Young Jews in anti-racism demonstration
AROUND 150 young British Jews staged an impromptu demonstration in London’s Hampstead Garden Suburb on Sunday to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.
Protesters stationed themselves at various points on the busy A1 road at the junction of Market Place, holding placards declaring support for the global campaign against anti-black racism, while also calling for justice for those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire and the Windrush scandal.
Passing motorists passing sounded their horns in support of the demo, which continued throughout Sunday afternoon.
The event had been organised by a loose-knit group of Jewish members of a Facebook group titled ‘Jews in Solidarity with BLM — North London Protest’.
While representatives from groups such as the Jewish Labour Movement and Yachad were present, one organiser said it was “heartening to see how many people had just come along spontaneously — not just the usual suspects”.
Rebecca Moss and Rachel Rose, who helped organise the protest, said: “It is important in the Jewish community for us to stand up and show our support for Black Lives Matter and to stand in solidarity with Black British communities and with black Jews in particular, as well as other Jews of colour.
“We are glad to have seen so many people from different backgrounds and of varying ages, and it’s important that many could attend their first protest in such a supportive atmosphere.
“This cannot be the end of the essential conversation and action in our communities and in British society at large.’’
During the afternoon, Senior Masorti Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, former Labour MP Luciana Berger and Senior Rabbi to Reform Judaism Laura JannerKlausner were among those to stop and show their support.
Liron Velleman, another of those behind the Facebook group that called for the protest, said: “This has been a spontaneous event that has built up over the last few days among young people in the community who thought they should do more to use their voices to promote the voices of black people in this country — and across the world.”
It is understood there had been plans for a “Jewish bloc” at Saturday’s demonstration in central London but that was stopped after BLM organisers urged people to stay away because of the far-right protest, which saw shocking scenes of violence.
On Sunday Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl condemned the actions of the far-right at Saturday’s protests. She said: “The far-right remind us that they are part of the problem, not part of the solution in our society.”
This cannot be the end of the conversation in our communities’