This will probably be my last post on this. I realise that this won’t be the most important topic for a lot of readers. However, as a resident of Birmingham living close to Aston and with Jewish friends, this has been a topic that has mattered much to me personally.
I wasn’t going to say anymore on the matter, except that the West Midlands Police put out this statement after the game. It gives the impression that all was peaceful and successful on the night.
I wonder if you can really consider something peaceful and a success when:
- It has caused significant anxiety to the community.
- There were numerous chants with s violent overtone including “death to the IDF.
- A number of arrests were made
- Pro Israel and pro Jewish demonstrators were herded into basket ball cages with no sense by some of the irony and distressing nature of the images.
- There was substantial disruption to things like travel and schooling across the West Midlands.
- It required 700 police officers.
I think it is telling that the major point seems to be that people were free to protest. This cuts to the heart of the matter. The point of the evening wasn’t about freedom to protest. That was not meant to be the priority of public bodies. The point was meant to be a football game. Sure, some people were able to protest but football fans, particularly Jewish fans were not free to go and watch a game. That is ultimately why the response was a failure.
Faithroots 