Thousands Rally in London Against ‘Epidemic Of Anti-Jewish Hate’

Some 20,000 people gathered outside Downing Street on Sunday for the “Standing Strong” rally against antisemitism, according to organizers, as British Jews and allies came together under the slogan “Britain stands with British Jews.”

The rally was held after a series of attacks on Jewish targets across Britain, including the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, arson attacks on Jewish sites and Hatzolah ambulances, and the deadly Yom Kippur attack outside Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester, in which two Jewish worshippers were killed.

The event was organized by a broad coalition of Jewish groups, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Campaign Against Antisemitism, the Jewish Leadership Council, StandWithUs UK, Stop the Hate, Maccabi GB, the Union of Jewish Students, JNF, the National Holocaust Museum, Masorti Judaism, the Office of the Chief Rabbi and Progressive Judaism. Attendees entered from the Trafalgar Square end of Whitehall, and bags were not permitted for security reasons.

“The Jewish community is facing one of the most challenging periods in recent memory. Antisemitism is out of control in Britain,” the Board of Deputies said ahead of the rally.

Kemi Badenoch talking about the rise of antisemitism outside Downing Street pic.twitter.com/Bmf8aWCzlo

— Ellie Hodges (@elliehodges62) May 10, 2026

The organization said the gathering was not only about the Jewish community, but about the condition of Britain itself.

“This is a rally about Britain. About what it now feels like to be a Jewish child walking to school in this country. To wear a kippah on the tube. To be on security at a synagogue,” it said.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis delivered one of the strongest messages of the day, warning that antisemitism had become part of normal life for British Jews.

“It is unacceptable that poisonous antisemitism has become normalised in the UK,” he said. “It is unacceptable that our communities can only function behind high fences and with security guards.”

Mirvis also pointed to Iran, saying, “It is unacceptable that Iran is inspiring violence against British citizens on British soil.” He called for the Iranian ambassador to be expelled and for the IRGC to be proscribed.

Saul Taylor, president of the United Synagogue, called the current situation an “epidemic of anti-Jewish hate” and said the response would have been different if another minority community were facing the same threat.

“If this were any other community, this would be a national outrage. Where are the Jewish Lives Matter marches? Where is the so-called anti-racist movement? As we know only too well, Jews don’t seem to count,” Taylor said.

He also said British Jews “are not going anywhere” and “will not be beaten.” Taylor said the United Synagogue spends about £1 million a year on security, with one synagogue alone spending £20,000 a month.

The rally was also backed by religious and civic leaders from outside the Jewish community. An open letter organized by the Together Coalition and signed by Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Zoroastrian leaders, as well as figures from business, sport and media, said antisemitism must not be left for Jews to confront alone.

“This is not a problem for Jewish people to have to respond to. This is a problem for all of us to fix,” the letter said. “This country belongs to you as much as any of us. You are as British as all of us who call this country home.”

Political leaders also addressed the rally. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey and Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice were among the confirmed speakers.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer was invited but did not appear at the rally. A Labour minister who addressed the crowd was booed with shouts of “shame,” while some attendees held signs asking, “Where is Keir,” according to LBC.

The rally followed a recent Downing Street antisemitism forum chaired by Starmer and government announcements on antisemitism in education, the NHS and university campuses. Mirvis said the moment now demands action.

“This is an opportunity for British society to confront antisemitism at long last and deal with it effectively,” he said.