Thousands expected at anti-Semitism protest
LEADING Jewish figures are to come together in Manchester for a massive protest against antiSemitism.
Thousands of people are expected to attend what organisers say will be a ‘significant show of feeling’ over a ‘frightening’ rise in abuse aimed at the Jewish community.
It comes as the number of anti-Semitic incidents in the UK is at its highest since records began in the 1980s.
There doesn’t appear to be one clear reason for the spike, but the rise of both the far right and hard left, social media and the ongoing anti-Semitism row within the Labour Party are all thought to have contributed.
Raphi Bloom, from the North West Friends of Israel, one of 32 Jewish organisations backing the September 16 protest, said the toxic combination had led to a culture where ‘people have become emboldened to air age-old antiSemitic tropes with no fear of repercussions.’
He said: “Anti-Semitism is on the rise – the Jewish community has been feeling under pressure for a number of months.
“It was felt that Manchester, as the second largest Jewish community in the UK, wanted to make their voices heard. To say that they are feeling the pressure of antiSemitism.
“We are proud British Jews. We want to live in this country and contribute to this country as we have done for centuries, but enough is enough.
“The abuse we have been suffering online and in person is terrible. It is now acceptable to abuse Jews for a having a number of different views. There is no civility any more. Ninety per cent of British Jews in this country are Zionists – they believe in the state of Israel – but for that we get called Nazis and child killers and our loyalties are questioned. It is a horrible time.”
Speakers at the rally, which takes place from noon to 2pm at Cathedral Gardens, on Sunday, September 16, include the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, several local MPs, including Withington’s Jeff Smith, Bury South’s Ivan Lewis and Manchester Central’s Lucy Powell, and Manchester council leader Richard Leese.