The recent controversy surrounding the policing of a pro-Palestine march in London has sparked a debate on the treatment of Jewish individuals in public spaces. The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) released a video showing their chief executive, Gideon Falter, being told by a Metropolitan Police officer that his presence at the march was “antagonising” and that he would be escorted out for “causing a breach of peace” simply because he was openly Jewish.
The initial response from the Met, blaming those who film themselves at protests for being provocative, was met with criticism from the CAA, calling it “abject victim-blaming.” However, the Met later retracted their statement and issued an apology, acknowledging that “being Jewish is not a provocation.”
The Home Office also weighed in on the issue, stating that “simply being Jewish – or of any other race or religion – should never be seen as provocative.” Home Secretary James Cleverly reportedly wrote to the Met about the incident, although the details of the letter were not disclosed.
Falter, in his comments after the incident, claimed that the marches were “no-go zones for Jews” and that the Met believed being openly Jewish would antagonise anti-Israel marchers. However, a group of Holocaust survivors and their descendants who have been active at pro-Palestine marches disputed Falter’s claims, stating that they have only experienced warmth and solidarity from the demonstrators.
The pro-Palestine marches in London have drawn large crowds in solidarity with the Palestinian people, with the protests being largely peaceful. The debate over the treatment of Jewish individuals at these marches highlights the complexities of policing public protests and the importance of ensuring that individuals of all races and religions feel safe in public spaces.