The feared disorder largely did not come to pass. The capital showed it rejected far-Right racism as thousands of Londoners stood together to defeat the threat. Indeed, the number of anti-racism protesters who took to the streets outnumbered the far-Right, with peaceful demonstrations taking place across the city.
For the police, a show of force — with thousands of officers on the street — helped to deter the mob. While the security operation remains ongoing, a concerted political response is now required. Attention will turn to the regulation around social media, which is able to carry and indeed promote dangerous falsehoods and conspiracy theories with what at times resembles impunity. The owner of one such platform, Elon Musk, appears to revel in amplifying tensions.
The riots that have taken place across the country involve relatively few people. But the threat of lawlessness and the hatred in people’s hearts — whether against Muslims, people of colour or anyone else — must act as a siren’s warning. For now, those who have engaged in violence and lawlessness must know they will be brought to justice.
Antisemitism persists
As the far-Right mob appears to be receding, racism from Left and Right against British Jews shows no signs of abating. An unprecedented number of antisemitic incidents took place in the first half of this year, according to the Community Security Trust. The nearly 2,000 incidents from January to June are double the number for the same period last year.
The appalling reality is that anti-Jewish hatred has permeated British society. It takes place in schools, on public transport and in the workplace. Just this week, a pro-Palestinian protest took place next to a performance of Fiddler on the Roof at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre — a play about Jewish history and antisemitism itself. If you are targeting such productions, your motivation is the hatred of Jews.
Attending a protest march calling for a ceasefire in Gaza or supporting the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for statehood is not antisemitic. But racism directed at Jews living thousands of miles from Israel does not assist a single Palestinian. Instead, it indicates that it is not injustice that the perpetrators oppose, but the existence of Jewish people anywhere.
News in briefs
Fashion, like much of culture, is context specific. That is why the budgie smuggler, sometimes mandatory on parts of the continent, must be exercised with a little more caution here in Britain.
For those perched uncomfortably on the fence, today’s Standard has a few choice words (and pictures) to help make up your minds.
