A councillor has warned Manchester’s Jewish community is living in fear after an attack on a holy day and urged government ministers to take decisive action against anti-Semitism.
The independent councillor for Pilkington Park ward on Bury Council attended the vigil close to the scene on Middleton Road on Friday afternoon.
Speaking to Roch Valley Radio afterwards, Cllr Russell Bernstein said: “It's been the worst fear, unfortunately, coming true on the most important day in the Jewish calendar.
“I think that's one of the great strengths that makes Manchester what it is the inevitable enormous support that across communities that takes place.”
Reflecting on the attack, he said: “What we have to reflect on is the mindless act yesterday that is of one person, hopefully a lone wolf. The vast majority of people in Greater Manchester, I’m sure, like the Jewish community, are utterly appalled about the events that took place here yesterday.”
Speaking about his own ward of Pilkington Park, where there is a large Jewish community, he said residents felt “concern, reflection, fear” in the wake of the violence.
“This underpinning issue of rise in anti-Semitism, which action is needed. We can’t not look at the fact that anti-Semitism is on the rise, and we do need some decisive action to counteract it.”
Turning to the government’s response, Cllr Bernstein questioned the visit of the Deputy Prime Minister: “I would question the sensibility of the Deputy Prime Minister being here. To be perfectly honest, I don’t think he was well received… bearing in mind his stance on various issues.” He said the community was “not naturally impressed with some of the decisions that this government have been making”.
By contrast, he suggested the new Home Secretary had a “great opportunity” to show leadership: “This is a new Home Secretary who’s here with clean hands in some ways about it. So I think the community will be looking to say what she actually does now. She has got an excellent opportunity of bringing something forward in a very decisive way, responding to some of the legitimate concerns that have been aired here today.”
Cllr Bernstein also urged people to hold on to their values and unity. “We need to remember to hold good to the things, the values we have. We need to take comfort by the great support that we’ve received today and we need to make sure that evil does not win.”
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