Jewish bloc returns to London Pride as individual ‘antisemitic incidents’ condemned
While Stop the Hate criticised episodes of 'antisemitic hate', they stressed that 'the overwhelming response was one of warmth and welcome'
Police have confirmed they are investigating videos which appear to show Jewish participants in London’s Pride parade this past weekend being verbally abused, though organisers of the Jewish bloc have refused to let the incidents mar what has been described as an overwhelmingly positive experience.
Videos which circulated on social media after Saturday’s event showed Jewish marchers targeted by some in the crowd. One video showed someone telling a Jewish person, standing next to both a rainbow coloured Star of David flag and an Israeli flag, to “Go back to your Zionist homeland, because it won’t last much longer”, also saying “you kill Arab children, you kill gay children”. Another video showed a participant being repeatedly asked “how many babies did they kill?”
The Metropolitan Police were present at the event, with a spokesperson telling Jewish News that “Officers are currently reviewing footage to assess and investigate. The Met continues to work hard to tackle hate crimes of all types and officers across London have made more than 90 hate crime arrests since the end of March”.
Jewish attendees stressed that the day itself had been a primarily positive experience. One said that the incidents were “not reflective of that day”, adding that “there were far more people who joined who came and danced with us than people who came and shouted abuse”.
The same participant was also quick to point out that the footage circulating on social media did not occur during the march itself, but at an after party for Jewish participants.
There was significant happiness at the fact that an official Jewish bloc was again present at London Pride itself. The bloc had been absent for the last two years, with the UK’s most prominent Jewish LGBT organisation, Keshet UK, writing last year that “we feel unable to say to British Jews that Pride in London has done everything in their power to keep us safe. We desperately wish this was not the case.”
Writing for Jewish News, Max Royston, co-founder and primary spokesperson of Stop the Hate UK, described how “After three years of being told, in a hundred quiet ways, that LGBTQ+ Jews complicated things, the loudest sound on the street was a welcome.”
Royston went on to describe how “you can stage a photograph. You cannot fake the noise of thousands of strangers deciding, in the moment, that they are pleased to see you.”
Reflecting on the future of Jews at Pride, another attendee said: “From Harvey Milk to Larry Kramer, and so many of the big LGBTQ activists – it’s a movement that we helped build and it’s a movement that we absolutely have a place in”.
In an official response from Stop the Hate UK to the video footage, the group said: “Saturday’s Jewish Pride was a triumph of joy over hatred. Stop the Hate was proud to celebrate with people of every race, faith and background, and to stand alongside LGBTQ+ Jews as we claimed our place at Pride.
“The overwhelming response was one of warmth and welcome. However, there were some incidents of antisemitic hate. People who came to celebrate love and identity were subject to abuse, as these videos show. We call on the Met police
to pursue those responsible for these incidents – to treat these instances as they do hate towards other groups. Antisemitism is a crime, and it must be treated as one.
“To everyone who danced with us on Saturday: thank you. You were the story. And you are why we will keep showing up, every year, with pride.”
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