British Jews ‘will not remain silent’ amid reports of post-Brexit racism
The Board of Deputies says "the Jewish community knows all too well these feelings of vulnerability and will not remain silent"
Reports of post-Brexit racist harassment and abuse has been condemned by British Jewish leaders.
Following the decision to leave the European Union last week, the Board of Deputies of British Jews said it was alarmed by the reports of racism.
In a statement, they said it was up to the Government to “make it absolutely clear that EU nationals and other minorities resident in the United Kingdom are protected and valued.”
Chief Executive Gillian Merron added: “It is important during these times of political uncertainty in our country to ensure that nobody feels vulnerable and threatened. Everyone, including European Union citizens and other minorities resident in the UK, has the right to security and protection from hate speech.
“The Jewish community knows all too well these feelings of vulnerability and will not remain silent in the face of a reported rise in racially motivated harassment.”
Their comments come before David Cameron condemned “despicable” racism directed at immigrants and ethnic minority Britons after the vote to leave the European Union.
The Prime Minister hit out at those who have abused EU immigrants and black or Asian people as he insisted the country “will not stand for hate crime”.
Mr Cameron also stood by his warnings about the risks of Brexit, stressing there would now be “adjustments” in the economy, the threat of the UK breaking up, and “challenging negotiations” with the EU.
Giving a statement at his first Commons appearance since the referendum and his subsequent resignation announcement, Mr Cameron said: “We have a fundamental responsibility to bring our country together.
“In the past few days we have seen despicable graffiti daubed on a Polish community centre, we’ve seen verbal abuse hurled against individuals because they are members of ethnic minorities.
“Let’s remember these people have come here and made a wonderful contribution to our country.
“We will not stand for hate crime or these kinds of attacks, they must be stamped out.”
The Prime Minister’s comments came as Britain’s largest police force was placed on heightened alert for any rise in hate crime following the referendum result.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he had asked Scotland Yard to be “extra vigilant” after a number of incidents were reported in the capital and around Britain, while Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said police would “vigorously” investigate any reports of hate crime.
Poland’s ambassador expressed shock at incidents of “xenophobic abuse” directed against the Polish community.
This weekend I and my family have witnessed 3 "when are you going home?" Racist incidents aimed at EU citizens here.
— Adam Boulton (@adamboultonSKY) June 26, 2016
Police are investigating vandalism at a Polish community building in London after images on social media appeared to show graffiti in which the words “F*** you OMP” were smeared in yellow paint across the entrance, before it was cleared.
Hate crime against Polish people in the UK is due to be discussed at high level talks following incidents of graffiti which came just days after the referendum result.
Officers are probing the criminal damage at the Polish Social and Cultural Association (POSK), in Hammersmith, west London.
The Polish Ambassador to Britain urged politicians to condemn what he described as “hate motivated acts”.
Cambridgeshire Police are investigating suspected post-referendum racism after hateful notes were allegedly posted through letterboxes of Polish residents in the county.
Police investigating after hateful notes were posted through letterboxes of Polish residents in Cambridgeshire following the Brexit vote.
— LBC Breaking (@lbcbreaking) June 25, 2016
Laminated cards reading “Leave the EU – no more Polish vermin” were reportedly delivered to members of the Polish community in Huntingdon, north west of Cambridge, on Saturday.
Cambridgeshire Police are investigating suspected post-referendum racism after notes were allegedly posted through letterboxes of Polish residents in the county.
Laminated cards reading “Leave the EU – no more Polish vermin” were reportedly delivered to members of the Polish community in Huntingdon, north west of Cambridge, on Saturday.
Polish ambassador to Britain Witold Sobkow said on Monday: “We are shocked and deeply concerned by the recent incidents of xenophobic abuse directed against the Polish community and other UK residents of migrant heritage.
“The Polish Embassy is in contact with relevant institutions, and local police are already investigating the two most widely reported cases in Hammersmith, London, and Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
“At the same time, we would like to thank for all the messages of support and solidarity with the Polish community expressed by the British public. We call on all Polish nationals who fall victim of xenophobic abuse and on all witnesses to report such incidents to local authorities.”
Other incidents were also reported on social media and a hashtag of #PostRefRacism was being used on Twitter.
Meanwhile, Conservative peer Baroness Warsi warned that immigrants and their descendants are being stopped in the street and ordered to leave Britain in the wake of the “divisive and xenophobic” Brexit campaign.
these cards have actually been put through letter boxes of Polish families in Huntingdon today. I could weep pic.twitter.com/P3maK1Vasf
— fencelt (@howgilb) June 25, 2016
The former chair of the Conservative Party switched from backing Leave to Remain over concerns “lies and hate” were being spread by pro-Brexit politicians.
She told the Murnaghan show on Sky News that she wants a “genuine liberal, open-minded outward looking” politician as party leader, and would back Scottish Conservative Ruth Davidson for the top job if she could stand.
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