Uncharted Thoughts.

Last week the United Kingdom, and the world, was once again shook by the bloody reality of Islamic terror. For those of you who are not aware, the streets of Manchester were once again the target of Islamic extremism. A man in his mid 30s ran-over and stabbed members of the Jewish community on their holiest day outside a synagogue.

Thankfully, due to the quick seven minute response time of armed police officers, he was shot and killed on sight.

Since then the city has been in a state of mourning. I walked to work that day, and the following morning. The streets were barren, and silent. A heaviness fell over a city that had seen yet again, another terror attack on its citizens.

One man travelling into Victoria said “This isn’t the first, and it won’t be the last”.

In 2017, another Islamic terror plot proved devastating to young men and women at a concert in the AO arena, claiming 22 innocent lives.

Once again, Manchester feels the vibrations of the terror caused by unchecked extremism.

It was a shock to all across the country, including myself. Only three months ago I was interviewing members of the Jewish community regarding the Neo-Nazi gang that had been posting stickers across the city in an attempt to recruit new members and spread their antisemitic and racist views to a wider audience.

I stood directly outside that synagogue on the 21st of April, here is a picture to prove it. A older man, attired with the the Jewish Tzitit and a black kippah approached me cautiously.

“Are you the mechanic?” he asked in a strong Manc accent.

“No sir” I replied somewhat confused how he’d mistaken me, a man dressed in a shirt and suit trousers as a mechanic. “I’m a journalist looking for a Rabbi”.

“A Rabbi? He won’t be around at the moment, they are off celebrating Passover”. The first month of the Jewish calendar. “Is there anything I can help with?”.

“Yeah, I was hoping to find some quotes from the Jewish community about antisemitism. Have you experienced any antisemitism lately?”.

The conversation changed, he asked where I worked, why I was doing this report. I told him the truth, about the stickers, about Neo-Nazi groups in and around Manchester.

He gave me very little to go on, however, as he walked away to try and call a very late mechanic he said “I’ll tell you one thing. Where there are Jews, there will be antisemitism”. He waved his finger at me, crossed the street and left.

While walking around this particular part of Manchester it was clear that the quiet street were connected by faith and community. Orthodox Jews walked together to prayer, Jewish boys and girls walk hand in hand to schools with the star of David above their doors.

Something else struck me, something that truly put into perspective the reality of what Jewish people face on a daily basis. Tall, industrial fencing around synagogues, barbed wire and security gates at schools, and security guards at the entrances of places of importance and worship.

This isn’t some enclave in the middle east, or a community in Israel. This is a small neighbourhood in Manchester, England.

While I was exploring, trying to find someone to talk to that had authority in this tight community, I was followed by security from a synagogue. Three large men in high visibility jackets and security armbands kept a reasonable, but oblivious presence.

This was a side, not only the Manchester, but to the United Kingdom I have never seen before. This isn’t a community struck by a random act of terror by surprise. This was now a community secured in the fact they were right to prepare.

I spoke to another man, who was preparing for a outdoor celebration near another synagogue. He was younger, fat and well educated. He asked me questions about my work, about who I worked for and how long I had been involved in journalism. He was joined by other Jewish men, they all donned the Jewish uniform of white shirts, tzitzits and Kippahs.

“You know, we get heckled on an almost daily basis. Cars will drive down the road and shout “Free Palestine” at us and kids walking to school. What do I have to do with Israel? I was born in Manchester”.

Now we arrive at the fallout. Not four days following the terror attack that claimed the lives of two Jews in Manchester. The ‘Free Palestine’ cultists decided to take to the streets.

This was not a new occurrence, in fact, these protests have been ongoing for almost two years, every Saturday. Usually, besides the annoyance of retired middle class communists screeching into mega phones the protests are peaceful and respectful.

But to many, this was a sign of disrespect, transparent antisemitism and a form of celebration. To me, it was a clear indication that the war in the Middle-East has fractured our society.

I stood back on this Saturdays protest and watched as unemployed communists came together chanting slogans, raising plaques and finished speeches with “Thank you comrades” as though they had just done the equivalent of pushing the Nazi’s back 2 kilometres from Stalingrad by saying “Tax the rich”.

It soon dawned on me, just how much this march lacked decorum, respect for those that had just lost their lives and for the community that still grieved. There was very little mention of the murders, while I was only there for 20 or so minuets there was no condemning of the action, nor a Muslim spokes person to condemn the action of his fellow believer.

I asked myself, what do Jews in Israel have to do with Jews in Manchester. Well, according to the interviews I had conducted in April, very little. Yet it seems Neo-Nazis, and radicle Muslims, like the ones who shout out their cars at children on the way to school, and the one conducted this knife wielding attack, do not see a difference. Therefore, respect must be given.

Lets make another example. Lets go back to 2001, when the world trade centre was hit by two planes. Would it have been appropriate for me to wave a Taliban flag in the town centre of a city and scream I hate America? No, it wouldn’t of course. Now, lets do the same scenario, but I say I am protesting the American torture methods in war. Would this be appropriate? No, because Americans across the world had just suffered a terror attack on it citizens.

There is a time and place for everything, and this protest was shunned not only by the media, but by the government as well.

It wasn’t long before the ‘other lot’ arrived. Tracksuit wearing, toothless, barbarians who seek a more violent resolution to the issue.

Although outnumbered, 15 to 1. The senseless barrage of taunts began.

One man rushed to the front of the crowd shouting and screaming “The Israelites were there first. It’s not yours. You are celebrating the murder of Jews worldwide”.

Another armed with a cellphone, screamed “This would all be over if Hamas release the hostages”.

Another, donned in a ‘Make Britain Great Again’ red baseball cap, stood face to face with a police officer, branding himself with the Union Jack. The face-off was the attention of the media, an iconic photograph of the modern Britain. So called patriots, facing off against the thought police.

“I’m causing trouble” the man shouted at the police officer as he tried to escort the man further from the protest.

“Yes you are, now back up”.

“I’m condemning the murder and terror attack that took place here, in my town” The red capped man replied.

I used to enjoy street drama, it was comical watching a couples squabble, and preaches battle with words from ancient text, something drew to me in. Perhaps its the lack of care they have that people are listening, an almost unhuman transparency that sparked wonder in the monotone of daily life. This was not one of those cases.

It made me sad, to see what we have become as a society. That cultish protests have managed to disrespect marginalised communities on their day of mourning. That hooligans with our unions flag can parade around taunting peaceful protests.

I stood and reflected. What if I was Jewish, how would I feel? A people who have been murdered, thrown from one country to another, killed by the millions, and relentlessly persecuted. Now, in the streets they once deemed a safe, another killing, more taunts, more hate.

Where can they go from here? If England isn’t safe for them, nowhere is.

I spoke to some of the leading experts and data analysis in antisemitism. The figures are shocking.