Abstract
The author describes antisemitic activity in post WWII Britain and the Jewish community’s response. as well as legal and political developments in the realm of antisemitism. The author recounts how the Community Security Organisation, which in 1994 became the Community Security Trust (CST), was established in an effort to address security issues being confronted by the Jewish community in Britain. The author details the structure of the CST and lays out its goals and methods. The organization’s activities, which are offered free of charge to the entire community, include providing suggestions and training to community groups and individuals regarding security issues. CST also provides advice to Jewish community institutions and their staff, builds relationships with other minority groups, and works internationally in the realm of hate crimes. The author concludes that CST offers an example of best practice within the realm of groups combating hate.
Highlights
Jewish ex-servicemen returning to Britain at the end of the Second World War were confronted by renewed antisemitism on the streets of London organized by supporters of Sir Oswald Mosley, who had been released from prison in 1943 after having been interned for three years on account of his Nazi sympathies
Having spent six years fighting against Nazism and Fascism, the exservicemen were unwilling to accept this renewed incitement against their community
When the Public Order Act was passed in 1936, as a direct response to pro-Nazi provocation, the most important provision, Section 5, made it an offense “to use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at a public meeting, with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or whereby a breach of the peace was likely to be occasioned.”
Summary
Jewish ex-servicemen returning to Britain at the end of the Second World War were confronted by renewed antisemitism on the streets of London organized by supporters of Sir Oswald Mosley, who had been released from prison in 1943 after having been interned for three years on account of his Nazi sympathies. When the Public Order Act was passed in 1936, as a direct response to pro-Nazi provocation, the most important provision, Section 5, made it an offense “to use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at a public meeting, with intent to provoke a breach of the peace or whereby a breach of the peace was likely to be occasioned.” It did not address the JOURNAL OF HATE STUDIES [Vol 9:113 consequences of intimidation for the Jewish community (Malik, 2009; Brownlie, 1968). Later, the Jewish community groups were willing to share their information and experiences with others who were prepared to combat racism and hate These distinct streams within the community, and the differing tactical approaches they adopted, were merged in the late 1980s as a consequence of new strategic thinking and changes in legislation. CST did precisely this, thereby formalizing its belief that, while antisemitism is a singular and unique hate form, the fight against antisemitism must be carried out in partnership with others, and that the experiences and techniques gained in doing so should be shared with other victim groups (CST, 1994)
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