In two weeks, on the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street, a simple question will be posed: will Jews and their allies be allowed to join the march, without being subject to the purity test that demands total condemnation of Israel?
We shall pass
The story of The Battle of Cable Street is told as a story about people coming together, a story where East Enders, Irish dockers, Jews, all stood shoulder to shoulder against Mosley's fascists. It is a shorthand for the idea that unity beats hatred, that when communities link arms the bigots don't get through.
But in a few weeks' time, on the battle's 90th anniversary, this story will be put to the test, because the famous battle cry of the left—"They shall not pass"—has been replaced today with the ubiquitous, "Free Palestine".
It's the slogan Macklemore shouted from the stage before an Ed Sheeran concert, kicking off a chain of events that led first to Macklemore being removed from the bill, then other acts leaving in support, before finally Sheeran himself becoming the target. It's the reason an actor quit a London play rather than share a stage with Maureen Lipman over her support for Israel. It's the reason Ireland's own football matches against Israel will be shunted off to Hungary and Serbia, because nobody could guarantee they'd go ahead at home. And it's the reason four Israeli triathletes were barred outright from a race in Londonderry earlier this month, with the organisers explaining, straight-faced, that it wasn't about who they were, just what their country represents.
All of which means that expecting attendees of the anniversary march to leave their flags and slogans at home is for the birds. We can expect the exact same purity test that Ed Sheeran experienced, and Boy George before him; if you refuse to condemn Israel and won't state clearly that there is a 'genocide', you are a pariah.
The left insists it isn't targeting Jews, only "Zionists". But all that means is that they think they have the right to decide who are the good Jews, and who are the bad.
The Cable Street commemoration march won't tell us anything new about the so-called progressives: they've already been applying the purity test in concert halls, theatres, sports events, and town halls. The real barometer for where our country is at is what our institutions will do: will the police ensure everyone gets to march without intimidation? Will the courts pursue justice should it come to that? And will the media decide that this march is worth reporting honestly, and without bias?
Or will they all collude to say that Jews who 'fail' the purity test can be driven from public spaces, making this year's slogan the Jews shall not pass?
Ninety years on from this famous battle we must say that we shall pass. "We" who are Jews, "we" who are allies, "we" who are supporters of Israel, and "we" who reject their purity test.
An umbrella group called Cable Street Jews 90 is coordinating a contingent to hold placards depicting some of those who fought at Cable Street, and we are proud to be a part of that. This is the "we" who are as entitled as anyone else to be on the streets of Whitechapel on 4 October.
If you agree, then please join us. And please forward this newsletter to friends and family, make a donation, or better still—become a member and get involved with some of the activities you'll see below.
For those who observe, we hope you have a meaningful Yom Kippur.
Mark Birbeck
Founder and Director
Our Fight
Worth a read
Jane Prinsley
Lorin Bell-Cross
Jamie Shapiro
Coming up
Saturday 3 October: Join us for our Rally Against Anti-Zionism, in Brighton, during the Green Party's annual conference. They will be debating a motion declaring "Zionism is Racism".
Sunday 4 October: We'll be joining the Cable Street Jews 90 contingent on the Unite Cable Street Rally and March.
Saturday–Sunday 17–18 October: Battle of Ideas. Our Fight will have a stand and will also be involved in a number of panel discussions. More details about the panels we are speaking on, and a discount code if you would like to join us, are on a dedicated page:
Our Fight
Sunday 1 November: North London Friends of Israel's annual event, with guest speaker Josh Howie. We're delighted that Mark Birbeck will also be speaking.
Sunday 17 January 2027: London conference and action hub on the theme of Never Again: Remaking the Promise. Ticket announcement coming soon.
The Board of Deputies is also running its own Cable Street events:
Coverage
Mark Birbeck was interviewed for the latest episode of the CAA's podcast Podcast Against Antisemitism.
The Jerusalem Post covered the rally outside Downing Street, organised alongside Stop the Hate earlier this month.
ALEX CARSON
For members
Our next catch-up meeting is Monday 21 September. If you're not observing Yom Kippur then please do come along.
We're also organising a group outing to see the play The Banality of Evil: Hannah Arendt, France, 1940. If you'd like to join us then look out for details over the next few days.
A Chanukah evening is being planned for 10 December with guest speaker Lyn Julius. Venue and exact time still to be confirmed.
