in November 2019 and also another in August 2019. Racially aggravated public order offences carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

Campaign Against Antisemitism and Shomrim North West London, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, provided assistance to the victim, and we continue to monitor the case with interest.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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“All Jews must die!”, man shouts at Jewish pedestrian in Stamford Hill

A male suspect reportedly shouted “All Jews must die!” at a visibly Jewish pedestrian in Stamford Hill.

The incident took place at 5:35pm on 24th May on St Ann’s Road and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD7867 24/05/2020.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Openly antisemitic threats against observant Jews have become commonplace in North London and there has been no respite even during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful that the police are working closely with Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, to identify offenders. Deterrence relies on robust investigation and enforcement, without which there will be no end to the wave of anti-Jewish incidents.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

(Photo credit: Google)

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“Welcome to the Zionist Police State” sign overlooking Jewish cemetery in East End is removed by police while swastika is engraved into house in Golders Green

A sign reading “Welcome to the Zionist police state” was draped over a building overlooking a Jewish cemetary in Mile End, in London’s East End, while a swastika was found engraved in a house in Golders Green in North London.

The sign was spotted by a journalist, Gabriel Pogrund, and was subsequently removed by police. The phrase “Zionist police state” is in reference to antisemitic conspiracy theories that Jews or Zionists exert outsized power in our national affairs or that Jews or Israel are somehow to blame for the coronavirus pandemic.

The swastika was engraved in the house of a non-Jewish family in the Jewish neighbourhood of Golders Green and was reported by Shomrim North West London, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol. Campaign Against Antisemitism is in contact with local residents.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

(Photo credit: Gabriel Pogrund)

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Police investigating after Holocaust survivor told “we will then kill more of you” in Arabic threats over Twitter

Police are investigating after a Holocaust survivor was told “we will then kill more of you” in messages on Twitter.

The tweets, sent by a user calling himself Ahmed Bassam using a now-deleted Twitter handle called @AHMEDBA84169776, were written in Arabic and translated by Campaign Against Antisemitism. The user sent five threatening tweets to Agnes Grunwald-Spier, a Holocaust survivor.

The first tweet read: “Warning [you]: we haven’t finished with you yet. We will cut your heads off or blow them up into (bloodied) shreds until you leave our land.”

The second tweet read: “You are rapists [forceful grabbers of our land], and my Mother Ahlam Al Tamimi defended us and our land only, and if you don’t leave our land Palestine we will then kill more of you, and even if my mother Ahlam Al Tamimi were deported or jailed or was martyred [sic] then definitely thousands will be born [and come forward] like my mother Ahlam Al-Tamimi.”

Ahlam Al-Tamimi is a Jordanian terrorist convicted by Israel for her involvement in the Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing. Although she received multiple life sentences, she was released in an exchange to free a kidnapped Israeli soldier.

The other three tweets were similarly threatening.

Dr Grunwald-Spier said: “As a single woman living alone, I found it quite scary. I immediately reported all five tweets to Twitter and they acted remarkably quickly to suspend the account because of the abusive and violent nature of the tweets. I think it’s important to take action against people who seem to think it is okay to send these sort of messages in the public domain. People need to understand that such behaviour, which breaches the International Definition of Antisemitism, is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. I don’t know if he lives in the United Kingdom but if he does he should be prosecuted with maximum publicity to ensure that a message of no-tolerance is spread widely.”

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “We welcome the police investigation into these despicable threats against Agnes Grunwald-Spier, a Holocaust survivor. Far from ending with the Holocaust, antisemitism is reaching vast audiences due to the irresponsibility of social media companies. That on this occasion Twitter acted so quickly shows that, contrary to their claims, these companies are able to stamp out racist hatred on their platforms, so the question arises as to why they do it so rarely. We are assisting the victim and applaud her for reporting the threats, and we entirely agree that the offender must bear the full force of the law.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

Campaign Against Antisemitism continues its robust engagement with social media companies over the content that they enable to be published, and we continue to make representations to the Government in this connection.

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CAA gravely concerned by cost-cutting measures in court system that may leave Jewish victims of antisemitic crime without justice

There are reports that “thousands of prosecutions” for certain minor offences and criminal damage “are set to be dropped as police chiefs try to alleviate pressure on the court system”. Officers are apparently being encouraged to pursue out-of-court measures, such as cautions, curfews and apologies, instead of criminal charges.

As a result of the lockdown arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, courtrooms across the country have ceased operating in person, with virtual trials serving as a replacement – but only in some instances. Prosecutors have already been instructed to prioritise serious cases. As the lockdown begins to ease, the Old Bailey and a small number of other courts are now starting to reopen on a tentative basis.

It is not known at this time whether this advice to police forces and prosecutors is nationwide or only in some areas, nor is it immediately clear whether hate crime – including anti-Jewish hate crime – will be affected.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “While we are acutely aware of the strain that the pandemic and lockdown is placing on the police and the criminal judicial system, it cannot be a pretext to avoid delivering justice to victims. The rule of law is the most basic function of the state and one of Britain’s most essential traditions: it cannot be undermined by the pandemic. We shall be monitoring developments with grave concern and will continue to assist victims of antisemitic hate crime to attain the redress to which they are entitled at all times.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Two suspects arrested over antisemitic graffiti in Hampstead and Belsize Park

Two individuals have reportedly been arrested in connection with antisemitic graffiti that appeared in December 2019 in Hampstead and Belsize Park.

South Hampstead Synagogue and at least twelve other locations were targeted with graffiti commonly used by conspiracy theorists to suggest that the Jews were secretly behind the 9/11 terrorist atrocities.

The graffiti was discovered in the evening of 28th December 2019 and the following morning, and was reported to the Metropolitan Police at around 11:30pm on 28th December. On 14th May 2020 the police arrested a 26-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman on suspicion of a racially motivated hate crime.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “Police investigating a racially motivated hate crime in the Hampstead area have arrested two people. They were released from custody on bail to return on a date in late May.”

A few days after the vandalism occurred, a vigil was opportunistically held by two organisations that have themselves enabled antisemitism in the past. Stand up to Racism has consistently failed to stand with the Jewish community when the community was faced with antisemitism from the far-left and has regularly platformed Jeremy Corbyn. Stand up to Racism was joined in organising the “vigil” by Unite Against Fascism, which supported the so-called “Al Quds Day” in the past, a pro-Hizballah march which has platformed antisemites including Reverend Stephen Sizer, who has claimed that an Israeli conspiracy was behind 9/11, and in February 2015 was ordered by the Church of England to stop using social media.

Nevertheless, it is now being reported that the suspects have no known ties to the far-right or neo-Nazi organisations. The Community Security Trust, which provides security at Jewish community buildings said that it had assisted in the investigation.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101, quoting reference number: CAD 7282/28.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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CAA calls for proscription of Order of the Nine Angels

Campaign Against Antisemitism has called for the proscription of the Order of the Nine Angels group following the publication of a report on its activities.

The report by the activist group Hope Not Hate shows that the Order of the Nine Angels promotes extreme violence, Holocaust denial, neo-Nazism and other antisemitic conspiracy theories, such as ‘Zionist’ control of the world.

The group was founded in the 1970s and dates its calendar from the birth of Adolf Hitler. It aspires to destablise contemporary “Judeao-Christian” society and to see it replaced with a fascist and Satanist substitute. It is understood that members are encouraged to infiltrate institutions to undermine them from within or join Islamist organisations to promote the group’s destabilisation agenda. Some of the group’s texts apparently make reference to ritual sacrifice and praise notorious criminals.

Messages between members reportedly extol sexual assault and murder.

Earlier this year, the Home Secretary Priti Patel proscribed the neo-Nazi Sonnenkrieg Division as a terrorist group. This follows the proscription of National Action in 2016, for which Campaign Against Antisemitism had called.

It is believed that the Order of the Nine Angels has been an influence on the Sonnenkrieg Division and on multiple convicted neo-Nazis in the UK.

The Home Secretary must therefore now move to proscribe the Order of the Nine Angels as well.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The Order of the Nine Angles propagates extreme violence, Nazi ideology, Holocaust revisionism and antisemitic conspiracies, such as that Zionists control the world, none of which have any place in modern Britain. The odious group’s links with both Islamist terrorism and the far-right Sonnenkrieg Division, recently proscribed by the British Government, are enormously concerning, and the Government must now move to proscribe the Order of the Nine Angles as well before its dangerous ideology and actions end in the tragedy of yet another far-right terrorist attack.”

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Tube hero Asma Shuweikh to testify in court if charges are brought against man who harrassed multiple Jewish families on Northern Line last year

Asma Shuweikh, who made headlines last year defending a Jewish family on the London Underground as they were subjected to 20 minutes of antisemitic abuse, has revealed that British Transport Police confirmed that the suspect also harrassed another Jewish family that day, also on the Northern Line, and if the case proceeds to court, she will testify.

The incident last November was caught on video by a commuter and involved the suspect, dressed in a hooded tracksuit top and a cap, reading from what may be a bible and gesturing at a Jewish father and his sons, who are wearing Jewish skullcaps called kippot. He tells them, “I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jewish, and are not, but do lie,” adding: “Behold, I will make them come and worship before your feet, and they will know that I have loved thee.”

The Jewish man can be seen calmly putting his arm around one of his sons and comforting him, saying: “just ignore him.”

An upstanding male passenger, whose face cannot be seen in the footage, confronted the abusive man, who responded by saying “I’m no Christian pastor” and threatens to punch him and telling him to: “F*** off.”

Ms Shuweikh, an observant Muslim who wears a hijab, then bravely stood up for the Jewish family, telling the abusive man not to use such language in front of children. The man replied: “These people are impostors, they are trying to claim my heritage and then try and tell me that it’s cool and then they start the slave trade.” The man continued ranting: “It’s not my opinion, it’s G-d’s word”, but Ms Shuweikh took issue with him again and tried to reason with him, distracting him from continuing his abuse of the Jewish family. The man exited the train at Waterloo Station.

In a statement, Ms Shuweikh said that she was motivated to act by her own experiences of being attacked for her faith.

The Jewish family was later assisted by Shomrim North West London, a Jewish neighbourhood watch patrol group.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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“Zionist police state 2020” graffiti found in at least two locations in Hackney

Police are investigating after the words “Zionist police state 2020” were found graffitied in at least two locations in Hackney in North London.

The antisemitic vandalism – either an allusion to the racist meme that ‘Zionists’ have outsized power or an association of Zionism with the emergency draconian rules in place during the pandemic – was sighted on a boat called ‘Shalom’ (meaning ‘hello’, or ‘peace’) on the River Lea and on a local map.

The graffiti was noticed by a journalist, Sophie Wilkinson, who said: “Seeing ‘Zionist’ as a pejorative term truly upset me. As a Jew, I am under as much ‘state control’ as the next person, and to suggest Jews gain from this crisis is not only absurd but is part of seemingly never-ending racist conspiracy theories against us. That the Hebrew word for ‘peace’ has been interpreted as a threat to this vandal speaks volumes to their lazy presumptions about Jews and power.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

(Photo credit: Sophie Wilkinson)

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“Jews are racist! Heil Hitler”, screams woman arrested by police while trying to break down door of Jewish home

A woman has been arrested by police while screaming “Jews are racist! Heil Hitler” and trying to break down the front door of a Jewish home in Stamford Hill.

The incident took place on Lynmouth Road on 27th April 2020 and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD7646 27/04/2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

(Photo credit: Google)

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COVID-19 is ushering in a new wave of online antisemitism across the world

After Campaign Against Antisemitism was among the earliest to warn of a spike in antisemitic incidents online in the wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis, more evidence is emerging across the world that the coronavirus has become the latest pretext for anti-Jewish hatred on the internet.

In the UK, the Community Security Trust published a briefing titled Coronavirus and the Plague of Antisemitism, which presents five categories of claims made by antisemites, namely that the virus is fake and a Jewish conspiracy; that the virus is real and a Jewish conspiracy; that the Jews are the primary spreaders of the virus; that Jewish deaths from the virus should be celebrated; and that the virus should be spread to the Jews to effect a ‘Holocough’.

Elsewhere in Europe, Germany’s antisemitism commissioner has warned of “direct links between the current spread of the coronavirus and that of antisemitism”, noting that “there is a boom in conspiracy theories in times of crisis” and describing antisemitism as similarly “contagious on a social level”.

In the United States, a joint intelligence bulletin drafted by the Department of Justice, the National Counterterrorism Center and the Department of Homeland Security reportedly reveals that ‘domestic violent extremists’ “have sought to conduct, or conducted attacks citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a factor in the timing or motivation of their attacks,” and that ‘racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists’ “who advocate for the superiority of the white race seek to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic to bolster their narratives and encourage attacks and hate crimes against minorities, including Jewish and Asian Americans. Some [of these extremists] claim government responses to the pandemic could crash the global economy, hasten societal collapse, and lead to a race war.”

The report further explains that “conspiratorial narratives assigning blame for the pandemic to a Jewish conspiracy…heightens the risk of retaliatory violence.”

Another report, by Tel Aviv University, also showed that global antisemitism has on the rise during the COVID-19 crisis.

Campaign Against Antisemitism continues to urge vigilance and advises that Jewish institutions take precautions when using social media and online video conferencing platforms.

Campaign Against Antisemitism is able to assist victims and can be contacted at [email protected].

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Horrific Holocaust ‘crypto currency’ that burns Jews and trades their ash is uncovered in latest manifestation of online antisemitism

A horrific Holocaust ‘crypto currency’ that burns Jews and trades their ash has been uncovered in what is just the latest – but particularly abhorrent – manifestation of online antisemitism.

The discovery was made by a member of the public, who referred it to Jewish Human Rights Watch, and it was analysed by the researcher David Collier.

The crypto-currency, called ‘Holocoin’, reportedly gives users the option to buy Jews “or let them burn”.

The website ‘burns’ Jews ‘at a rate of 4,107 each day’ (equivalent, the website claims, to the rate at which Jews were slaughtered in the Holocaust), and the ‘ash’ produced by this process can also be purchased.

There have apparently been hundreds of ‘trades’, and there are over 200 accounts holding the currency. The two founders reportedly use the names ‘Smaug Hitler’ and ‘30YearOldHimmler’.

Absurd suggestions that the crypto-currency was designed as an educational tool are belied by comments made by its founders, as well as its appalling taste.

Campaign Against Antisemitism calls for any self-respecting server operator to remove this antisemitic filth immediately.

(Photo credit: StopAntisemitism.org)

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Jewish community marks Yom HaShoah as new report shows that world’s Jewish population is still smaller today than it was on eve of Holocaust

As the Jewish community marks Yom HaShoah, the effects of the Holocaust continue to reverberate, with new statistics showing that the world’s Jewish population is still smaller today than it was on eve of the Holocaust.

According to the Central Bureau of Statistics in Israel, the global Jewish population stood at 14.7 million at the end of 2018, but is estimated to have been 16.6 million in 1939, on the eve of World War II and the Holocaust, in which over six million Jews were murdered by gas, bullet and other means.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has released a short video interview with Holocaust survivor Susan Pollack MBE, who tells her incredible story and delivers her message for the next generation.

The effects of the Holocaust are still being felt most acutely by the survivors themselves, but also, in other ways, by the children and descendants of the victims and survivors, and, as these statistics show, by the Jewish people worldwide.

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“F***ing Jew, you are killing your children!” woman shouts at Jewish family walking outdoors for day’s exercise

A woman shouted “F***ing Jew, you are killing your children” at a Jewish family walking outdoors for its permitted daily exercise.

The family – parents and three children – were walking at the back of Elder Court in Stamford Hill overlooking the river, when a white middle-aged woman with a ponytail shouted the obscene remark from her window. The children are still traumatised several days later.

The incident took place on at 18:00 on 15th April and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD2933 20/04/2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

Image credit: Google

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Watch Holocaust survivor Susan Pollack MBE share her incredible story with CAA and deliver her message for the next generation

To mark Yom HaShoah, in this video Holocaust survivor Susan Pollack MBE shares her incredible story with Campaign Against Antisemitism and delivers her message for the next generation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri4PmdNVINg&feature=youtu.be
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Zoombombing of Jewish institutions is being coordinated by racists, according to report

It has been reported that users of a racist online platform formerly known as 8chan may be coordinating so-called ‘Zoombombing’ of Jewish institutions.

So far, it is understood that a school in the United States may have been targeted in this way. A synagogue in the UK was also targeted last week, although it is not clear yet whether the two incidents, and others that have been reported over the past fortnight, are connected.

The phenomenon of ‘Zoombombing’, whereby Zoom video conferences are infiltrated by uninvited attendees who post antisemitic and pornographic images, is a growing phenomenon, particularly during the COVID-19 global pandemic, when communal, charitable and commercial institutions are communicating through such online platforms while personnel are secluded at home.

Several months ago it was reported that users of the racist platform 4chan were engaged in a coordinated campaign to create fake social media accounts impersonating Jews in order to promote antisemitic conspiracy theories.

There are resources online that may assist with how to avoid Zoombombing, and Campaign Against Antisemitism urges users of Zoom and other platforms to be vigilant and take precautions, and to report antisemitic infiltrations to the police.

Campaign Against Antisemitism is able to assist victims and can be contacted at [email protected].

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“F*** Jews” found painted on external wall in Gateshead

As the nation is in partial lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, some anti-Jewish racists have taken the opportunity to paint antisemitic obscenities on a wall in Gateshead, in the north of England.

The phrase “F*** Jews” was found painted on the external wall of a property in a back lane off Whitehall Road this week.

The vandalism was reported to the police, and it is understood that the local council has now cleaned the wall.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101, quoting reference number: CAD248 31/03/20.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Synagogue’s online Zoom service interrupted by far-right hackers as American Jewish institutions also report incidents of antisemitic ‘Zoombombing’

A synagogue’s Friday night service conducted using the online video conferencing platform Zoom was infiltrated by far-right activists.

North Western Reform Synagogue (also known as Alyth) in North London was holding a virtual Friday night service last week, which was led by its rabbi and watched by some 250 members, when at least five far-right activists hacked into the chat room and sent multiple antisemitic messages.

The messages, sent over the course of about five minutes, apparently included references to world domination by Jews, as well as offensive descriptions of Black people. The chat room was shut down.

Congregants were reportedly deeply upset by the incident, and the police have been informed.

There have been similar reports from the United States, including from a Jewish school board president in California.

The phenomenon of ‘Zoombombing’, whereby Zoom video conferences are infiltrated by uninvited attendees who post antisemitic and pornographic images, is a growing phenomenon, particularly during the COVID-19 global pandemic, when communal, charitable and commercial institutions are communicating through such online platforms while personnel are secluded at home.

There are resources online that may assist with how to avoid Zoombombing, and Campaign Against Antisemitism urges users of Zoom and other platforms to be vigilant and take precautions, and to report antisemitic infiltrations to the police.

Campaign Against Antisemitism is able to assist victims and can be contacted at [email protected].

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Teenager urinates on front doorstep of Jewish home while his friends look on and laugh

A teenager was seen urinating on the front doorstep of a Jewish family’s home while his friends looked on and laughed.

The incident took place yesterday on Oldhill Street in Stamford Hill and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD3535 23/03/2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

(Image credit: Google)

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Youth confronts Jewish man asking for money and knocks off his hat in laughter

A religious Jewish man walking on Upper Clapton Road in Stamford Hill was confronted by a male youth asking him for £1. When the victim replied that he was not carrying any money, the assailant threw off the victim’s hat (worn for religious purposes) in laughter.

The incident took place yesterday at 16:10 and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD6529 19/03/2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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‘Miss Hitler’ and accomplices convicted of membership in banned far-right terrorist group National Action

A woman who entered a “Miss Hitler” beauty pageant in order to attract new members to the neo-Nazi terrorist group National Action, has been found guilty of membership in the proscribed organisation following a retrial in Birmingham Crown Court.

Alice Cutter, who is 23 years old, used the name “Buchenwald Princess” to enter the online ‘National Action Miss Hitler 2016’ contest in June 2016, weeks after her now ex-partner, Mark Jones, visited the execution room of the Buchenwald concentration camp.

Ms Cutter was described as a “central spoke” of the banned group, exchanging hundreds of messages, including racist and antisemitic material, attending meetings with group leaders despite the ban, posing for a Nazi salute outside Leeds Town Hall in 2016 and attending a demonstration in York in May 2016.

Mr Jones is reportedly a “leader and strategist” of the organisation, as well as a former member of the British National Party’s youth wing. The court heard that he held “feelings of admiration” for Adolf Hitler and had a special wedding edition of Mein Kampf. He also gave a Nazi salute on his visit to Buchenwald’s execution chamber.

Also convicted were Garry Jack, 24, who reportedly self-identifies as a Nazi, and nineteen-year-old Connor Scothern, who was apparently a practicing Muslim and activist with the extreme anti-fascist group, Antifa, before joining National Action.

Another defendant, Daniel Ward, 28, pleaded guilty to being a member of National Action last year. He was jailed for three years.

The four convicted individuals will be sentenced at a later date.

West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit’s Deputy Chief Superintendent, Kenny Bell, said: “Being convicted of membership of this extreme right terrorist group is the same as belonging to other terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda or Daesh. They share a real toxic extreme ideology which is a danger to the public…This group was amassing weapons and recipes for bomb-making. They communicated through secret channels to recruit others to their cause. Left unchecked they presented a real threat to the public.”

(Photo credit: West Midlands Police)

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York to mark 830th anniversary of city’s massacre of Jewish community

York is to mark the 830th anniversary of the city’s massacre of its Jewish community on 16th March at York Castle.

The anniversary of the ethnic cleansing of the city’s 150 Jews in 1190 will also be used to commemorate the Holocaust and will take place under Clifford’s Tower, where the massacre took place after the community gathered there seeking refuge from the belligerent townspeople.

The event is due to include music, readings and lanterns.

York council’s executive member for culture and communities, Darryl Smalley, said: “York is proud to stand with others once again, to raise awareness and commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. We hope to see both residents and visitors join us at Clifford’s Tower memorial to show their support for York’s Jewish population.”

The massacre at York was one of a series of antisemitic pogroms in England in 1189-90 which also included Norwich and Lincoln.

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Alison Chabloz falsely claimed that court officer agreed with her vile antisemitic views, investigation concludes

An investigation has found no evidence for the claim made by notorious antisemite and Holocaust denier Alison Chabloz that the court officer who handcuffed her told her that she shared her vile views.

In June 2018, Ms Chabloz was found guilty of breaching the conditions of a twenty-week suspended prison sentence. The sentence had originally been imposed following a private prosecution by Campaign Against Antisemitism when Ms Chabloz was found guilty in a landmark precedent verdict on incitement on social media and on whether the law considers Holocaust denial to be “grossly offensive” and therefore illegal when used as a means by which to hound Jews.

In September 2019, Ms Chabloz was released from prison pending appeal, and the next day posted a message on the alt-right social media platform, Gab, saying of her arrest in court a few months prior: “The court warden who cuffed me was the same warden who cuffed me in 2017 at Chesterfield Immediate Remand Court. We recognised each other and I reminded her that she had congratulated [me] when I had been released two years ago, saying that I was simply saying what everyone was thinking but didn’t dare to say out loud.”

Ms Chabloz repeated the claim the following day in a blog post.

Later in September 2019, Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote to Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court to investigate whether the claim about the court officer is true. GEOAmey, the firm that employs the officer in question, carried out an investigation and has now replied to Campaign Against Antisemitism to reassure us that employees “must not discriminate unlawfully against individuals or groups because of their racial group, religion or any other factor” and that such behaviour as that alleged is “not acceptable and will not be tolerated.”

Consequently, the investigator met with the officer in question in March 2020 and discussed the concerns. The officer “confirmed that she does recollect the female defendant” but “strongly denies the comments which have been falsely quoted as her words,” adding that “at no point did she ever agree with the opinions and racist views of the female defendant and in addition she does not and would never agree with such racist and antisemitic views.”

It is understood that the court officer has been employed with GEOAmey for several years, has an exemplary record and has recently completed the re-vetting process. Accordingly, the investigator concluded that she is “confident that the allegations are unsubstantiated.”

A spokesman for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We are grateful that GEOAmey took our complaint about Alison Chabloz seriously and investigated the matter. We are unsurprised that the allegations made by the notorious antisemite and Holocaust denier about the court officer have been utterly refuted and that the officer in question is as repulsed by the suggestion that she shares Ms Chabloz’s views as we are. The investigation has found that Ms Chabloz’s capacity to falsify history is not limited to cataclysmic events in the twentieth century but extends even to recent trivial matters in her own life.

“Campaign Against Antisemitism will continue to hold Ms Chabloz and her ideological allies to account, and will monitor with interest her appeal against her breach of the conditions of her sentence.”

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“Move your car right now, I will kill you, you f****** Jew”: Minor parking dispute allegedly escalates into antisemitic assault

A minor parking dispute escalated into an alleged antisemitic assault in Stamford Hill.

The victim, a shopkeeper, tried to drive into St Andrew’s Mews from Dunsmere Road, where he has private parking for his shop. He found the route blocked, however, as a grey car was parked in the driveway obstructing the gates, thereby blocking access.

The driver, reported to be a white male, was seen walking away from the parked car to visit the supermarket.

The victim therefore parked his own car in front of the other car in order to attend to his shop.

The other driver then returned and, finding his vehicle now blocked, entered the victim’s shop to demand that the victim move his vehicle immediately so that he could drive away.

The victim said that he kindly asked the driver: “Can you please wait two minutes until I finish serving a customer?”

The driver then allegedly pushed the victim and said: “Move your car right now, I will kill you, you F****** Jew, I will smash up your shop and your car.”

The victim was left in shock and traumatised by the incident, which took place on 28th February and was reported to the police by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD4828 28/02/2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

(Image credit: Google)

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Police officer arrested on suspicion of membership of proscribed neo-Nazi terrorist organisation

A police officer has been arrested on suspicion of membership of a proscribed neo-Nazi terrorist organisation.

The extraordinary development took place yesterday at an address in North London, where the twenty-one-year-old officer with the Metropolitan Police was arrested and a search was carried out.

The suspect reportedly works in frontline policing, but the Police insisted that there is no threat to the wider public. The case will be supervised by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The offence carries up to ten years in prison.

Only two neo-Nazi terrorist organisations have been proscribed. One is National Action, which was banned in 2016 following calls by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Then, last month, the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, proscribed the neo-Nazi Sonnenkrieg Division as a terrorist group as well. Sonnenkrieg Division is believed to be a Nazi Satanist violent sexual festish group that formed after a split with another neo-Nazi group, System Resistance Network, which is itself an offshoot of National Action.

Campaign Against Antisemitism continues to call for the proscription of System Resistance Network as well.

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Disabled Jewish lady using buggy for support attacked by man who tried to kick the buggy away

A disabled Jewish lady who was using a buggy for support was attacked by a man who tried to kick the buggy away from her. The assailant had been walking alongside the victim for some time, who believed that she was targeted because she was Jewish and disabled.

The incident took place in Stamford Hill at 09:30 and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD7749 24/02/2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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“I hate you Jews…the only reason I don’t kill you is because I just got my British passport and I don’t want to lose it,” Jewish tourist told at Green Park tube station

A passerby told an American Jew visiting the UK: “I hate you Jews, you are all full of bulls***, you f*** up the country – the only reason I don’t kill you is because I just got my British passport and I don’t want to lose it.”

The Jewish tourist was on the westbound platform of the Piccadilly Line at Green Park Underground Station, waiting for the train to Heathrow to travel home, when the incident took place. 

The victim was left shaken and jumped onto the next train to get away from the suspect, who was described as a 5”8 black male with a black beard and wearing a dark cap and a dark green jacket.

The incident took place at around 08:30 in the morning of Sunday 23rd February and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123. The offence is being reported to British Transport Police.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Watch as a woman performs a Nazi salute as she passes a kosher grocery shop in Manchester

A woman has been caught on CCTV performing a Nazi salute at shoppers in a kosher grocery store in Manchester.

In the video, which can be viewed below, the woman is seen passing by the shop, noticing the Jewish shoppers and stopping to perform an antisemitic gesture.

Greater Manchester Police have been notified.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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“The terrorist should come and stab you – I am against Zionists”, Jewish family is told in Covent Garden

A Jewish family was told by a male passerby that he is “against Zionists” and that a “terrorist should come and stab you”.

The encounter, which took place on 10th February, saw the racist individual rantingly tell the family that “You should not come out because you supported Boris; the terrorist should come and stab you! I am against Zionists.” 

The incident took place in Covent Garden and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD4120 10/02/2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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“No Jews are allowed to pass here,” says teenage girl brandishing broomstick to Jewish boys on way to synagogue in Golders Green

A teenage girl brandishing a broomstick told Jewish boys on their way to synagogue on Friday evening that “no Jews are allowed to pass here.”

The incident took place at around 16:45 on Friday 7th February on the corner of Armitage Road in Golders Green and was reported by Shomrim North West London, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Man with history of browsing antisemitic websites and convicted of downloading terrorist material has his appeal against sentence dismissed in Edinburgh

A man with a history of browsing antisemitic websites who pleaded guilty in 2019 of possessing materials “likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism” has had his appeal against his sentence dismissed.

David Dudgeon was sentenced to two years in prison by the Edinburgh Sheriff Court, which reduced the sentence by a year from a three-year starting point, due to his guilty plea.

Mr Dudgeon then appealed to the High Court of Justiciary Appeal Court for the sentence to be reduced on the basis that the three-year starting point was “excessive”. That appeal has now failed.

Mr Dudgeon, who reportedly has a history of mental health issues, was referred to police in March 2019, following which his home was raided. Over the course of the investigation, it was discovered that Mr Dudgeon had an extensive browsing history of extreme far-right websites on topics such as antisemitism, Holocaust denial, racism, conspiracy theores and serial killers, desribed by the court as “violent, sinister and disturbing”.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Synagogue and family attacked in multiple antisemitic incidents across London

Worshippers at a synagogue in Stamford Hill, along with a family visiting a medical clinic in South London, were subject to antisemitic abuse in three separate incidents this week.

On 4th February, a group of youths threw eggs and fireworks at worshippers at a synagogue by Clapton Common, and on 5th February the same group climbed to the roof of the synagogue and shouted abuse at those attending.

Also on 5th February, a Jewish family visiting a medical clinic had a stone thrown at their car by three males. The incident occured on Marine Street in SE16 and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD5236 05/02/2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Man who broke into synagogue, leaving blood everywhere and threatening to blow it up, spared jail

A man who broke into a synagogue, leaving blood everywhere and threatening to blow up the building, has been spared jail.

Andrew Prendergast, 47, broke into Blackpool Reform Synagogue on 19th November 2019, leaving his blood strewn across walls, offices and the prayer hall. He had also damaged the alarm in a bid to destroy it.

He told police officers: “synagogue, synagogue, f***ing blow them up. We don’t want them f***ers over here. I’m f***ing English and f***ing proud,” reportedly admitting to them that burglary was religiously motivated.

Mr Prendergast pleaded guilty to burglary and racially aggravated criminal damage and appeared at Preston Crown Court to be sentenced. According to the defence, he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and a breakdown and was on drugs at the time.

Despite his reported admissions, Judge Beverley Lunt determined that the offence was not a hate crime and declined to imprison him so that he could seek help with his mental health problems.

Mr Prendergast was sentenced to eight months consecutively for burglary and racially aggravated criminal damage suspended for two years, and was ordered to carry out 50 rehabilitation days and a nine-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

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“F*** Jews, I will kill all Jews”, shouts woman at Jewish pedestrians in Stamford Hill

Jewish pedestrians were abused by a woman screaming ““F*** Jews, I will kill all Jews.”

The incident occurred at 14:30 on 30th January in Stamford Hill, and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

The suspect then reportedly entered number 31 Stamford Hill. Police are investigating.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD3619 30/01/2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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“I am going to cut your Jewish head off!” screams a woman at Jewish girls on Holocaust Memorial Day

An eleven-year-old Jewish girl, along with a four-year-old Jewish girl, were abused on Holocaust Memorial Day by a woman in the street who shouted at them: “I am going to cut your Jewish head off!”

The incident took place at 16:15 on 27th January on Moundfield Road in Stamford Hill and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD5856 27/01/2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Holocaust survivor shares her story and says “antisemitism is very bad now – we didn’t expect it to happen again”

Renee Salt, who was imprisoned in Auschwitz as a young teenager, remained silent about her experiences for 50 years, but is speaking out now as she says “antisemitism is very bad now”.

“For fifty years I couldn’t talk about it,” she says, but “the nightmares only stopped once we started talking about it.”

Ms Salt says that she was urged to talk about her experiences because she was advised that “if you won’t people won’t know what happened,” and she felt that “it should never happen again.”

When asked whether she thinks the sort of antisemitism she witnessed in her younger years is possible again, she replied: “Absolutely the antisemitism is very bad now. We didn’t expect it to happen again. But there you are.”

As for Holocaust deniers, “I would like to take them to Auschwitz and show them what happened…but I think they know what happened – it is too big to hide away.”

The interview can be watched here.

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Antisemitic graffiti sprayed in South-East London just prior to Holocaust Memorial Day

Antisemitic graffiti was found spray-painted in South-East London just prior to Holocaust Memorial Day.

The graffiti, featuring a swastika and the sun cross symbol used by white supremacists, were daubed on a Caribbean takeaway in Greenwich, while Stars of David and the word “Jews” were sprayed on a Barclays Bank half a mile away in Blackheath.

The graffiti is believed to have been painted between 22:00 and 23:00 on Saturday 25th January, and has now been removed.

The Greenwich Council leader described the vandalism as “totally appalling and horrific” and reported that local residents were “worried and upset by what had happened”.

A police spokesperson said: “Officers are investigating a report of antisemitic and racist graffiti…Enquiries are ongoing and if you have any information that could help the investigation please call 101 and quote CAD340/26Jan.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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“Hitler was the best, he was right, we hate Jews”: eleven-year-old girls subjected to antisemitic abuse on eve of Holocaust Memorial Day

Two eleven-year-old girls were subjected to antisemitic abuse on the eve of Holocaust Memorail Day, when a man shouted at them: “Hitler was the best, he was right, we hate Jews.”

The girls ran home in terror.

The incident took place yesterday, on 26th January, in Stamford Hill, and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD2465 26/01/2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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“Hitler did a great job in Auschwitz by killing all the Jews”: Jewish pedestrians subjected to antisemitic abuse as world commemorates Holocaust

A man screamed “Hitler did a great job in Auschwitz by killing all the Jews” at several Jewish pedestrians on Cazenove Road in Stamford Hill.

As the world spends the week commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz and preparing to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, antisemitism expressed with reference to the Holocaust endures.

The incident took place at 12:15 on 23rd January and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD3104 23/01/2020.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.

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Magnitude of the Holocaust “defies comprehension” and we must “heed its lessons” says HRH Prince Charles as he joins world leaders in Jerusalem for Holocaust commemoration

HRH Prince Charles has said today that the “magnitude of the genocide that was visited upon the Jewish people defies comprehension” as he joins world leaders in Jerusalem to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Prince Charles elaborated, saying: “The scale of the evil was so great, the impact so profound, that it threatens to obscure the countless individual, human stories of tragedy, loss and suffering of which it was comprised. That is why places like [Yad Vashem] and events like this are so vitally important.”

The Prince of Wales revealed that it has been a “singular privilege” for him to have met so many Holocaust survivors who came to the UK and made immeasureable contributions, noting that, as fewer and fewer of them are among us, “we must commit ourselves to ensuring that their stories live on.” He also noted the propriety of holding the commemorative event in Israel, where so many survivors made their home.

He also reflected on his “immense pride” in his grandmother, Princess Alice of Greece, who saved a Jewish family in 1943 by hiding them in her home. She is buried on the Mount of Olives, has a tree in her name at Yad Vashem and is counted among the Righteous of the Nations, “a fact,” he said, “that gives me and my family immense pride.”

We “compound” the “tragedy” of the Holocaust, the Prince explained, “if we do not heed its lessons.” He therefore urged: “On this day, in this place, and in memory of the millions who perished in the Shoah [the Holocaust], let us recommit ourselves to tolerance and respect, and to ensuring that those who lived through this darkness will forever, as in the words of the prophet Isiah, ‘be a light unto the nations’ to guide the generations that follow.

The full speech can be watched below.

The speech, which incorporated numerous references to biblical and rabbinic writings, was part of an event titled “Remembering the Holocaust, Fighting Antisemitism,” was organised by the World Holocaust Forum Foundation and Yad Vashem, Israel’s National Holocaust Memorial, under the auspices of the President of Israel. Also in attendance were the President and Prime Minister of Israel, the Presidents of Germany, Russia and France, and the Vice-President of the United States, among others, making it the largest diplomatic gathering in Israel’s history.

The purpose of the event, President Rivlin explained, was to “think about how to pass on Holocaust remembrance to generations who will live in a world without survivors, and what steps we must take to ensure the safety and security of Jews — all around the world.”

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Teenager who pleaded guilty to setting Jewish man’s hair on fire in antisemitic attack on local bus has been sentenced

A teenager who set a Jewish passenger’s hair on fire while using racist epithets has been sentenced by Highbury Corner Youth Court.

The incident took place shortly before 19:00 on 26th March 2018 on the number 210 bus, when the teenager and another male sat in front of and behind the victim, who was working no a laptop.

The teenager, who was fourteen at the time and cannot be named for legal reasons, asked the victim: “are you a P**i or a Jew?” He then proceeded to singe the victim’s hair and, when confronted by the victim, said: “Are you Jewish? You can’t be Jewish because you don’t have horns. Do Jews keep money under their caps?”

The teenager also threatened to beat up the victim and smash his computer.

Appearing at Highbury Corner Youth Court on 16th January 2020 after pleading guilty to racially and religiously aggravated common assault, the teenager was sentenced to a four-month youth rehabilitation order and ordered to write a letter of apology to the victim and pay him £100 in compensation. The fourth month of rehabilitation was due to the racist nature of the attack.

The teenager was given an activity requirement of eight hours and one-to-one behavioural sessions with educational staff to combat racial discrimination.

Speaking in the court, the teenager reportedly expressed remorse for the attack, saying he had changed and grown as a person since the incident. He noted that he had now moved house and made new friends, and that he was focused on his GCSEs with a view to going on to higher education.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crime than any other faith group.

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White supremacist sticker appears on Sunderland bus stop after multiple stickers removed in Edinburgh

A white supermacist sticker has been found at a bus stop in Sunderland just days after similar stickers were found and removed in Edinburgh.

The sticker was reported by a group called Sunderland Unites and removed by Sunderland Lads & Lasses Against Fascism. The sticker is thought to be connected to an online group known as the Hundred Handers that encourages users to print and distribute the stickers.

The Hundred Handers are also believed to be behind the Edinburgh stickers as well.

Campaign Against Antisemitism thanks the activists involved and calls on the authorities to investigate who is responsible. Residents are also urged to remain vigilant.

Photo credit: @SunderlandUnite/Twitter

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Pressure builds on CPS to decide whether to charge arrested Labour activists following referral of case to the Met by CAA and LBC

Pressure is building on the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to come to a charging decision in the cases of the Labour activists arrested by police in connection with antisemitism in the Party.

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Cressida Dick, recently revealed that six arrests were made in connection with a secret dossier compiled by the Labour Party and subsequently leaked and referred to the Met by Campaign Against Antisemitism and the radio channel LBC, and that five of the cases were passed to the CPS in September 2019. Commissioner Dick explained that the cases represented a “complex crime type” and that the CPS would have to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to bring charges and a public interest in prosecuting.

Following Commissioner Dick’s revelation, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, Lord MacDonald QC, intervened in the matter to say that he believes not only that the CPS has had sufficient time to review the cases of the arrested Labour members and should announce its conclusions, but that the evidence suggests that crimes have indeed been committed.

Now, the Justice Secretary, Robert Buckland, has been asked on LBC for his position, replying: ”Obviously the CPS is the independent prosecutor. I am not going to comment about an individual case. But what I would say is the very fact we are talking about it on national radio, and the importance of this issue – antisemitism as you know is a serious issue not just because of itself but because it is a gateway to other types of prejudice in my view – I very much hope that everybody involved in the investigation will do it thoroughly. Obviously, it has to be looked at properly, but that it can be expedited.”

When asked about whether the CPS might be delaying in order to allow the issue to fade away, Mr Buckland said: “It [the time delay] can go on for as long as is deemed necessary. We’ve got to remember of course that if the case is what we call ‘summary only’ and can only be dealt with in the magistrates’ courts…there is a six month limit. Everyone needs to remember that. If it is going to the crown court, then there is no time limit.

“If everyone has that in mind as to the type of charge they might bring, then they should consider the matter carefully but obviously, like anything, delay is not the most desirable outcome. We need to get on with justice and deal with it as swiftly as possible.”

On 28th May 2019, the Equality and Human Rights Commission launched a full statutory investigation into antisemitism in the Labour Party following a formal referral and detailed legal representations from Campaign Against Antisemitism, which is the complainant.

In the first release of its Antisemitism in Political Parties research, Campaign Against Antisemitism showed that Labour Party candidates for Parliament in the 2019 general election accounted for 82 percent of all incidents of antisemitic discourse.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2019 showed that antisemitism on the far-left of British politics has surpassed that of the far-right.

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CAA condemns appearance of white nationalist stickers in Edinburgh city centre

Stickers bearing the message “Antisemitism is caused by Semitism” have been plastered around the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

The phrase is commonly used by neo-Nazis and white nationalists online, and it is understood that the stickers were appended by a group calling itself the Hundred Handers.

Stickers were seen and removed by appalled locals on Jeffrey Street, St Mary’s Street, Jury’s Inn and La Garrigue, and one concerned resident warned others to take care in their removal in case razor blades or sharp objects had been hidden behind,

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The implication of this phrase is that Jews cause antisemitism. The accusation that antisemitism is the result of Jews’ own behaviour is a slur that has been used to persecute Jews for centuries, culminating in the Holocaust.

“This is offensive not just to Jews but all residents in Edinburgh and thousands of tourists. It is a terrible image for Edinburgh as the Royal Mile is such a popular and iconic tourist attraction. We expect that the authorities to remove the stickers immediately and investigate who is responsible.”

A spokesman for the local council advised that street cleaners have been alerted.

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Court hears how woman entered “Miss Hitler” pageant to attract new members to neo-Nazi group National Action

A woman entered a “Miss Hitler” beauty pageant described as a “publicity stunt” to attract new members to the neo-Nazi terrorist group National Action, a jury has heard. 

Alice Cutter, who is 23 years old, used the name “Buchenwald Princess” to enter the online ‘National Action Miss Hitler 2016’ contest, described as “sick”, in June 2016, weeks after her partner, Mark Jones, visited the execution room of the Buchenwald concentration camp. Jurors have been shown a picture of Mr Jones and another man posing at the Buchenwald camp holding a National Action flag.

Ms Cutter and Mr Jones are both on trial at Birmingham Crown Court, along with two other men, Garry Jack and Connor Scothern.

All stand accused of being members of a “fellowship of hate” comprising some 50 or 60 hardcore activist members of National Action. The group, according to the prosecution, has “a common admiration for Hitler and the architects of the Holocaust.”

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Neo-nazi teenager who planned to bomb synagogues and other targets and who became UK’s youngest ever convicted terrorist is jailed for 6 years

A sixteen-year-old neo-Nazi teenager from Durham has been jailed for six years and eight months by Manchester Crown Court after being found guilty of preparation of terrorist acts between October 2017 and March 2019.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is the youngest person ever to be convicted in the UK for planning a terrorist attack.

Reportedly a follower of far-right ideology since the age of thirteen, the boy had hoped to follow in Adolf Hitler’s footsteps and listed numerous targets “worth attacking” with Molotov cocktails, including synagogues, which were listed under “Areas to Attack” in his manifesto, which was titled “A Manual for practical and sensible guerrilla warfare against the kike system in the Durham City area, Sieg Heil”. Other items seized from his home included a copy of Mein Kampf and material on explosives and firearms.

During the trial, the prosecution claimed that the defendant had become “an adherent of neo-Nazism – the most extreme of right-wing ideology”, noting that he had written in his diary on the occasion of Hitler’s birthday that the Nazi leader was “a brave man to say the least. Although maybe having written proof that I admire their number one enemy isn’t such a wise idea. I will however say that I one day hope to follow in his footsteps.”

The jury did not believe the teenager’s claims that his far-right musings were for “shock value” only, and he was found guilty of preparation of terrorist acts, disseminating a terrorist publication, possessing an article for a purpose connected with terrorism, and three counts of possessing a document or record containing information likely to be useful to a terrorist.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crime than any other faith group.

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Police investigating woman who screamed “f*** Jews you are all the same” at a Jewish man in Stamford Hill

A woman screamed “f*** Jews you are all the same” at a Jewish man yesterday.

The incident took place on Thorpe Road in Stamford Hill, and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD6490 07/01/2020.

The incident comes after Campaign Against Antisemitism reported on an epidemic of antisemitic crime in Stamford Hill over the Chanukah period.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crime than any other faith group.

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Watch Met Commissioner tell LBC she’s waiting for CPS to charge Labour members arrested by police after CAA reported them, as she also concedes “we have seen more” antisemitic crime

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has disclosed that six arrests have been made over antisemitism in the Labour Party in connection with a dossier referred to the Met by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Cressida Dick, the UK’s most senior police officer, told LBC this morning that six arrests were made in early 2019 and five files were passed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in September 2019. These developments were further to the 45 cases mentioned in a secret Labour dossier referred to the Commissioner by the chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, Gideon Falter, live on LBC in September 2018.

The cases in the dossier included an activist who attacked a Jewish Labour MP as a “Zionist Extremist” who “hates civilised people” and was “about to get a good kicking” for spreading “Zionists propaganda”; an activist who posted an article containing Holocaust denial and antisemitic cartoons of Jews from a blog claiming to provide “intelligent antisemitism for the thinking gentile”; a Labour Party member posting that “we shall rid the Jews who are a cancer on us all” and that “these Jewish f***ers are the devils”; and a Party member accused of physically and verbally abusing a seven-year-old boy using racist epitaphs including “Paki” and “Jew-boy”.

Commissioner Dick explained that these cases represent a “very complex crime type” and therefore it was difficult to anticipate when the CPS would make a decision on whether to charge the individuals, based on whether there is sufficient evidence and if charging the offenders would be in the public interest.

Host Nick Ferrari also asked the Commissioner if she was concerned about a resurgence of antisemitic crime in London and nationally, to which she responded that “we have seen more” and that “it is really pernicious”.

The Commissioner also made reference to the antisemitic graffiti daubed on a synagogue and numerous commercial establishments in Hampstead last month, describing it as a “horrible event” and noting that it came “hard on the heels of the terrible attacks in the United States”, alluding to the violent intrusion into a rabbi’s house in Monsey, NY during a Chanukah celebration. She acknowledged that the graffiti has “shaken people in the local area and wider community” and insisted that the police have a zero tolerance approach to antisemitic crime. Commissioner Dick said that the police were “taking that investigation extremely seriously” and that “it is progressing well”.

Commissiner Dick’s interview can be watched below.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crime than any other faith group.

UPDATE: The CPS has commented: “We’ve received a file of evidence from (the Met) in relation to antisemitic hate crimes. We are reviewing this material to consider further charging decisions.”

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Jewish family reportedly abused by flight attendant on American Airlines

A Jewish family has alleged that they were subjected to anti-Jewish racial abuse by a flight attendant on American Airlines.

The family were boarding flight AA142 at New York City’s JFK Airport en route to Heathrow yesterday, and whilst stowing their bags were accosted by a female crew member who allegedly shouted: “you f***ing Jews think you control the plane”.

The incident was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, and is being investigated by authorities at Heathrow.

American Airlines tweeted in response that “our company culture celebrates diversity on all levels. It’s part of who we are,” inviting the victim to contact the company directly.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has contacted the airline for further comment.

If you have any more information, please contact Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD1954 7/1/2020.

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Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Nichols denounces antisemitic graffiti in Hampstead and condemns “all expressions of hatred”

Cardinal Nichols has denounced the antisemitic graffiti daubed on numerous commercial establishments and a synagogue in Hampstead in late December 2019, saying that “the recent antisemitic graffiti in north London brings shame to us all” and condemning “all expressions of hatred”.

The Cardinal, who serves as Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, made the remarks in his New Year’s message, in which he hoped that “each of us, every person in our society, will shun all forms and expressions of hatred against others”.

“Such hatred,” he said, “can have no place in our way of life. Only when we see the good in each other will every person feel welcomed and unafraid.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said of the incident: “The perpetrator must be identified and prosecuted to clearly show that the intimidation of Jewish communities will not be tolerated.”

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Chanukah celebrations marred by epidemic of antisemitism in Stamford Hill

A spate of antisemitic incidents have taken place in Stamford Hill over the past fortnight during the Chanukah period, marring celebrations.

On 21st December a Jewish man walking back from a synagogue down Fairholt Road on the corner of Bethune Road was pelted with a glass bottle by an assailant shouting “dirty Jew” (CAD7178 21/12/19).

On 22nd December a white male pedestrian spat at the car of a Jewish motorists shouting “f***ing Jew”. It was then discovered that two other Jewish drivers, waiting at a traffic light, were abused by the same offender. The incident took place on Manor Road (CAD1907 22/12/19).

On 26th December, a man walked into a kosher butcher’s shop in Stamford Hill shouting antisemitic abuse and pointing his fingers at Jews in a gun gesture (CAD4725 /26/12/19).

On 1st January 2020, a Jewish lady tried to enter a lift with her children at Stratford Overground Station on their way home to Stamford Hill and politely asked a Muslim couple to make some space for them, only to have them shout “you Jewish people, you think you own the world, you stink” (British Transport Police ref 378 01/01/2020).

On 4th January, a Jewish man was punched in the face in an unprovoked attack by two men. The incident took place at 22:35 on Craven Park Road (CAD7256 4/1/2020).

On 5th January, two men were reported to have threatened Jewish worshippers at a synagogue on Heathland Road in Stamford Hill shortly after 01:00 (CAD562 05/01/2020).

Later in the morning of 5th January, a Jewish woman was approached on Durlston Road by a man brandishing a large knife and shouting “f***ing Jew”. Volunteers from Stamford Hill Shomrim followed the assailant until he was arrested by police (CAD3239 05/01/2020).

Also on 5th January, in the latest violent attack on a Jewish minor, a 13-year-old boy travelling on a bus was punched in the stomach as the male assailant shouted “you stupid Jews think you own the world” and “you f***ing Jews” (CAD4968 05/01/2020).

On 6th January, a Jewish mother was subjected to antisemitic abuse while waiting with her baby outside their home on Lordship Road for a taxi to hospital. The male assailant screamed, “f***ing Jewish c***” (CAD6471 06/01/2020).

All of these incidents were reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information about any of these incidents, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting the relevant reference number.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “We are seeing violent attacks being perpetrated with increasing frequency on the observant Jewish community in Stamford Hill. Police, politicians and above all prosecutors must now urgently take on board the reality that the epidemic of anti-Jewish hate crime on the streets of London can only be stemmed through rapid and zero-tolerance enforcement of the law. Failure to act urgently may result in the atrocities that have been committed on the other side of the Atlantic being replicated here in the UK.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crime than any other faith group.

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13-year-old Jewish boy punched in stomach as assailant shouts “you stupid Jews think you own the world” in latest violent attack on a minor

In the latest violent attack on a Jewish minor, a 13-year-old boy was punched in the stomach as the male assailant shouted “you stupid Jews think you own the world” and “you f***ing Jews”.

The attack took place on a bus heading towards Stamford Hill at 11:46am on 5th January and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

Police are said to be investigating.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD4968 05/01/2020.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “We are seeing more and more violent attacks against Jewish minors on public transport. Perpetrators must be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crime than any other faith group.

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“Vigil” against antisemitic graffiti attended by antisemitism enablers crying crocodile tears

Last weekend, while Jews in America were hit by yet another violent attack, South Hampstead Synagogue and businesses around Hampstead were daubed with graffiti commonly used by conspiracy theorists to suggest that Jews were secretly behind the 9/11 terrorist atrocities. This has led to outpourings of solidarity and support for the Jewish community, many of which have been admirable and sincere signs of support from across the country, however, some condemnation and support has come from unwelcome sources.

One of those sources is an organisation called Stand up to Racism, which organised a “vigil” against the graffiti.

Stand up to Racism has consistently failed to stand with the Jewish community when the community was faced with antisemitism from the far-left and has regularly platformed Jeremy Corbyn. Stand up to Racism was joined in organising the “vigil” by Unite Against Fascism, which supported the so-called “Al Quds Day” in the past, a pro-Hizballah march which has platformed antisemites including Reverend Stephen Sizer, who has claimed that an Israeli conspiracy was behind 9/11, and in February 2015 was ordered by the Church of England to stop using social media. While Revd Sizer protested that he was not problematic, the Church said the material that Rev Dr Sizer posted was “clearly antisemitic.”

The vigil appears to have had no speakers from the synagogues in the area targeted in these incidents. Amongst those attending, however, were members of the sham Jewish representative group Jewish Voice for Labour. Jewish community attendees and journalist Lee Harpin reported being harassed and ridiculed as a “Zionist journalist” by the organisers and activists weaponising these incidents to score political points and signal their own virtuousness.

Additional messages of support for the Jewish community have come in via Twitter from those who aided and abetted the Labour Party’s campaign to place an antisemite in office, often ignoring or downplaying accusations of antisemitism. This includes Sir Keir Starmer and Dawn Butler, who would have served in an institutionally antisemitic cabinet had the Labour Party won the election, Owen Jones, and Ash Sarkar of Novara Media, who defended the activist who vandalised of the walls of the Warsaw Ghetto and claimed that the International Definition of Antisemitism is merely a front to silence criticism of Israel. 

Most insulting of all was Jeremy Corbyn, who has himself been guilty of numerous counts of antisemitism. Over the past several years, the Jewish community has watched the descent of the Labour Party into abject racism with horror. Mr Corbyn is an antisemite and under his leadership, Labour has become institutionally antisemitic, defending antisemites and victimising those who stood up to them, cultivating animosity towards Jews at all levels and hounding out of the Party Jewish MPs and the most decent of their colleagues.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “For those who have done so much to mainstream antisemitism in the UK to cry crocodile tears on behalf of a Jewish community they have shown disdain for, when they suspect that the perpetrators hail from their political opposites, shows that to them antisemitism is something they are only willing to play lip service to when it is politically convenient. They are not welcome and our community deserves better than cheap virtue signals.”

Anybody with information about the graffiti should call the police on 101, quoting reference CAD 7282/28/12/19.

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South Hampstead Synagogue and local businesses daubed with graffiti suggesting Jews were behind 9/11

South Hampstead Synagogue and businesses around Hampstead have been daubed with graffiti commonly used by conspiracy theorists to suggest that the Jews were secretly behind the 9/11 terrorist atrocities.

The businesses targeted included wine merchant Oddbins, menswear shop Ésclot, former Israeli-style restaurant Café Hampstead, and even a telephone box.

According to South Hampstead Synagogue, at least twelve locations in addition to the synagogue were targeted. Police are investigating and Camden Council is working to remove the graffiti.

“Making mendacious, dehumanising, demonising, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective” is antisemitic, according to the International Definition of Antisemitism.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Last night there were over a dozen brazen acts of racially or religiously motivated criminal damage. The perpetrator must be identified and prosecuted to clearly show that the intimidation of Jewish communities will not be tolerated.”

In a statement, Inspector Kev Hailes of the Metropolitan Police Service, said: “This is clearly a concerning incident and one we are taking seriously. We have liaised with our partners in order to remove the graffiti and various enquiries are underway to find who is responsible. Officers will be on patrol throughout the area in order to provide some reassurance to local communities. Please approach us if you have any questions or concerns. I ask anyone who might have seen anything suspicious last night to call us and aid the investigation.”

Anybody with information should call the police on 101, quoting reference CAD 7282/28/12/19.

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Police seek man who entered kosher butcher in Stamford Hill, shouted antisemitic abuse and pointed fingers at Jews in gun gesture

Police and Stamford Hill Shomrim are looking for a man who walked into a kosher butcher’s shop in Stamford Hill, shouting antisemitic abuse and pointing his fingers at Jews in a gun gesture.

The incident took place just after 16:00 today when the man walked into Royal Meats demanding food. When asked what he would like to buy, witnesses say he began swearing, apparently expecting to be given food free of charge. He is alleged to have shouted: “You f***ing Jews, I am German, you f***ing Jews are bad people”, before pointing his fingers at people in the shop in a gun gesture.

The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 40 years of age, with a tall, medium build. He was wearing green trousers, a black coat, a black ‘beanie’ hat and a black rucksack. He was seen boarding a number 76 bus at around 16:15.

Anybody with information should call the police on 101, citing reference number CAD 4725/26/12/19, or call Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123.

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Jewish man allegedly pelted with glass bottle by assailant shouting “dirty Jew” in Stamford Hill, as another spat at in car

A Jewish man walking back from synagogue was allegedly pelted with a glass bottle by an assailant shouting “dirty Jew” in Stamford Hill.

The alleged assault occurred at 19:45 on Saturday, as the Jewish man was walking from a synagogue down Fairholt Road on the corner of Bethune Road in Stamford Hill, North East London. As he walked, a man allegedly shouted at him: “Dirty Jew, f****n Jew, all Jews shall go to hell.” He then threw a glass beer bottle at him and it smashed on the ground.

The suspect is described as a tall white male with a medium build who was wearing blue jeans, a brown coat, a red baseball cap, a blue hoodie and red trainers.

Anybody with information should call the police on 101, quoting reference number CAD 7178 21/12/19, or call Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123.

In a separate incident on Saturday evening, a Jewish motorist was stationary in his vehicle on Manor Road in Stamford Hill, when a male suspect allegedly spat at the car and subjected him to a torrent of verbal abuse, including “f***ing Jew.” Anybody with information should call the police, quoting reference number CAD 1907 22/12/19, or call Stamford Hill Shomrim.

In yet another incident, two Jewish motorists were also verbally abused in the area while waiting at traffic lights.

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Two teenagers charged over antisemitic beating of rabbi in Stamford Hill

Two teenagers have been charged over an antisemitic assault on a visiting senior rabbi, when he was beaten bloody by the assailants who shouted “kill the Jews”.

The two individuals, aged fourteen and fifteen, were also said to have shouted “f*** Jews” and “dirty Jew” during the antisemitic attack, which took place at approximately 21:45 on Friday 1st November as the rabbi walked along Amhurst Park in Stamford Hill.

The suspects reportedly handed themselves in on Tuesday, after being recognised by a relative from the images that police previously released.

The incident took place during the Jewish Sabbath, when orthodox Jews do not use telephones, and was reported to the police and Stamford Hill Shomrim, a volunteer Jewish neighbourhood watch patrol, which said that the victim, 54, was left “collapsed on the pavement, bleeding and dazed, where he lay for several minutes.”

The suspects are due to appear at Stratford Youth Court on 7th January.

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Man who posted video of himself training a dog to perform a Nazi salute has application to appeal rejected by Supreme Court

A man who shared footage of himself training a dog to perform a Nazi salute has had his application to appeal rejected by the Supreme Court.

Mark Meechan, also known by the alias Count Dankula, had been found guilty by Airdrie Sheriff Court of breaching the Communications Act by publishing material that was racist, grossly offensive and antisemitic in nature at a trial in April 2018, after he uploaded a video of his girlfriend’s dog lifting its paw when he said “Sieg Heil” and reacting to the phrase, “Gas the Jews”. He was ordered to pay £800.

He reportedly refused to pay the fine but the money was seized from his bank account by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.

Mr Meechan took his case to the Supreme Court after several appeals in Scottish courts had failed, but his application to appeal on human rights grounds was rejected on the basis that it was “incompetent” and “without merit”. Mr Meechan had funded his legal case by crowdfunding almost £200,000.

Although he has reportedly noted that the European Court of Human Rights might be the final option remaining, he indicated that he may redirect the money raised to charity instead.

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Teenagers throw bag of faeces on doorstep of Jewish home

A group of teenagers threw a bag of faeces onto the doorstep of a Jewish home in Stamford Hill.

The incident occurred on Springfield Road on 12th December and was reported by Shomrim Stamford Hill, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

Anyone with further information should contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD1458 12/12/19.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crime than any other faith group.

We are seeking to recruit a General Counsel a Creative Communications and Events Officer a Communications and Research Manager an Education and Outreach Intern to join our London office

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Campaign Against Antisemitism is a volunteer-led charity dedicated to exposing and countering antisemitism through education and zero-tolerance enforcement of the law. Everything that we do is done by people who volunteer their time, using donations contributed by members of the public. Join the fight against antisemitism by subscribing to our updates, volunteering, or donating.