Thousands march against antisemitism in London as Tommy Robinson arrested – live

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Thousands gather to march against antisemitism through central London

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Tommy Robinson has been arrested at a march against antisemitism in London after police warned the far-right was“not welcome”.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the march, held the day after a pro-Palestinian protest in the capital called again for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Former prime minister Boris Johnson is among those attending.

Ahead of the march, the Met warned that any offences “whether from within the protest or from any groups trying to challenge or interfere with the march” would be dealt with, as both the force and ministers have stressed the need for the UK’s Jewish community to feel safe on the streets.

There had been fears in that Mr Robinson, the former leader of the far-right grouping, could disrupt the protest organised by charity Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Robinson had previously been seen among the crowds of counter-protesters who clashed with police during ceasefire protests held on Armistice Day.

The weekend marches took place as a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel is still holding following the release of two groups of hostages

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Musk to meet Israeli President to discuss antisemitism on X

Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, accused by civil rights groups of amplifying anti-Jewish hatred on his X social media platform, will meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Monday along with Israelis whose relatives have been held by Hamas in Gaza.

Herzog’s office announced the meeting on Sunday night, saying, “In their meeting, the president will emphasize the need to act to combat rising antisemitism online.”

Musk, a billionaire who also runs Tesla and SpaceX, visits during a four-day truce in an Israeli war with Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza.

Israel’s Channel 12 said Musk would also meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. There was no immediate comment from his office.

Netanyahu met Musk in California on Sept. 18 and urged him to strike a balance between protecting free expression and fighting hate speech after weeks of controversy over antisemitic content on X.

Barney Davis26 November 2023 22:411701038398

Tommy Robinson pepper sprayed by police during arrest at march against antisemitism

English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson was pepper-sprayed by police as they arrested him at an antisemitism march in London.

Robinson was detained by dozens of officers near the Royal Courts of Justice, from where the demonstration began on Sunday, after march organisers said he would not be welcome.

The 40 year-old, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, uploaded a video on social media of his partially closed eyes after officers used the synthetic pepper spray. He was still in police custody on Sunday evening.

Tommy Robinson pepper sprayed by police during arrest at march against antisemitism

Met Police officers detained Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, at demonstration near the Royal Courts of Justice

Barney Davis26 November 2023 22:391701034225

Eddie Marsan speaks of his honour at delivering speech to 105,000 marching against antisemitism

The Happy-Go-Lucky actor posted on X: “It was an honour to be invited to speak, to stand in solidarity with my Jewish friends in face of the appalling rise in antisemitism, to condemn the seven-fold increase in Islamophobic hate crime & to call out the far right who are trying to capitalise on the situation.”

Marsan, who is not Jewish but recieved abuse for playing the leader of an anti-fascist group in ‘Ridley Road’, questioned why some people did not condemn Hamas after its attack on Israel in his speech.

He said: “Following the events of October 7 there were those who rushed to condemn the destruction of Gaza and the loss of innocent life, which is completely right.

“But there were many who were hesitant to acknowledge or condemn the actions of Hamas against Israel and to call for the hostages to be released.

“And when I saw this I asked a Jewish friend of mine in the film business ‘why can’t they do both?’.

“And they said ‘it’s because they’re afraid, because they’re afraid of the backlash’.”

He also called for moderate people to “face down extremism and bigotry”.

He went on: “Fundamentalists always scream loud to drown out the voice of reasonable people, moderate people.

“Well in my experience people aren’t moderate because they’re turning a blind eye to injustice, people are moderate because they can see both sides of the debate, both sides of an argument, and they can sense the greater truth.”

Barney Davis26 November 2023 21:301701033718

Tens of thousands attend march against antisemitism in London

Tens of thousands of people gathered in central London to march against antisemitism in what activists have called the largest gathering of its kind since 1936.

The demonstration organised by Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) drew a number of well-known figures including former prime minister Boris Johnson.

The former PM said that he was attending in solidarity with Jewish people as he said recent pro-Palestinian protests in the capital had confirmed his belief of “the absolutely human necessity for Israel to exist”.

Maira Butt reports:

Tens of thousands attend march against antisemitism in London

Chief Rabbi Mirvis called for a ‘strengthening of community cohesion’ amid reports of a rise in antisemitism

Barney Davis26 November 2023 21:211701025977

Vanessa Feltz and friends sing and dance at front of March Against Antisemitism

Immigration minister Robert Jenrick and security minister Tom Tugendhat joined celebrities including Vanessa Feltz, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Rachel Riley and Robert Rinder at the march, which saw marchers join in singing as they proceeded through the city.

Organisers called the rally the largest gathering against antisemitism London had seen since the Battle of Cable Street in 1936, when hundreds of thousands of people blocked a planned march by Sir Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists through an area populated by many Jewish families.

Barney Davis26 November 2023 19:121701024603

Antisemitic offences ramped up in October

In the first 18 days of October, there was a 1,353% increase in antisemitic offences and a 140% rise in Islamophobic offences, the Met Police said at the time.

The Community Security Trust, which collects reports of antisemitism in the UK, recorded at least 805 antisemitic incidents between 7 and 27 October; the highest ever recorded in a 21-day period.

Tell Mama, which counts Islamophobic incidents, recorded 291 incidents of anti-Muslim hate between 7 and 19 October, a sixfold increase on the same period last year.

Barney Davis26 November 2023 18:501701022617

Just two arrests as 105,000 March Against Antisemitism

The Met Police have said they have arrested a man heard making antisemitic comments as 105,000 depart the March Against Antisemitism.

The force posted on X: “The March Against Antisemitism has concluded.

“As the crowds left along Whitehall, a man was heard to make antisemitic comments.

“He was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence.

“In total, there were two arrests during today’s operation.”

Barney Davis26 November 2023 18:161701019563

Countdown’s Rachel Riley called on people to ‘get serious' about tackling antisemitism.

Speaking in Parliament Square she said: “We’ve learned from history the sharp price to be paid when good people stay silent and I’m grateful to each and every one of you here today for refusing to be bystanders.

“We’re going to have to get serious about fighting this now if we want to turn things around.

“We’re going to start having to have tough conversations. We’re going to have to stand up to the mob and we’re going to need strong stomachs.

“But together I believe we can and we will.”

Barney Davis26 November 2023 17:261701019138

Happy-Go-Lucky actor Eddie Marsan called for moderate people to ‘face down extremism and bigotry’

He told the antisemitism march in London: “Fundamentalists always scream loud to drown out the voice of reasonable people, moderate people.

“Well in my experience people aren’t moderate because they’re turning a blind eye to injustice, people are moderate because they can see both sides of the debate, both sides of an argument, and they can sense the greater truth.

“But I think now it’s time for moderate people in this country to stand up and face down extremism and bigotry and antisemitism and Islamophobia and all forms of racism.

“So I’m here today to defend my culture, my culture is diversity and I’m proud of my culture.

“And I’m also here to stand in solidarity with my Jewish friends, the people I grew up with, the people I went to school with, the people I work with, and I tell you all you are not alone.”

Barney Davis26 November 2023 17:181701019015

Tracy-Ann Oberman addresses crowds

Former EastEnders actress Tracy-Ann Oberman told marchers: “We’re seeing a frightening and swift rise in antisemitism, Jewish attacks on our children not being able to go to school wearing their blazers with a Jewish insignia or skullcaps, our children and ourselves advised to take off any sign of being Jewish.

“I have so many friends and neighbours and people who contact me on social media saying they will take their mezuzahs off their doors, that they feel frightened, they feel isolated and alone.

“But we are not alone. We are a successful and flourishing multi-ethnic and multi-faith capital city of a multi-ethnic and multi-faith country.

“A tolerant democracy where all racism, including racism against Jews, is not tolerated.

“We have to call out antisemitism for what it is, it is an incitement to hatred, it is an incitement to divide.”

Barney Davis26 November 2023 17:16NewerOlder✕

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