Statement comes after Met police apologised for calling antisemitism campaigner ‘openly Jewish’
Being Jewish “should never be seen as provocative”, the government has said after a row over the policing of a pro-Palestine march.
In a video released by Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), the charity’s chief executive, Gideon Falter, who was wearing a kippah skull cap, was told by a Met officer at a pro-Palestine march last Saturday: “You are quite openly Jewish, this is a pro-Palestinian march. I’m not accusing you of anything but I’m worried about the reaction to your presence.”
He later said Falter’s presence was “antagonising” and that he would be escorted out of the area for “causing a breach of peace”.
In another clip released by the CAA on Friday night, Falter was told by the same officer he could not cross the road while the march was ongoing, with his faith being “part of the factor”.
On Friday, the Met issued two statements. The first said the officer’s “poor” choice of words was “hugely regrettable”. It also said: “In recent weeks we’ve seen a new trend emerge, with those opposed to the main protests appearing along the route to express their views. The fact that those who do this often film themselves while doing so suggests they must know that their presence is provocative.
