An openly Jewish man wearing a skull cap was trying to cross the road where a pro Palestine march was taking place. He was stopped by a Met Officer who threatened to arrest the man for breaching the peace because of his openly Jewish appearance. He was merely trying to cross the road. Yes tensions run high amongst these demonstrations, but this person is a citizen going about their daily life. Why should the onus be on him to disappear, surely that onus should be on the demonstrators not to target individuals to take out any grievances. Possibly the Officer was trying to head off any clashes, but I think there is something worryingly wrong and discriminatory in telling a demographic, any demographic, they are not free to move about on the streets of their own country.
Your thoughts on the matter.
No AGAA4, in this case, in my opinion, I dont think he should have been prevented.
It makes him in the wrong, instead of people who may[or may not] have attacked him.
But apparently, he threatened the solitary Jew with arrest for behaviour liable to cause a breach of the peace - which sounds like rabid anti-Semitism to me!
No he did not, grandtante, as anyone who had actually taken the trouble to read the Sky News transcript of the encounter would know.
Nor was Falter “solitary”.
If police do this thype of thing, as Dickens suggested, to make their own lives easier because of lack of manpower, is that really the best way of dealing with things?
I dont know, about that particular point.
True Callistemon
teachkate
Saturday is the sabbath for Jews, a Jew takes a prayer shawl to
pray in a Synagogue
teachkate
This young man was being deliberately provocative and argumentative.
I thought the police officer dealt with the difficult situation in a very quiet, tolerant, patient and professional manner - plus the young man wasn’t just wearing a kippah he was also carrying something wrapped in some red velvet material which had Hebrew writing on the front ??? The Torah perhaps? Anyway something which I’m sure he doesn’t carry around everyday!
So let me see if Ive got this right…if you go to your place of worship, don’t wear anything that identifies you as a congregant, don’t carry a bible/koran/torah, go home, go straight back home, do not pass GO…
This is getting seriously bad now and I despair that some people are being deliberately dense on this thread - clever, able people refusing to admit that the defining factor in this mess is that an easily identified Jew was accused of asking for it!
The fact that he is being accused of being provocative is very worrying indeed.
I think these marches are starting to cause too much trouble. I do agree with Callistemon that it's time they stopped. They seem to be infiltrated by people with hate in their hearts and I don't think it will end well if they carry on. They aren't achieving anything and causing greater divides than ever.
Blame the Jew.
So he wanted to prove a point? So what? He proved it.
Talk of Palestinian babies being murdered etc is deflection and whataboutery.
These marches are achieving absolutely nothing but are costing millions and causing massive disruption every week. There is no good reason for these marches anymore; they’ve made their point and Netanyahu isn’t taking a blind bit of notice.
If the police haven’t got the manpower to deal with the troublemakers the marches should be banned.
The Jewish community are being baited and it’s unacceptable and there are posters on here who are fine with that.
Any other march causing so much trouble would be stopped. It can be done but the mayor of London is ok with it. Strange that.
AGAA4
I think these marches are starting to cause too much trouble. I do agree with Callistemon that it's time they stopped. They seem to be infiltrated by people with hate in their hearts and I don't think it will end well if they carry on. They aren't achieving anything and causing greater divides than ever.
I doubt the Israeli Government is taking any notice.
Lily Ebert 100 years of age, was in Auschwitz , whose mother,
brother and sister didn’t survive.
‘The Holocaust has begun again ‘
Callistemon21
teachkate
This young man was being deliberately provocative and argumentative.
I thought the police officer dealt with the difficult situation in a very quiet, tolerant, patient and professional manner - plus the young man wasn’t just wearing a kippah he was also carrying something wrapped in some red velvet material which had Hebrew writing on the front ??? The Torah perhaps? Anyway something which I’m sure he doesn’t carry around everyday!Read the reports.
It was a prayer shawl, a tallit. Is that not allowed to be carried in the UK in case it offends someone?
Then look at the photos of the protestors too and think about what you just said.
I am absolutely speechless.
Imagine telling a Muslim not to wear a hijab, veil or burqa because it is provocative.
Imagine telling the pro Palestinians not to wear the Keffiyeh or wave their national flag because it is provocative.
However, it is reasonable to warn a Jewish man that he is outwardly Jewish looking due to his Kippah, and the fact he was carrying his tallit (Jewish prayer shawl) on his way back from the synagogue.
He was proving a point that pro-Palestinians are giving preference over Jews when it comes to freedom of movement in the U.K.
A very dangerous and frightening precedent…
My sympathy right now is with the patient, experienced sergeant who tried to prevent a breach of the peace, or a possible riot. Using the phrase openly Jewish was unfortunate but accurate.
These marches have the potential for violence. The peace is maintained by a light touch from police and the fact the majority don’t want riots
It really troubles me that one way in which peace is kept is by allowing offensive, anti semitic chants, hurling the kind of verbal abuse GF was subjected to.
I understand why many criticise GF as deliberately looking to provoke. Surely though, these demonstrations are making central London a no go area for Jewish people, other than those who join the pro Palestinian groups
GG and Callistemon - I agree with your posts
Iam64
GG and Callistemon - I agree with your posts
What has happened to tolerance, Iam64?
What is happening is really depressing.
The opposite of Openly Jewish must be Secretly Jewish
Anniebach
The police officer feared the marchers, the answer is
‘Remove openly Jewish ‘ .
No. Prevent obviously Jewish person from getting amongst militant antisemites who shouting antisemitic abuse at him. For his own protection and to prevent a breach of the peace.
Germanshepherdsmum
Anniebach
The police officer feared the marchers, the answer is
‘Remove openly Jewish ‘ .No. Prevent obviously Jewish person from getting amongst militant antisemites who shouting antisemitic abuse at him. For his own protection and to prevent a breach of the peace.
Which brings us to the question:
Why are anti-semites allowed to march in this country?
I realise not all protestors are anti-semitic but a good proportion are.
Callistemon21
Germanshepherdsmum
Anniebach
The police officer feared the marchers, the answer is
‘Remove openly Jewish ‘ .No. Prevent obviously Jewish person from getting amongst militant antisemites who shouting antisemitic abuse at him. For his own protection and to prevent a breach of the peace.
Which brings us to the question:
Why are anti-semites allowed to march in this country?
I realise not all protestors are anti-semitic but a good proportion are.
That Callistemon21 is the million $ question that I have asked numerous times over numerous similar threads, as of yet no answer has been provided.
The policeman did right. He offered to escort the man across the road, after the procession had passed.
This man is an activist, and the whole thing looks a bit contrived.🙄
The man is active against semitism , this is wrong ?
Meanwhile a man in Romford has been arrested for vile comments to Muslim women…openly Muslim women by the way! So that’s fine and dandy, the police are non partisan when it suits!
DiamondLily
The policeman did right. He offered to escort the man across the road, after the procession had passed.
This man is an activist, and the whole thing looks a bit contrived.🙄
If there was no hatred and anti-semitism there would have been no need for any action on Falter's part.
Jews in this country are not responsible for the actions of the Israeli government.
Unless it is highlighted it will just carry on worsening in an insidious way.
GrannyGravy13
Callistemon21
teachkate
This young man was being deliberately provocative and argumentative.
I thought the police officer dealt with the difficult situation in a very quiet, tolerant, patient and professional manner - plus the young man wasn’t just wearing a kippah he was also carrying something wrapped in some red velvet material which had Hebrew writing on the front ??? The Torah perhaps? Anyway something which I’m sure he doesn’t carry around everyday!Read the reports.
It was a prayer shawl, a tallit. Is that not allowed to be carried in the UK in case it offends someone?
Then look at the photos of the protestors too and think about what you just said.I am absolutely speechless.
Imagine telling a Muslim not to wear a hijab, veil or burqa because it is provocative.
Imagine telling the pro Palestinians not to wear the Keffiyeh or wave their national flag because it is provocative.
However, it is reasonable to warn a Jewish man that he is outwardly Jewish looking due to his Kippah, and the fact he was carrying his tallit (Jewish prayer shawl) on his way back from the synagogue.
He was proving a point that pro-Palestinians are giving preference over Jews when it comes to freedom of movement in the U.K.
A very dangerous and frightening precedent…
But nobody told him not to wear a kippah. He was, as you say is reasonable, warned that wanting to walk through the march, with some marchers shouting antisemitic abuse, was likely to cause trouble given his obviously Jewish appearance. But he wanted trouble didn’t he, so that he could publicise it? Why couldn’t he have had the march filmed safely from the pavement (as Sky did) and publish the resulting video? The antisemitic chanting and abuse would have been heard. Because obviously that wasn’t enough for him. He was prepared to risk injury to himself and his companions in his search for something more newsworthy. He wasn’t proving that pro-Palestinians are given preference over Jews. He ended up proving that our police try to protect members of the public without fear or favour.
DiamondLily
The policeman did right. He offered to escort the man across the road, after the procession had passed.
This man is an activist, and the whole thing looks a bit contrived.🙄
Gideon Falter is Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism it’s a stain on the U.K. that there is a need for his organisation in 2024…
Germanshepherdsmum
GrannyGravy13
Callistemon21
teachkate
This young man was being deliberately provocative and argumentative.
I thought the police officer dealt with the difficult situation in a very quiet, tolerant, patient and professional manner - plus the young man wasn’t just wearing a kippah he was also carrying something wrapped in some red velvet material which had Hebrew writing on the front ??? The Torah perhaps? Anyway something which I’m sure he doesn’t carry around everyday!Read the reports.
It was a prayer shawl, a tallit. Is that not allowed to be carried in the UK in case it offends someone?
Then look at the photos of the protestors too and think about what you just said.I am absolutely speechless.
Imagine telling a Muslim not to wear a hijab, veil or burqa because it is provocative.
Imagine telling the pro Palestinians not to wear the Keffiyeh or wave their national flag because it is provocative.
However, it is reasonable to warn a Jewish man that he is outwardly Jewish looking due to his Kippah, and the fact he was carrying his tallit (Jewish prayer shawl) on his way back from the synagogue.
He was proving a point that pro-Palestinians are giving preference over Jews when it comes to freedom of movement in the U.K.
A very dangerous and frightening precedent…But nobody told him not to wear a kippah. He was, as you say is reasonable, warned that wanting to walk through the march, with some marchers shouting antisemitic abuse, was likely to cause trouble given his obviously Jewish appearance. But he wanted trouble didn’t he, so that he could publicise it? Why couldn’t he have had the march filmed safely from the pavement (as Sky did) and publish the resulting video? The antisemitic chanting and abuse would have been heard. Because obviously that wasn’t enough for him. He was prepared to risk injury to himself and his companions in his search for something more newsworthy. He wasn’t proving that pro-Palestinians are given preference over Jews. He ended up proving that our police try to protect members of the public without fear or favour.
He was prepared to risk injury to himself and his companions in his search for proof that anti-semitism is alive and thriving in the UK.
He was prepared to risk injury to himself
Isn't that what martyrs do?
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join the discussion, watch threads and lots more.
Register now »Already registered? Log in with:
Gransnet »Get our top conversations, latest advice, fantastic competitions, and more, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
