London is scene of another antisemitism-strewn demonstration as terrorist flags fly over crowds and speakers declare that Israel creates antisemitism and “there will be no ceasefire in our campaign”

London was the scene of yet another antisemitism-strewn demonstration today, as crowds were told that Israel creates antisemitism and that “there will be no ceasefire in our campaign”. Crowds also marched in Manchester, Cardiff and elsewhere. Campaign Against Antisemitism is now reviewing a large volume of evidence from today’s rallies and those of the past fortnight with its lawyers.

As demonstrators in London flew the flags of genocidal antisemitic terrorist organisations, other protesters held aloft placards decrying “Zionists” as Nazis and the flags of violent or terrorist organisations, speakers addressed them with inflammatory messages, making no effort to condemn the antisemitic hatred that has surged on the streets of Britain for a fortnight.

One protester brought a placard apparently denouncing Jews for having killed Jesus, bearing an image of Jesus carrying a cross and the slogan “Don’t let them do the same thing today again”. The charge of deicide was long used within Christian theology to justify hatred of Jews, until it was rejected by the Vatican and major Protestant denominations.

Numerous placards praised the genocidal antisemitic terrorist organisation, Hamas, as “freedom fighters”, while others claimed that “Nazis are still around, they call themselves Zionists now”, that the Israeli Prime Minister “surpasses Hitler in barbarism” and that Israel is committing a Holocaust.

An evidence gathering team from Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Demonstration and Event Monitoring Unit did not witness any of the marchers for “justice” remonstrating with the antisemites in the midst or seeking justice for Jews.

The marchers only seemed to have had one disagreement amongst themselves, which reportedly occurred when Islamists in the crowd began to use megaphones to address their fellow protesters over the top of the main speakers.

Former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who last week tweeted a picture of an antisemitic placard and said that he was “proud” to march alongside it, told the thousands who had gathered: “Yes, a ceasefire has been negotiated and we welcome a ceasefire, but let’s be clear, there will be no ceasefire in our campaign to boycott, disinvest and sanction the Israeli apartheid state. The message is clear, we will not cease our campaign in solidarity until there is justice. So let’s make it clear, no justice, no peace.” Jeremy Corbyn and Richard Burgon were among other speakers from the Labour Party.

Another speaker, Tariq Ali, who has previously tried to link Israel to the killing of George Floyd, declared that some Israelis “have learnt nothing from what happened in to them in Europe. Nothing. They talk a lot about saying all those marching for Palestine are antisemities. This of course isn’t true, but I will tell you something, they don’t like hearing. Every time they bomb Gaza, every time they attack Jerusalem – that is what creates antisemitism. Stop the occupation, stop the bombing and casual antisemitism will soon disappear.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “For two weeks, Britain’s Jews have been threatened with rape and murder, with a synagogue vandalised and a rabbi hospitalised. Now, our traumatised community has again had to endure politicians and activists addressing yet another antisemitism-infested rally. 

”Last week, John McDonnell tweeted an image of an antisemitic placard held by protesters whom he said made him ‘proud’. Despite the ceasefire, he promised no end to the protests. Jews were told by Tariq Ali that they will continue to face antisemitism. None of the speakers had words of regret for the abuse and violence that has been incited against Britain’s Jews under cover of the ‘Free Palestine’ slogan, there was only inflammatory rhetoric and posturing.

“Protesters are getting the message that those promoting hatred against Jews in their midst will be tolerated or encouraged, whilst Britain’s Jews are hearing loud and clear that when it comes to racism against us, our allies are drowned out by the bigots. Having seen the solidarity shown for Black Lives Matter, this just reinforces the feeling that in the UK in 2021, racism against Jews does not count.”

Today’s events are only the latest in a string of antisemitic protests in Britain held under the “Free Palestine” slogan.