Written by Anisa Qadri, in Central London and Nathan WilliamsBBC News
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in central London in a demonstration against anti-Semitism.
Organizers estimate that 100,000 people participated in the first march of its kind since the start of the war between Israel and Gaza, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The demonstration comes amid a sharp rise in hate crimes, especially against the capital’s Jewish community.
Police arrested English Defense League founder Tommy Robinson – who had been asked not to attend by organizers.
There were fears that he might disrupt the demonstration.
The Metropolitan Police later said two people had been arrested. In addition to Mr Robinson, 40, who was arrested at the start of the march, police arrested a man for making anti-Semitic comments as crowds were leaving Whitehall.
A large crowd gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice and made their way along Whitehall to Parliament Square, where a mass meeting was held.
Participants were seen carrying placards with slogans such as “Shoulder with British Jews” and “Never again now.”
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis told the crowd in Parliament Square that British Jews “will not be intimidated” by anti-Semitism.
He said: “We call for strengthening community cohesion and will forever be proud to champion the finest British values.”
The Campaign Against Antisemitism estimates Sunday’s march is the largest such gathering since 2008 Battle of Cable Street In 1936, when supporters of the British Union of Fascists were banned from marching through East London, an area with a large Jewish population at the time.
Many well-known faces were seen in the audience, including TV personalities Vanessa Feltz and Robert Rinder and actors Tracey Ann Oberman, Elliot Levy and Maureen Lipman.
Countdown host Rachel Riley told the crowd: “We have learned from history the high price to pay when good people remain silent, and I am grateful to each and every one of you here today for refusing to be spectators.”
Actor Eddie Marsan gave a speech urging “moderate people in this country to stand up and confront extremism, intolerance, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and all forms of racism.”
Comedian David Baddiel, who attended the march, described the day as “emotional, relatable, well-attended and shameful”.
“No one had any idea where we were going or who was talking,” he joked. “It was an indication, as always, of how Jews don’t really run the world.”
Besides Boris Johnson, among the political figures present were Security Minister Tom Tugenhadet, Immigration Secretary Robert Jenrick and Labour’s Shadow Science Minister Peter Kyle.
Racially motivated crimes against the Jewish people have increased significantly since the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Gaza.
There were 554 reports of anti-Semitic crimes in London between October 1 and November 1 in London, compared to 44 in the same period last year.
Hate crimes related to Islamophobia are also on the rise, reaching 220 crimes in the same period, compared to 78 crimes last year.
Sunday’s march against anti-Semitism comes after… The last major pro-Palestinian demonstration will be held in London Since renewed fighting in the Middle East.
The Metropolitan Police said 18 people were arrested “during a major police operation” carried out around the pro-Palestinian march on Saturday, although the “overwhelming majority” protested lawfully, according to a statement.
The force has come under pressure for guarding pro-Palestinian demonstrations, and it has done so He pledged to suppress banners and chants Which is considered a hate crime.
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