The Campaign Against Antisemitism Cancels March Due to Threats
The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) has decided to cancel its “Walk Together” march initially scheduled to take place in central London on Saturday. The cancellation came after the charity received numerous threats and identified hostile actors that posed a risk to the safety of attendees.
The CAA had planned the march to coincide with a demonstration by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), but due to security concerns and threats, the event was called off on Friday. The charity explained that the monitoring had detected potential risks to the safety of Jewish people attending the march.
The CAA anticipated a large turnout for the “Walk Together” march but expressed concerns about the safety of attendees. The charity stated that the decision to cancel was influenced by the significant number of individuals intending to participate who may not adhere to safety protocols, making it difficult to ensure everyone’s well-being.
Regarding the threats received and the presence of hostile actors, the CAA expressed its reluctance to proceed with the event, emphasizing the safety of individuals who wanted to openly walk as Jews in London.
The CAA had discussions with Home Secretary James Cleverly and minister for policing Chris Philp to propose changes in how pro-Palestinian demonstrations are handled by Scotland Yard. The organization emphasized the need for the police to police such events rather than merely manage them.
London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed the cancellation of the CAA event. However, the police mentioned the possibility of rescheduling the event and ensuring a viable policing plan for future marches, acknowledging the heightened concerns of participants.
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Scotland Yard outlined the PSC’s protest route via Whitehall, Piccadilly, and Park Lane, ending in Hyde Park. Additionally, a static demonstration by the pro-Israel Enough Is Enough group will be held in Pall Mall.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist emphasized the police force’s commitment to facilitating peaceful protests while maintaining public order and ensuring the safety of all individuals. He acknowledged the particular fears in Jewish communities following recent events and expressed the importance of addressing such concerns.
Since the October 7 terror attacks in Israel, pro-Palestinian protests in London have led to 450 arrests, with 193 involving anti-Semitic offenses. There have been 15 arrests related to terrorism, primarily for supporting banned organizations like Hamas.
‘Openly Jewish’
The Met Police faced criticism after CAA’s Chief Executive Gideon Falter was threatened with arrest for being “openly Jewish” during a pro-Palestine demonstration on April 13. The incident led to a public apology from the police.
In a subsequent video posted by the CAA, Mr. Falter was seen being confronted by police officers and warned about potential disruptions caused by his presence as an openly Jewish individual.
Mr. Twist issued an apology for the incident but received criticism for the statement, leading to another apology from Scotland Yard over the handling of the situation.
PA Media and Lily Zhou contributed to this report.
