In a shocking incident during a vigil in Brighton, East Sussex, a police officer equated the offensive phrase "Jews are baby killers" with the statement "Hamas are rapists." This occurred while participants remembered victims of the October 7 Hamas attacks and the 55 hostages still in Gaza. The officer’s justification came after attendees from the Sussex Friends of Israel reported the anti-Semitic heckling from a group of youths. Despite the visibly upset pro-Israel supporters arguing the phrases are not comparable—one highlighting the distinction between a minority group and a terrorist organization—the officer maintained that people were merely expressing views and suggested an "agreement to disagree." The Sussex Friends of Israel condemned the police response as a “shocking false equivalence,” suggesting that such remarks downplay anti-Semitism and criticism of the police’s ability to protect minorities. Stephen Silverman from Campaign Against Antisemitism criticized the incident, emphasizing that the police must distinguish between hateful incitement against minorities and legitimate critiques of terrorism. MailOnline has reached out to Sussex Police for clarification on their stance.
FAQ Section:
1. What happened at the vigil in Brighton?
During a vigil to honor victims of Hamas attacks, a police officer compared the phrase “Jews are baby killers” to “Hamas are rapists” after protesters heckled vigil attendees.
2. How did Sussex Friends of Israel respond?
They accused Sussex Police of downplaying anti-Semitism and making a false equivalence between expressed views, calling for accountability from the police and the government.
3. What was the police officer’s stance on heckling?
The officer argued that the remarks were part of public expression and did not classify them as racially aggravated, prompting outrage from the vigil participants.
4. What criticism did the incident attract?
Critics, including Campaign Against Antisemitism, described the officer’s comment as reflective of a troubling inability to distinguish between protecting minorities and addressing terrorist organizations.
SEO Tags: Brighton vigil, anti-Semitism, Sussex Police, Hamas attacks, Sussex Friends of Israel, hate speech, public expression, minority rights, police response, community safety
