Pro-Palestine Bullying in Jewish School and Antisemitic abuse in Redbridge: Christian Child's Experience and Jewish Man's Verbal Assault

Palestine flag sprayed on a Redbridge bus stop

A rare 6 person delegation addressed the Redbridge Council's Cabinet Meeting, highlighting the widespread presence of Pro-Palestinian flags, stickers, and graffiti (click here).  The matter has previously been highlighted at a full council meeting with seemingly little effect (click here)

Additionally, concerns were raised about the bullying of a Christian child by peers supporting the pro-Palestine cause at King Solomon High School, a modern Orthodox Jewish school.

The delegation also brought attention to an altercation that ensued when a Jewish man took action to remove Palestinian flag stickers, citing perceived inaction by the Redbridge Council.

On February 21st, 2024, a delegation consisting of six individuals, three Christians and three Jewish, voiced their concerns regarding the proliferation of Pro-Palestinian flags and the rise of antisemitism at a Redbridge Cabinet Meeting.

The meeting, chaired by Council Leader Jas Athwa, saw the attendees, including the rest of the Cabinet, captivated as Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of United by Faith, outlined a range of concerns. These concerns included an incident where a Jewish man was attacked while attempting to remove Pro-Palestinian stickers, displaying flags adorned with propaganda text, from roads in his neighborhood. The man, puzzled by the lack of action from Redbridge Council, was present at the meeting, hoping for the Cabinet's inquiry into his attack. However, despite Mr. Chowdhry's urging, none of the councillors seemed inclined to engage in questioning.

Another member of the delegation was a Christian grandmother whose grandson attends the local Jewish school, King Solomon High School. She raised concerns about bullying by supporters of the Pro-Palestine cause. Her grandson has 'observed' despicable antisemitic remarks shared casually in school and believes that his teachers are too apprehensive to intervene, citing the overwhelming abuse and tension as hindrances to intervention. The grandmother shared a written statement from the child with Wilson Chowdhry, expressing his concerns.

I have been attending King Solomon School for a year. I used to enjoy going to the school and the teachers and kids were all good.

However, since the conflict started in Israel and Gaza I have seen a change in students' behaviour especially those of Jewish and Muslim religions. Some Jewish kids have stopped coming to school for fear of their lives from Muslim kids. Muslim kids put pressure on Jewish kids to back Gaza and if they don't they would get beaten. A few individuals are spreading hate, using violent behaviour and frightening other kids if they don't support Palestinians. I have witnessed this behaviour occasionally once a week. I have witnessed Jewish kids being called a disease, Jewish slaves, and that they should be exterminated. I have witnessed the fights that have broken out teachers try to intervene but once they go away the fighting starts again.

Teachers have tried to break up the fights how've some teachers are afraid as they have received threats and some have left due to these threats from Muslims.

My teacher received a threat and wanted to find out who did it but no one owned up.

There was an attempted break-in at the school possibly around six months ago or when conflict first started in Gaza. Police were stationed outside the school for 3 days and since then there has been constant surveillance for the safety of children and teachers.

Jewish studies have been removed but hopefully will return next term.

Although no questions were directed to the grandmother, who courageously attended as part of the delegation, Mr. Athwal responded insufficiently regarding the work being undertaken in schools. His focus was without the necessary focus on King Solomon High School, where the complex dynamic of being ostensibly a Jewish school but having a majority of Muslim students presents more challenging circumstances. He elaborated:

"I know that the Director of Education has been very clear since the 7th of October issuing regular advice to Schools, and I know that the schools have been in regular contact too.  Certainly, I know that myself and the MP of Ilford North have been to various schools ourselves personally."

To be fair, Mr Athwal's response may have been limited because he likely was not aware of the incident involving the child before the meeting. This is because the grandmother had only joined the delegation on February 19th, and thus the details of the concern were not included in the agenda. Nonetheless, Mr. Chowdhry appreciates the fact that the council leader acknowledged the existence of problems in local schools, and essentially across the country, through his description of the work carried out by the Director of Education.

However, the distressing account provided by the child via his grandmother indicates that the situation at King Solomon High School warrants further investigation. Mr. Chowdhry has agreed to accompany the mother to a school meeting, which she plans to arrange once the current half-term holidays are over.

Mr. Athwal continued by discussing the efforts of Redbridge Council regarding the removal of persistent pro-Palestinian flags, graffiti, and stickers placed on street furniture throughout Redbridge. He emphasized that the council was not only consistently removing these items but also actively seeking a response from the police. He elaborated:

"The council has been removing flags on a regular basis.  

"It's been collecting reports of flags by its [online] reporting function and by emails as well and also through internal staff reporting - to schedule removal alongside any other maintenance the council undertakes.

They've been removed several times and we'll continue to schedule in the works as part of the council's usual duties. 

"The council will continue in current operating methods in removing unlawful attachments to its lamp columns and other lighting assets.  

"The council has been responding to reports of graffiti in the borough and has also been removing all this graffiti, and reporting them to relevant authorities and owners of those assets, to get them to remove the graffiti from their infrastructure 

"Where those organisations are unable to remove them the council remains ready to respond and have done so."

At this juncture, Mr. Athwal contritely acknowledged that there are still numerous flags adorning street lamps throughout Redbridge. He stated:

"We will continue doing that but as you can imagine Mr Chowdhry if you go down Seven Kings High Riad today I think you will have perhaps drive past them.  Or you go down Cranbrook Road or the Drive or the Eastern Avenue.  

"What we have been doing is very consistent on a regular basis, we've been doing that and we will continue to do that.  

"It is something that we have been in contact with the police because it is unlawful to do that and we will continue to press the police."

Mr. Athwal then granted Mr. Chowdhry the opportunity to pose a supplementary question. Given the constraints of the council process, Mr. Chowdhry opted to focus his question on fostering a more coordinated approach between the Redbridge Antisocial Behaviour Team and the local police. He reminded Mr. Athwal and other cabinet members of the evidence submitted, highlighting an instance where a flag had been placed on a lamppost equipped with a CCTV camera and a sign bearing the warning 'Smile, You're on Camera'.

In response to this additional question, Mr. Athwal stated:

"I think the point is well made, especially the bit about collaborative approach. 

"What I have been is in regular contact with the police and will continue to try and work with the police.

As you can imagine the police numbers are so low compared to what they were some time ago.  

"The police have to prioritize what they're doing as well and the police priorities are sometimes saving human lives at the same time as dealing flags. 

"I think the police are then prioritising obviously the more urgent items before they can prioritise the flags.

But I take your point that we do need more joined-up working and we will continue to push the police and work with them."

After the meeting, Mr. Chowdhry reflected on the events at the Cabinet meeting, expressing disappointment with the Cabinet's failure to listen to the eyewitness accounts of the assembled delegation, despite being urged to do so. He felt that an opportunity had been missed.

"The concerns raised by many members involved violence and threats, and I am certain that addressing these issues would have enabled the council to better understand the impact of the social malaise caused by illegal flag placement," he stated.

"These flags are clearly emboldening antisemites, and their proliferation in areas where Jewish communities reside is a clear attempt at intimidation. If they are placed on homes or cars without antisemitic comments, they may seem innocuous, but the current activity is clearly malicious."

"I don't believe it's appropriate for Mr. Athwal to dictate police priorities regarding the flags," Mr. Chowdhry remarked. "I've already sent an email to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, seeking his assessment on the matter."

"My concern extends beyond what I've already addressed. Both Mr. Athwal and the Cabinet are likely aware that the Anti-Social Behavior (ASB) Team possesses CCTV footage that could potentially identify some of the perpetrators behind the illegal placement of flags, graffiti, and stickers. 

"I have evidence indicating the proximity of a flag to a lamppost equipped with CCTV and a warning sign, shared by a local resident."

"Despite raising this issue at both a full council meeting and now at a cabinet meeting, I remain unclear on whether such footage is being utilized to apprehend culprits."

"Additionally, I am uncertain whether the ASB team, with their supplementary CCTV resources and manpower, intends to initiate collaborative sting operations."

Mr. Chowdhry expressed further disappointment with the lack of discussion on antisemitic bullying in schools and the authorities' failure to safeguard children. "I have not yet had the opportunity to discuss this matter with the school, as it would require the invitation of the parents, which I hope to do once the half-term holidays are over," he added.

"In the meantime, I have shared the account with the local police and hope this will prompt an appropriate investigation under prevent strategy."

United by Faith can confirm that Chingford Police are investigating the assault on the Jewish man.  The victim has informed us that local police will be speaking to a local mosque about several antisemitic events that have occurred in the area as part of their investigation.

You can view the complete Deputation to Redbridge Cabinet Meeting here:

Below is the complete transcript of Mr. Chowdhry's address to the Redbridge Cabinet:

Ladies and gentlemen,

I stand before you today as a voice for many concerned citizens of Redbridge. We are troubled by the proliferation of Palestinian flags, stickers, and graffiti on our public streets. Regardless of where one stands on the Israel/Gaza conflict, we must acknowledge the tragic loss of life on both sides. However, this does not justify intimidating any group within our borough.

Redbridge Council holds a moral obligation to protect all its citizens. It deeply saddens me to observe what appears to be a failure in fulfilling this duty, particularly concerning the removal of pro-Palestinian propaganda. This neglect has disproportionately affected the Jewish communities in our area.

I have documented numerous instances of flags, stickers, and graffiti in areas where Jewish communities reside. Despite repeated reports, these items reappear shortly after removal. This pattern of behaviour is concerning, and the lack of swift action to remove and prosecute perpetrators is troubling.

Today, I present three questions to the Cabinet:

The delayed removal of Palestinian flags from lamp posts in Ilford has only led to further proliferation. What concrete steps does the Council plan to take to address this issue promptly?

In light of recent graffiti incidents, what measures are being implemented to safeguard public infrastructure, such as green telecommunication boxes, from further defacement?

I have evidence that a Palestinian flag was affixed to a lamp post equipped with active CCTV surveillance. What efforts were made to utilize this footage in identifying those responsible for unlawfully placing flags on our lamp posts?

Accompanying me today are members of the Jewish communities, including one individual who experienced verbal assault and threats of violence while attempting to remove pro-Palestinian stickers causing distress in his neighbourhood. He should not have been compelled to take such action but felt compelled due to the inaction of Redbridge authorities.

Additionally, I am joined by a grandmother whose grandson attends King Solomon High School. She has shared distressing accounts of her grandson, a year 8 student, enduring bullying from peers who support the pro-Palestine cause. There are also serious concerns about the presence of intense hatred and antisemitic language within the school environment, which deeply offends the child. He believes that some teachers are apprehensive, and I intend to address this issue with the school following the half-term break.

I invite the Cabinet to engage with these dissatisfied citizens today, providing you with the opportunity to understand firsthand the genuine impact of inaction on their lives.