Counter-protesters waved both Israeli flags and Union Jacks (Image: Elliot Franks)[Missing Credit]
Looking out at the throngs of pro-Palestine protesters with their identikit placards and much-repeated slogans, a social media advocate known as Jewish Jess, reflects: "I think they don't have a clue what they are protesting for. I think they are jumping on a bandwagon. I think sadly they have become hateful. It has got worse over time and I don't think half of them would even know there are still hostages in Gaza in all reality.”
Like Clein, Jess, who is dressed in all-black with a bright yellow scarf, is also largely motivated by the plight of the 50 remaining hostages, telling us she wants to "make sure people don't forget they are there,” adding: “they are not an afterthought like so many people have let them become.”
A student called Dylan who is here alone – his friends cancelled because of the rain – tells us: "I don't know how not to be pessimistic. You see so much in the news and around you and you hear from friends and their experiences around the country.
"It was always something that we saw throughout my childhood. It has just kind of hit a point where it is now allowed to be spoken."
Despite these feelings, he is here because he wants to show “we are not scared. We do have people on our side, and we can fight back."
Looking for glimmers of hope, Dylan reflects: "We have seen alliances from a few of the Arab world so it just shows that peace is possible. There is a way that we can go forward with this. You kind of just have to be optimistic."
Calls were made to release the hostages (Image: Elliot Franks)[Missing Credit]
The rain is unrelenting, but spirits are high. While Palestinian flags dominate the main protest, in the Stop The Hate pen, Israeli flags are joined by Union Jacks and pride flags. And it is not only Jews in attendance; people from all different backgrounds have turned out, despite the weather, to show support for Jews, Israel and call for the release of the hostages.
One such ally is Charlie Keeble, an autism advocate, who has previously written about his journey to becoming a “non-Jewish antisemitism warrior” for the JC.
"I'm here to show off my support and standing in solidarity with the Jewish people,” he tells us. "I am probably a good person to show off that autistic people can thrive when Jewish lives survive.”
Keeble, who is wearing a T-shirt with a Star of David on it, goes on to explain: "Years ago when I [was] becoming an autism advocate, I read stories about some of the inventors of the autism movement, that is the psychologists that studied autism as a condition. I discovered that there are many impressive Jewish connections."
Later, he tells us that he is currently in the process of setting up a business that advocates the relationship between the autistic community and the Jewish community, which he’s calling NeuroZion.
As the pro-Palestine protesters marched past the Stop The Hate station, many can’t resist taunting and heckling those who have come to stand against them. While some shout "shame on you" over the chorus of drums, others count on their fingers to show how completely outnumbered we are.
Despite this, the small but mighty crew of Stop The Hate protesters stand side by side chanting "terrorist-supporters off our streets", "rape is not resistance" and "no hostages, no ceasefire".
Later, reflecting on the difference between how Brits and Israelis are coping with the current climate, Jewish Jess says: "In Israel it doesn't actually affect them as much as it does here. They don't let it effect them as much because they do just have to carry on with life."
It seems to me that the formidable pack of counter-protesters are taking a leaf out of the Israelis’ book.
