Lammy: It ‘wasn’t pleasant’ being booed at Manchester synagogue vigil
Deputy PM acknowledges 'Jewish community felt under tremendous attack'
David Lammy has acknowledged that “it wasn’t pleasant” to be jeered by Jewish mourners in Manchester as he delivered a speech the day after the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation terror attack.
Reflecting on the bad reception he received at a vigil for the synagogue attack, Lammy told ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston, “It wasn’t pleasant, but obviously, in 25 years in politics, you have to keep things in perspective. The Jewish community felt under tremendous attack—it was under attack—and amazing volunteers saved lives.”
The attack on October 2 at Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue, which occurred on Yom Kippur, left two people dead and three injured.
During the vigil, protesters shouted “shame on you” and “you have blood on your hands” at Labour’s deputy leader.
At one point, the Deputy Prime Minister had to pause his speech while the crowd was asked to let him continue.
In the interview, Lammy added, “I represent Stamford Hill, one of our historic Jewish communities. There are tremendous sensitivities and vulnerabilities in relation to rising antisemitism and people who would poke and point, name-call and peddle hate, never mind also commit crimes against people on the basis of their religion.
“So I recognise that as an ethnic minority myself. I also recognise that pain and hurt—it’s not personal to me, but clearly there are demands on the government to keep all communities safe.”
He continued, “That is why the Home Secretary has set out that there will be some changes to the way we marshal and supervise protests, and there’s more support that we’ve got to put in to support Jewish communities who are feeling vulnerable at this time.”
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