London’s Pro-Palestine March: A Clash of Views and Safety Concerns

Amidst a gathering of Holocaust survivors and their descendants, in the heart of Trafalgar Square, an intense scene unfolds. A woman stands, clutching her dog’s lead, livestreaming her challenge to the passing pro-Palestine marchers. “Why will none of you condemn Hamas?” she repeats, her voice echoing for the benefit of online viewers.

The response is varied. Most of the marchers choose to ignore her, instead showing appreciation for the group of 11 survivors who oppose Israel’s actions in the Gaza conflict. One man reacts vehemently, quickly ushered away by his companions, while a young woman kneeling down to befriend the woman’s dog exemplifies a contrasting gesture of kindness.

However, amidst the sea of demonstrators, one Londoner, likely in his 50s, takes the bait. He shouts about “bloody evangelical Christians” and knocks the woman’s phone out of her hands as she attempts to film him. “Where are the police?” she cries out, finding herself on the ground, her leg cut on broken glass. Some marchers come to her aid, and after dabbing her wound with a tissue, she resumes her livestream, refusing to disclose her name, only stating that she “represents the kingdom of God.”

This scuffle raises questions about safety and dissent in London. Does this incident suggest that London is a no-go zone for those who oppose the demonstrators? Or does the fact that even a provocateur can stand relatively unharmed indicate, as the Holocaust survivors’ group hopes, that this is indeed a peaceful protest where all should feel safe?

The survivors’ group led the march as it commenced just before 1 pm in Whitehall on Saturday, marking the thirteenth gathering in central London to protest the war in Gaza following the October 7 attacks by Hamas.

After a previous march, Gideon Falter, leader of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, released a video clip showing a police officer telling him he couldn’t walk across the march because he was “openly Jewish.” Falter argued this illustrated London as a no-go area for Jews during the protests, sparking calls for Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to resign.

However, a 13-minute video release revealed a more nuanced exchange between Falter and the officer, who offered to escort Falter away from the demonstration, citing concerns about his safety.

Stephen Kapos, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor from Budapest, emphasized solidarity with the Palestinian people, cautioning against using Holocaust memories as a cover for Israel’s actions in Gaza. “The right wing has been claiming that there are no-go areas of London for Jews. We want to prove that’s wrong – we are very welcome here,” he stated.

“Openly Jewish” became a slogan during the march, prompting some to join in response to Falter’s video. Simon Moore, a GP from Muswell Hill, wore a sign honoring his father, a Kindertransport survivor, expressing support for the Palestinian cause. “It’s very important that Jews or people with Jewish heritage say that this is wrong,” Moore affirmed.

Pall Mall hosted another potential flashpoint—a counter-demonstration by a group called Enough is Enough, separated by police lines and barriers. One of the organizers, Rev Hayley Ace, voiced opposition to support for terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas, highlighting the demonization of Jews and calling for the release of hostages.

Since October 7, both antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred have surged, leading to fewer organizations commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day, according to Olivia Marks-Woldman, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. “Some local organizers were worried about the physical safety of their events,” she noted. “At the same time, we had some people who were very deliberately disengaging and citing community tensions, but occasionally cited reasons which are intrinsically antisemitic.”

Mark Etkind, an organizer and son of a Holocaust survivor, emphasized opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza. “It’s hard to talk about without getting a bit upset,” he said. “When we are on the protest, being openly Jewish, the level of warmth and support has been overwhelming.”

Regarding the comparison of Gaza to the Holocaust, Etkind stated, “Anyone who knows history knows that we can’t understand things except in comparison to each other. What is happening now or in the future will never be on the scale of the tragedy of what happened in the second world war.”

“In Trafalgar Square, people stopped to greet the Holocaust survivor group,” the article concludes, highlighting the complex interplay of historical memory, current events, and differing perspectives amidst London’s diverse landscape.

Source: The Guardian