‘We will march against antisemitism – again’

Just over a year after a march against Jew-hate, which saw over 100,000 people take to the streets of London, the Campaign Against Antisemitism has announced that it is organising a similar march on December 8.

A spokesperson for the CAA said the decision to make another public stand was due to the increase in antisemitic hate crime, which has quadrupled in the past year, and that “Jews are now the most targeted faith minority in the country, despite our minuscule numbers”.

According to government data released in October, there were 121 religious hate crimes per 10,000 population against Jewish people over the past year, the highest rate for any religious group.

The spokesperson added: “Week after week, our capital city and other urban areas have become no-go zones, not just for Jews but for the majority of British people, who say that Palestine protests put them off going into town. These protests have unleashed a tidal wave of antisemitism that has left no part of our society unaffected. Jewish people feel like [they’re] drowning.”

They said that the march was also in response to the violence in Amsterdam last Thursday night, which saw Israeli supporters of the Maccabi Tel Aviv football team attacked following the Europa League match against Ajax. Five Israelis were taken to hospital and 20 to 30 others were injured, according to Dutch police, while over 60 people were arrested.

“The modern-day pogrom in Amsterdam has shown the world what happens when this racist radicalisation is not addressed. That is why we must take a stand, “ said CAA.

They called on people outside the Jewish community to join the march, saying: “We believe that the British people continue to stand with the Jewish community, and we will be marching together in solidarity on 8th December.”

The CAA said that they were currently liaising with other communal organisations to support the march.

Last November’s National March Against Antisemitism was attended by a number of high-profile figures, including former prime minister Boris Johnson, media personalities Maureen Lipman and Vanessa Feltz and actors Tracy-Ann Oberman and Eddie Marsan. It called on people to stand up against antisemitism, while also campaigning to bring home the hostages, over 100 of whom are still being held in Gaza.