Posted on 02/03/2008 1:11:20 AM PST by forkinsocket
THE Holocaust Memorial Day marking the genocides of the 20th century was marred on Sunday when a gang of youths stoned Jewish tourists on a guided tour of London's East End.
A group of 96 visitors looking at sites of Jewish interest were attacked by youths hiding behind a fence in a back street in Whitechapel.
Two were struck by the missiles, an American woman just starting a new post at London's Metropolitan University and a Canadian lecturer.
The woman had blood pouring from her head and needed hospital treatment.
The tour was organised by leading local historian Clive Bettington, who was later asked by police if he wanted officers to accompany him in future, but declined.
"That would be admitting there are 'no go' areas," he said.
"I won't be intimidated. We have a right to walk our streets unmolested."
He has now written to Tower Hamlets chief executive Martin Smith for an urgent meeting.
Sunday's incident was outside a former Jewish maternity home in Underwood Road, now used as social services offices, which was on his tour as a place of interest where playwright Arnold Whesker and showbiz comedian Lionel Bart were born.
YOBS LAUGHED
An eye-witness said: "Stones started to come down on us and some in the group were scared and ducked.
"I looked over the fence and saw four Asian youths throwing stones. They were laughing, then ran away."
The woman who was injured, a New Yorker now living in London, started her job running the IT department at the Met University the following day.
"It wasn't exactly a nice welcome to the East End," she said.
"You're just so surprised standing in a large crowd like that being pelted with stones.
"I was shocked and didn't know what happened at first, then realised I was bleeding and knew I had been hit. My head was cut open."
She was treated at the Royal London Hospital and had to miss an inter-faith mdmorial service she was going to at the East London Central synagogue.
Her friend, Canadian Eric Litwack was hit by a missile, but did not need stitches.
He said: "It was obviously we were being targeted on a tour talking about Jewish history."
COMMUNITY REACTS
There was condemnation across the political spectrum at the multi-faith service at the synagogue later.
The Mayor of Tower Hamlets blamed it on "narrow religious views" in the community.
"It's horrifying this could happen in the East End in this day and age, on Holocaust Memorial Day of all days," Cllr Ann Jackson told the Advertiser.
"We must mediate between the narrow religious views of some in the Bangladeshi community. There is narrow mindedness in all communities. Everyone must realise ours is a tolerant society."
Lib Dem's Louise Alexander said: "I'm shocked this took place on my doorstep. It's a 'wake-up' call that highlights we are not there yet."
The Labour leader of Tower Hamlets council, Denise Jones, later issued a joint statement with all Opposition group leaders on the authority, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Respect, apologising on behalf of the community.
"We totally condemn the behaviour of those that intimidated and attacked people on the Holocaust Memorial walk," the Town Hall statement said.
"It is utterly disgraceful that the insensitive, aggressive and quite possibly criminal actions of a few tarnished this important time of reflection.
"We apologise on behalf of Tower Hamlets to the people who were subjected to the abuse and give assurance that we are supporting the police investigation into the incident."
POLICE ACTION
Tower Hamlets' newly-appointed senior police officer responsible for youth involvement, Ins Paul Sloan, is treating the incident as "an anti-Semitic attack and as a 'race hate' crime."
He said: "The injured woman certainly felt it was anti-Semitic because she's Jewish and the attack was motivated by the fact a lot of Jews were present.
"We're keen to work with the organiser to stop this happening again.
"We might accompany them in future. That's one of the tactics we would employ, but that's not routine.
"We have to get to the root of the problem and need to know how often it's happened before."
The Met's new police liaison officer for the area, Ins Brian Mitchell, was immediately informed about Sunday's incident in which he said youths shouted at the tourists, 'if you go any further you'll die.'
He added: "It gets flagged up as 'racial' because of the victims' perception of what happened."
Not for much longer! One way or the other.
I smell fear.....
The British Middle-Easterner infestation continues to take it's toll on good and decent people.
There is no mention of Islam, muslims or any other religion.
I wonder what religious views he is referring to?
Maybe the Bangladehi "Yobs" are Druids or Mormons.
Nothing a couple of armored cars mounting machine guns couldn’t solve in a few bursts, er, seconds.
Welcome to Londonistan!
yob is a slang term for an uncouth or thuggish blue collar person
Ah yes...the “Asians.”
The five pillars of Islam..... murder, bestiality, terrorism, cowardice and abuse of women and children.
Know islam, no peace; No islam, know peace
“It’s a ‘wake-up’ call that highlights we are not there yet.”
It’s a wake up call that your country is lost.
This article isn't as bad as some lately, at least they report the race in their description of the perps and mention that the attack is probably rooted in the narrow-mindedness of the immigrants from Bangladesh.
With a little editing and selective omission they could have made it sound like the rock-throwing "yutes" where just a lovable bunch of football hooligans. They could have thrown in a few statements by social scientists and a social worker decrying the lack of funding and programs for the poor kids. If they need additional lines they could find a "community leader" to question the provocative visit to the neighborhood by the Zionists.
Confusing as the article said "Yobs Laughed" and then went to to describe the rock throwers as Asians. It was my understanding that "Yobs" is a term to describe aimless, unemployed, drunken white youths (who, in all fairness, are responsible for much of the violent, senseless crime that currently plagues England).
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