Met Police must not bow to pressure from organisers of march this Saturday

An attempt is being made to stir controversy around the fact that the Metropolitan Police Service has decided to impose basic conditions on the latest Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) march. This now includes a Parliamentary Early Day Motion sponsored by John McDonnell MP.

The Met has not banned the PSC march this Saturday. It has simply said that the marchers cannot assemble or conclude right around the corner to a major central London synagogue if the march is to take place on a Saturday right as Shabbat services end.

Almost one year ago, we posted about how Jewish parents and children were afraid to walk home from their synagogue at the end of Shabbat services because of one of the weekly PSC marches taking place nearby. Police had to stand by the entrances to the synagogue and were stationed around the area. The fear was palpable, and understandably so, given what has happened on these marches before.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The Met is being told by the PSC that their march has to be on a Saturday, it has to be just after Shabbat services, and it has to form up or conclude around the corner to a major central London synagogue.

“In making that absurd argument, the Jewish community is being gaslit by the organisers of the march and their allies, who claim to be incredulous that Jews might be intimidated by people marching the streets, demanding ‘intifada’ and the like, as they usually do. To help make their point, they are parading a handful of Jews who say that they support the marches, but this is a well worn tactic that uses a few token Jews in an attempt to override the legitimate concerns of the actual mainstream Jewish community. It is transparently deceitful and shows utter disdain for British Jews.

“These are London’s streets, and they must be made safe again for all Londoners, including Jews. These marchers have had the run of the capital for far too long.

“The Met is absolutely right to insist on using its powers under the Public Order Act to prevent demonstrators from marching in the vicinity of a local synagogue this Saturday. Our only complaint is that these measures are still too limited, and come after more than a year of our streets resounding to chants exhorting violence while thousands of people happily walk alongside antisemitic and extremist placards. The Met has finally drawn a line in the sand — it is the bare minimum and it must stand by it. In doing so, the Met has the full support of the Jewish community, including us at Campaign Against Antisemitism. We will be watching closely to see how the day is policed.”