An anti-Semitic activist has called on the Metropolitan Police chief to resign after he was called an “open Jew” by a police officer at a pro-Palestinian march in London and threatened with arrest.
Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, said Jewish Londoners cannot have confidence in the Met under Sir Mark Rowley and accused the commissioner of “blaming the victim” after the incident .
Mr Falter has Received two apologies released from police Video clip showing exchange He clashed with Scotland Yard officers as the parade passed through Aldwych in central London on Saturday.
“Would you arrest me if I stayed here?”
Former home secretary Suella Braverman also called for Sir Mark to resign following the incident, describing the events of the past six months as “one failure after another for the Met”.
exist An article in The Daily Telegraphshe wrote, “After a string of failures and a blanket refusal to change, the Met commissioner needs to be held accountable. And he must step down.”
In the video, a police officer appears to stop Mr Falter from crossing the road and tells him: “You are openly Jewish. This is a pro-Palestinian march. I’m not accusing you of anything but I’m worried about people’s reaction to you ‘s visit.
Mr Falter, who was wearing a yarmulke, said he was just passing by after visiting the synagogue when he was threatened with arrest if he did not leave the area.
He told Sky News: “I think it’s disgraceful and I can’t understand how the police can see a Jew walking down the street and decide that that person is a threat and they need to get rid of that person instead of everyone else around them.” People yelled insults but because I was walking down the street as a Jew.
“This is a farce, this happened last Saturday and on Friday they were still putting out a statement blaming us, it’s victim blaming. They said you were walking down the street and this was a provocation. You shared Video, which made everyone watch bad.
“It’s not like someone from below was saying something, Mark Rowley sent his assistant commissioner to make this statement, it’s a statement from the top. We’ve been waiting six months for the Met to get these crowds under control, get them under control streets and make London safe for law-abiding Londoners, but he failed to do that.
“I think it’s time for Mark Rowley to step down and he should either resign or be sacked by the mayor and home secretary.”
Sir Mark Rowley said he wanted to reiterate the Met’s apology in person
Sir Mark said: “Everyone at the Met is determined to ensure London is a city where everyone feels safe.
“We fully understand how vulnerable London’s Jewish and Muslim people have been feeling since the terrorist attacks on Israel.”
Acknowledging that “some of our actions contributed to this concern”, he added: “I personally reiterate our apology from earlier this week.
“Today, as always, our officers will continue to police with courage, empathy and fairness.”
Home Secretary James Cleverly and London Mayor Sadiq Khan both said the police were right to apologize, and Police Minister Chris Philp said he would meet Sir Mark next week.
January: Thousands attend pro-Palestinian march
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In his first apology, Metropolitan Police Assistant Chief Constable Matt Twist insisted Mr Falter’s appearance may have been “provocative”, but walked back that view in a second statement.
“It is deeply regrettable that one of our police officers used the term ‘overtly Jewish,’” the statement said.
“We know this will offend many people. We reiterate our apology.
“We have reflected on the intensity of the response to our previous statement. In trying to demonstrate policing of the protests, we caused further offense. This was never our intention. We have removed the statement and apologize.
“Being Jewish is not a provocation. Jewish Londoners must be able to feel safe in this city.”
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