Jewish bloc in Stop Trump protests through London ‘transcends community lines’
Organisers say that Jews of all stripes are opposed to the 'hate Trump represents' and will be protesting along with thousands of others during the US president's UK visit
Organisers of a “Jewish bloc” in the protests against Donald Trump in central London have said that Jewish opposition to the hatred he represents “transcends the community’s dividing lines”.
As banners and placards were being made on Friday morning, plans were being made to hold a Friday night service in St James’ Park after the march and rally in Trafalgar Square, where Dr Edie Friedman of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality (JCORE) was due to speak to tens of thousands of people.
“The Jewish bloc within the Stop Trump protests has been independently organised by individuals to get support from across the community,” said Amos Schonfield, who was part of the organising team.
“After the march and the rally we thought a Kabbalat Shabat service in St James’ Park was the right way to end. It’s going to be an amazing carnival.”
More than 100 British Jews protested the Government’s inaction on refugees and Schonfield said Trump tapped into some of the same values.
“For me, Trump is a threat to democracy, decency and people all around the world,” he said. “My Judaism has taught me to stand up to people like him and stand up for the values we hold dear.”
He said that while the Jewish community “has its plate full right now, individuals like us want to stand up to the hate Trump represents,” adding: “It transcends the dividing lines of our community. We’re going to have teenagers marching with us as well as those who have retired. It’s going to be a beautiful sight.”
Friedman will tell Trafalgar Square crowds that “along with others in the anti-racist community, we were shocked by the tone of Trump’s presidential campaign and his subsequent behaviour”.
She said: “We need as a response to Trump and to our own Government, to reinvigorate the refugee welcome movement and make sure Britain honours its commitment to a fair asylum system, so people can have faith in legal routes to come to Britain and live here with dignity.”
She added a final message to Trump, saying: “Through your statements and policies you have helped to normalise the rising tide of racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. You do not speak for us.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
