Jewish organisations have slammed a “hateful” pro-Palestine demonstration held during Passover.
The protest took place in Westcliff, near Southend in Essex, and was described by critics as a “hateful procession through the heart of a small Jewish community.”
Demonstrators marched through the streets, reportedly chanting “stop killing children” as Jewish families were making their way home from synagogue following Sabbath prayers.
Jewish organisation Campaign Against Antisemitism condemned the event, stating: “Even by the standards of the past 18 months, the march in Southend was despicable.
Demonstrators marched through the streets, reportedly chanting “stop killing children” as Jewish families were making their way home from synagogue following Sabbath prayers (Stock Image)
PA“Not only did police allow this march, despite it apparently being organised without the required legal notice, they took minimal action as marchers shouted ‘stop killing children’, a chilling echo of mediaeval blood-libels.”
The group further alleged that participants “displayed support for terrorist organisations banned in the UK” and that one of its volunteers, part of a demonstration and event-monitoring team, was assaulted during the protest.
Footage shared on social media appeared to show demonstrators carrying crosses and dressed in attire celebrating Christianity.
Marchers reportedly passed several synagogues while Jewish community members were observing Shabbat at the close of Passover.
MORE LIKE THIS:
The Community Security Trust (CST), which works to protect Jewish communities, denounced the march as a “deliberately antagonistic act”.
A spokesman said that individuals can choose when and where to protest, and that holding a pro-Palestinian demonstration of this nature near synagogues on the Sabbath was "a deliberately antagonistic act that we utterly condemn."
He added that such actions trigger fear in the local Jewish community and strain broader relations.
The CST also welcomed new police powers announced by the Home Secretary, saying they "cannot come into force a moment too soon."
Marchers reportedly passed several synagogues while Jewish community members were observing Shabbat at the close of Passover (Stock Image)
PAAmy Abdelnoor, 46, an Essex-based author who spoke at the rally, confirmed that demonstrators had chanted “stop killing babies,” but defended the slogan.
She argued that, given Unicef’s description of the situation as a war on children, the phrase “stop killing children” was entirely accurate.
Abdelnoor said: “We were calling on the Government to stop arming Israel, we were calling on the Israeli government to end the occupation, we were calling on the Israeli government to stop bombing Gaza and we were calling on the Israeli government to stop killing children.”
Responding to concerns voiced by Jewish groups, Abdelnoor rejected claims of provocation, stating: “There was no provocation whatsoever, and it was made very clear that this was presented as religious, but it’s not, it’s political. There were two speakers at the rally today who were Jewish, and one of them made very clear that he felt safe.”
She went on to criticise those linking the demonstration to religious insensitivity, calling it an “utterly disingenuous, cynical manipulation of the Jewish faith and utterly untrue.”
According to her, the timing and message of the march were ideological, not religious: “This has nothing to do with religion – it’s all to do with ideology.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Essex Police confirmed that officers had provided support to a group of Orthodox Jews near the protest, escorting them safely to the opposite side of the road as a precautionary measure.
