Vigil against antisemitism tonight, 30th December at 5.30pm in north London

A series of antisemitic graffiti appeared on shops and a synagogue in north London in the Hampstead and Belsize Park areas yesterday, 29th December.

Extracts from a report in the Guardian are reposted below, as well as some photos of the graffiti.

In response, Stand Up To Racism, together with three other organisations has called a vigil  this evening at 5.30pm outside Snappy Snaps, 80 Rosslyn Hill, NW3 1ND.

Jewish Voice for Labour joins all those who have condemned these senseless and deeply disturbing manifestations of race hatred and calls on all who can make it at short notice to join the vigil.

Details of the vigil at https://www.facebook.com/events/613126946127782/

 

 


London synagogue and shops targeted with antisemitic graffiti

Reference to conspiracy theory spray-painted on premises in Hampstead and Belsize Park

Antisemitic graffiti sprayed across a synagogue and shops in north London during the Jewish festival of Hanukah has been condemned as “disgusting” and “senseless”.

The Jewish holy symbol and the numbers 911 were spray-painted in red and purple on premises in the Hampstead and Belsize Park area, including South Hampstead Synagogue. The numbers may refer to an antisemitic conspiracy theory that Jews were responsible for the 9/11 terror attack; others fear it is a reference to Kristallnacht, the violent pogrom against Jews on 9 November 1938 in Nazi Germany.

Police are investigating the incident as a suspected racially motivated hate crime. The defacement coincided with a knife attack in New York at a rabbi’s home, which injured five people.

The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who faced criticism during the election campaign over his party’s record in confronting antisemitism, tweeted: “How terrible that Chanukah started with a message of hope and on this last day we face antisemitic graffiti in London and horrific stabbings at a party in New York. We stand with all our communities facing hate. We send love and solidarity to Jewish communities around the world.”

In a statement released on Sunday evening, South Hampstead Synagogue confirmed it had been the subject of an antisemitic attack.

“As a community, we regret the rise of hate speech in society,” it said. “Social media is polluted with xenophobia, Islamophobia, homophobia, misogyny, racism and antisemitism. Sadly, these things are connected.

“This is a time for people of all backgrounds – of all faiths and of none – to stand united and show our determination that we do not tolerate prejudice, hate and division – on our streets or online.”

Oliver Cooper, a Conservative councillor for Hampstead, said he had spent Sunday morning patrolling the neighbourhood after “appalled” residents alerted the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that works to protect the Jewish community.

“My first reaction was shock and horror,” Cooper said. “I’ve had to report antisemitic graffiti in Hampstead a number of times before, including by a banned neo-Nazi group, but I have never seen anything approaching this extent.”

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