Labour councillor to skip protest over concern lineup could foster Jew-hate

A Labour councillor has revealed he is skipping tomorrow’s anti-government protest in Parliament Square over concerns the lineup could foster Jew-hate.

Demonstrations pushing for a general election, organised by the People’s Assembly, have been planned for Tuesday as MPs return to Westminster.

Among speakers confirmed to attend are MPs Laura Pidcock, Richard Burgon, Dan Carden, and Laura Smith, and activists Tariq Ali, Eddie Dempsey, Lindsey German, Kevin Courtney and PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka.

Guardian columnist Owen Jones and Novara Media contributing editor Ash Sarkar had originally confirmed their attendance, but withdrew from speaking last week.

“I pulled out of speaking at the demo next week. It’s not a no platform – the organisers can invite who they want – but sharing this one isn’t for me,” Sarkar tweeted.

North Warwickshire Borough Cllr Jack Deakin, 21, said he will not be joining the protest despite supporting its overall message.

“I personally would like to support the message of the protest which is against Boris Johnson’s actions but unfortunately I don’t feel I can attend,” he said.

“I do believe that either antisemitic tropes will be used or antisemitic people will be attending, when you look at the list of speakers.

“If I went I would feel like I am in an antisemitic atmosphere because I believe that the things that these people have said are antisemitic or ignored antisemitism.”

The councillor accused MPs Carden and Pidcock of “ignoring the antisemitism crisis” and criticised Burgon for previously claiming “Zionism is the enemy of the peace”.

Cllr Deakin also expressed concern about past statements made by Ali, who claimed Israel is to blame for the rise of Jew-hate in the UK, and Serwotka, who suggested the Jewish state created the row to distract attention from “atrocities”, according to reports.

The People’s Assembly have been reached for comment.