Political leaders have been invited to a rally opposing antisemitism on Sunday, with British Jews hoping the “silent majority” will join them for a “million mensch march” across central London. The prime minister, Keir Starmer, is considering attending the Standing Strong: Extinguish Antisemitism rally, which is backed by more than 30 Jewish groups, while the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is expected to speak. The Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, and the Liberal Democrats leader, Ed Davey, have also been invited, but the Green party leader, Zack Polanski, has not.
The rally has been organised in response to months of antisemitic violence, including multiple arson attacks on Jewish communities and the stabbing of two British Jews in Golders Green on 29 April. Suspected terrorist Essa Suleiman has been charged with attempted murder in relation to the stabbings. Polanski – who is Jewish – was accused of undermining police confidence by the Metropolitan police chief, Mark Rowley, after he shared a critical post of Suleiman’s arrest on social media. He later apologised for acting “in haste”.
Organisers of the rally, which will convene outside Downing Street at 1pm, say antisemitism is “out of control in Britain” and are hoping allies of the Jewish community will join British Jews on the march. Writing in the Jewish Chronicle, columnist Stephen Pollard called for non-Jewish British citizens to help the Jewish community turn the rally into “a million mensch march” – mensch being the Yiddish term for a person of integrity and exceptional character.
While the Jewish community is united in its opposition to antisemitism, thousands have expressed concern about the inclusion of Reform’s Nigel Farage among the invitees. Critics have pointed not only to claims of antisemitism made against Farage, but also to his often stated animosity towards immigrants, including refugees. Dr Ruvi Ziegler, a British-Israeli professor at the University of Reading, condemned the inclusion of Reform in the rally: “The far right, from criminal activist Tommy Robinson to Reform party politicians, are offering Jews a bear hug.”
Ziegler and others who are part of grassroots organisation We Democracy have coordinated an open letter to the organisers of the rally – the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council – raising concerns about the inclusion of Reform UK. The letter, signed by more than 2,000 people, calls for the organisers of the rally to withdraw the invitation to Farage and ensure that the event genuinely reflects the values of “dignity, accountability, inclusion and solidarity”.
Michael Wegier, executive director of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, told Haaretz that Reform UK “is a serious party with many supporters, local councillors, and an increasing number of members of Parliament from month to month, which cannot be ignored. They have also expressed very broad support for the fight against antisemitism. There was no way we would not invite them.” He added: “We did not invite the Greens’ Zack Polanski because we very strongly do not believe he has done enough to root out antisemitism from his party.” A spokesperson for the Jewish Leadership Council said: “We hope Sunday’s rally will be a demonstration of support for the Jewish community from across British society.”
