Nearly two years after the October 7 Hamas attacks and the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, thousands of demonstrators marched through central London on Sunday to denounce rising antisemitism in the UK and around the Jewish world.
The event began at Hallam Street and paused outside Broadcasting House, the headquarters of the BBC. There, stand-up comedian and activist Josh Howie addressed the crowd, calling on the government to “defund the BBC.”
“The BBC is a danger to Jews,” he said. “The BBC is no longer an arbiter of truth. Here is a fact for you, BBC: Hamas is a terrorist organization. Hamas started a war. There is no famine. There is no genocide.”
Chief rabbi, public figures lead the protest
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis was among the high-profile figures who led the march, alongside Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) Chief Executive Gideon Falter, Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg, Minister for Levelling Up Michael Gove, shadow attorney-general David Wolfson, actress Louisa Clein, and social media personality Dov Forman.
In remarks to The Jewish Chronicle, Mirvis said: “It is so sad, so tragic that it is necessary for us to do this. But just have a look at all the thousands of people. We've got an incredible Jewish community, and what is very significant is we've got lots of non-Jewish friends who have come out in great numbers here today.
“So I’m so impressed by the resilience, the strength, and the fortitude of our community at this time.”
Gove added: “It is absolutely vital that people from every background stand with the Jewish community at this time. There has been an unprecedented level of hatred and prejudice directed towards the Jewish community – both on our streets and online.
“We must send a clear message that we are against prejudice and hate and in favor of tolerance and inclusion. History teaches us that the safety of the Jewish community is closely tied to how free, open, and strong a society is.”
Antisemitism in the UK at near-record levels
One in five Britons holds antisemitic views, a YouGov poll commissioned by Campaign Against Antisemitism also revealed on Sunday.
Recent incidents have included the forced removal of a Jewish chaplain and his family from a university campus, a swastika spray-painted on the home of a Chabad rabbi, and feces smeared on the walls of a synagogue in north London.
Prior to the march, Falter said the UK was undergoing a profound shift: “Something is happening in our country. Civil discourse and reasoned debate are giving way to sectarianism and extremism. Stages are being given to those who glorify terrorism, and taken away from those who do not conform.
“Jews are being chased down the street. Jews are being targeted for racist pranks. Jews are being harassed on public transport. Jews are being targeted on campus. These extremists are bullies – and the only way to defeat a bully is to stand up and say: enough.”
March ends at Parliament Square
The procession passed the Cenotaph and ended at Parliament Square. Participants carried placards, Union Jacks, and Israeli flags. Among those present were representatives of Christian Action Against Antisemitism and the UK’s Iranian community.
Despite the grave message, parts of the march had a celebratory atmosphere, with Hebrew songs ringing out along the route. Many participants chanted for the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza – 48 are still believed to be captive more than 700 days after their abduction.