In a powerful show of solidarity, religious leaders from across the United Kingdom have come together to declare that antisemitism is “a problem for all of us to fix.” An open letter, coordinated by the Together Coalition and published ahead of a rally outside Downing Street, has been signed by prominent figures from faith, business, sport, and media.
Rising Antisemitic Attacks
The letter follows a series of attacks on the Jewish community, including the stabbing of two men in Golders Green on April 29. It states: “The spectre of Jewish people being stabbed at random in the street, killed defending their synagogues and Jewish infrastructure being firebombed feel like a nightmare from another time. A throwback to grainy images of somewhere else, not delivered in technicolour from the streets of London in 2026.”
The signatories emphasise that this is not an issue for the Jewish community alone to address. “This is not a problem for Jewish people to have to respond to. This is a problem for all of us to fix,” the letter reads. “As leaders of British organisations – with different views on faith, politics, foreign policy and pretty much everything else – we come together today to send a message to our Jewish brothers and sisters. This country belongs to you as much as any of us.”
Broad Coalition of Support
Among the signatories are the Football Association, the Premier League, faith leaders from the Church of England, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Zoroastrian communities, the National Lottery Community Fund, the Women’s Institute, and many others across media, sport, and charities.
Brendan Cox, co-founder of the Together Coalition, said: “This is an incredibly powerful statement of solidarity with the British Jewish community from every section of our society. But it’s more than that, it’s a commitment to action to fight antisemitism together. That’s what we urgently need.” He added: “Too often antisemitism is seen as a problem just for the Jewish community. It’s not. It’s a cancer in our society that undermines the kind of inclusive country that we all want to build.”
Muslim Leaders Join Call
Julie Siddiqi, co-chair of the UK Muslim Network and a signatory, stated: “Antisemitism is real, it’s growing and it’s totally unacceptable. We have a duty not just to condemn it – but to take it on wherever we find it, including in our own communities.” She highlighted the shared experience of facing hatred: “As British Muslims we know what it’s like to face hatred and violence because of our faith – that shared experience should make British Jews and British Muslims allies in tackling extremism.”
Rally Outside Downing Street
Organisers of the protest against antisemitism, scheduled for Sunday at 1pm outside Downing Street, expect thousands to attend. Speakers including the Chief Rabbi will feature at the rally, which is organised by the Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis responded to the letter, saying: “This letter is a powerful riposte to the hateful extremists who have targeted the Jewish community in recent weeks. It is heartening to see some of Britain’s best-known institutions from the world of business, sport, faith and civil society standing together against anti-Jewish hatred.” He expressed hope that others would follow suit: “My hope is that where these institutions have led, others will follow, in workplaces, boardrooms, classrooms and on social media, so that we can finally begin to tackle this scourge together.”
Call to Face Down Extremists
Keith Black, chairman of the Jewish Leadership Council, urged the public to attend: “For two and a half years we have warned about the staggering rise in antisemitism in this country. Yet, antisemitism in Britain is not just rising, it is escalating into deadly acts of violence and terror. This Sunday at 1pm, people will gather outside Downing Street to stand against this hatred and face down extremists. It should not just be Jews who turn up. British values are being challenged by antisemites, and we have to stand against it together.”
Police Response and Security Measures
The Metropolitan Police announced this week a community protection team of 100 extra officers to help safeguard the Jewish community, despite Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley's previous call for 300 additional officers. Rowley warned of a growing “pandemic” of antisemitism in the UK and expressed concern about the sustainability of the force’s current approach to protecting Jewish communities.
Following the Golders Green attack, the UK terrorism threat level was raised to “severe” by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, meaning a terror attack is “highly likely.”
