UK Police Urge Cancellation of Protest Following Manchester Attack, Sparking Debate Over Demonstrations and Community Grief
Following a deadly incident in Manchester where a man, identified as the perpetrator of car ramming and stabbing attacks near a synagogue, was shot dead by police, UK authorities are urging the cancellation of a planned protest. The attacks resulted in the deaths of two individuals from the Jewish community.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Stephen Watson revealed on Friday that a preliminary forensic examination suggests one of the victims may have died from a gunshot wound,with police being the only source of gunfire in the incident.
The Metropolitan Police issued a statement requesting that the protest,organized by the group Defend Our Juries,be called off. This call echoes similar sentiments expressed by Home secretary Shabana Mahmood,who advocated for a period of quiet reflection for the Jewish community to grieve.Mahmood expressed disappointment that organizers had not heeded the request to postpone the presentation and urged solidarity with the families of the victims and the wider Jewish community. She also condemned protests held the previous night as “fundamentally un-British” and “dishonourable.”
Thursday’s protest outside Downing Street led to 40 arrests, including six individuals accused of assaulting police officers.
The incident has ignited a debate regarding demonstrations and their potential impact. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis voiced concerns over the continuation of marches supporting Palestine Action, alleging some contain antisemitic rhetoric and support for hamas, and directly linking these demonstrations to the manchester attack.
However, the article notes that hundreds of thousands of people, including many Jews, have participated in peaceful weekly protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza over the past two years, with no evidence of violent intent or support for Hamas. These protests have occured amidst a conflict that has resulted in over 66,000 deaths and 168,346 injuries in Gaza due to israeli bombardment and a ground invasion.
In August, over 300 British Jewish figures, including Jenny Manson of Jewish Voice for Labour, signed a letter protesting the government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist institution.The letter also called for government action regarding israel’s conduct in Gaza and the West Bank. These largely peaceful rallies have been met with a critically important police presence and numerous arrests.
