Video Of Police From London Protest Creates Debate
The Metropolitan Police is facing widespread criticism after a video surfaced showing an officer threatening to arrest a Jewish man for his “openly Jewish” appearance. The man, Gideon Falter, was returning from a synagogue service and was wearing a traditional skullcap, known as a kippah. The incident occurred during a pro-Hamas and anti-Israel march in London over the weekend.
The video, released by the British Campaign Against Antisemitism, shows a police officer ordering Falter not to cross the street because his presence was deemed “provocative” to the mob of anti-Israel protesters. The cop accused Falter of “a breach of peace with all these other people,” and threatened him with arrest. Falter was accompanied by five other people, some of whom were also wearing skullcaps.
The CEO of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, Gideon Falter, spoke out about the incident, calling it a “disgrace.” He said, “Imagine what it felt like to be told by police officers that being ‘quite openly Jewish’ would ‘antagonize’ people, and so I must leave the area on pain of arrest.” Falter also spoke about the statement issued by the Metropolitan Police commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, in which he called Falter’s presence “provocative.” Falter believes that the commissioner’s actions have shown that the Metropolitan Police does not understand the severity of the situation and that there needs to be a change in leadership.
We have decided to release additional footage. Imagine what it feels like to be Jewish and treated in this way by a crowd of police officers.
It is the right of every Londoner, Jewish or not, to walk freely around the city. If police threaten Jews with arrest for doing so or… pic.twitter.com/3jWyTwQK6G
— Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) April 19, 2024
The incident has sparked outrage and calls for the resignation of Sir Mark Rowley. Many critics believe that the police’s handling of the situation shows a failure to properly impose order on the streets of London. In response to the backlash, Rowley told Fox News Digital, “Every member of the Met is determined to ensure that London is a city in which everyone feels safe.” He also apologized for the incident and stated that the police would continue to execute their duties with “courage, empathy, and impartiality.”
In a Sunday article published in the Times of London, Falter wrote about the events that took place during the anti-Israel march. He described how the crowd started shouting insults and slurs at him and his companions, including “disgusting,” “lock them up,” and “Nazis.” He also noted that there were no bystanders speaking up against the hatred being spewed. Falter also expressed his concerns over the police’s failure to address the issue, stating that they have created a “no-go zone” for Jews in central London and that it is now a “police-enforced Jew-free zone.”
Earlier we posted a statement about a video released on Thursday evening by the Campaign Against Antisemitism.
That statement has now been removed. We apologise for the offence it caused. pic.twitter.com/W8tKaqRiDY
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) April 19, 2024
Former British home secretary, Suella Braverman, also spoke out against the police’s handling of the situation. She called for Rowley’s resignation, stating, “Either this is gross incompetence, or it’s a culture coming from the top, where thugs are free to intimidate and harass while the rest of us have to keep our mouths shut and stay out of the way.” She also believes that the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, needs to take action to address the issue.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of Jewish Londoners and the rise of antisemitism in the city. Israel’s minister tasked with combating antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, has called London the “world’s most antisemitic city.” Rabbi Abraham Cooper, an international expert on antisemitism, has accused the mayor and the police of contributing to an environment where British Jewish taxpayers are seen as more of a threat than anti-Israel protesters.
In response to the accusations, a spokesperson for Khan stated, “The mayor speaks with members of the Jewish community regularly, and despite their ongoing and real concerns, most don’t agree with the extent of the language used by the minister.” They also added that the mayor is focused on bringing communities together instead of inflaming divisions.
The British Home Office has also weighed in on the issue, saying, “We welcome the Met’s apology, and recognize the complexities of policing fast-moving public protests.” They also stated that simply being Jewish, or of any other race or religion, should never be seen as provocative.