1936 Cable Street Riots

Writer: David Rosenberg

4 October 1936 |  Working Class Jews |  Political Radicals  |  Jewish Class war |  How fascism came to Britain |  Mosley's movement |  Media stereotypes |  Police protection? |  Trouble brewing |  Fighting anti-Semitism |  The Battle of Cable Street |  After Cable Street |  Resources

Fighting anti-Semitism

As British society woke up to the threat from the BUF, the Jewish community remained divided on what anti-Semitism was and how it could be combated.

The Board of Deputies had initially responded with a softly-softly approach, effectively advocating: "Ignore it and it will go away". The Jewish Chronicle, which generally supported the Board, finally dissented openly. They asked how it was possible "to stay away from the chalking of offensive remarks on the pavement and walls of houses, the placards stuck on doors and people who go into shops and intimidate Jewish shopkeepers. Jewish pedestrians set upon by gangs of thugs would be only too glad to stay away."

The Board appealed to the anti-Semites' reason, as if anti-Semitism was merely an error of judgement rather than a strongly held ideology. They put out written propaganda showing how loyal the Jewish community was, such as: "What Jews did during the Great War". This might have shifted some attitudes in Middle England, but could not stem the hatred of organised thuggish fascists.

A growing clamour from the grassroots of the community urged the Board to set up an independent body to lead a vigorous campaign against the anti-Semites. One enraged commentator warned: 'If the so-called leaders of Jewry do not take the lead there are Jewish men and women who will.'

That is what happened. In July 1936, 179 delegates from 86 organisations met and so the Jewish People's Council Against Antisemitism and Fascism (JPC) was born. It immediately set up a series of public protest meetings and organised open-air street meetings close to BUF platforms. They sought and got support from the wider labour movement and the National Council for Civil Liberties – the forerunner of Liberty today. They were determined to defend the community ideologically and physically.

When Mosley announced his march for 4 October, the JPC gained 100,000 signatures for a petition demanding the Home Secretary to ban the march. The Home Secretary Sir John Simon refused. The Board of Deputies, Jewish Chronicle and Labour Party leaders urged Jews to stay inside and out of trouble. The JPC, and the Communist Party urged people to come out on the streets and fight back.

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