LONDON (Palestine Foundation Information Center) In a contentious move, the coalition of pro-Palestine organizations in the UK, including the Palestinian Forum in Britain, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, the Muslim Association of Britain, and Friends of Al-Aqsa, has rejected the Metropolitan Police’s attempt to prevent a planned protest starting at the BBC headquarters in London on Saturday 18 January. This decision comes after the police reneged on a prior agreement allowing the protest to proceed.
Police justifications
In a letter to the organizers, the Metropolitan Police expressed concerns that the march could cause “serious disruption,” particularly due to its proximity to a synagogue. The police argued that holding the demonstration on a Saturday could exacerbate tensions and disrupt the local Jewish community.
The police acknowledged the fundamental right to protest but emphasized the need to balance this with the rights of other communities. They pointed out that the repeated national pro-Palestine protests have caused ongoing disruptions, particularly for Jewish residents and visitors, especially on the Sabbath.
Coalition’s response
In response, the Palestine coalition highlighted that the protest is aimed at condemning the BBC’s pro-Israel bias, which has been underscored in a detailed report by journalist Owen Jones—a report the BBC has yet to address. The coalition affirmed that the route had been agreed upon with the police nearly two months ago and was publicly announced on 30 November. They condemned the police’s use of restrictive measures to suppress their democratic right to protest.
The coalition also noted that the closest synagogue is not on the route of the march and that there have been no incidents involving threats to synagogues during previous demonstrations. They emphasized that the marches have included a significant number of Jewish participants who have shown solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
Statement from the Palestinian Forum in Britain
Adnan Hmidan, Acting Chairman of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, criticized the police’s capitulation to pressure from the pro-Israel lobby, stating that it appears as though any demonstration for Palestine requires the approval of Israel’s supporters. Hmidan expressed frustration that the police, who should operate independently, are acting on baseless assumptions and fears.
Call for solidarity
The coalition has called on all those who are outraged by Israel’s ongoing actions and those who uphold the right to protest to join the march on Saturday, 18 January. The protest seeks to shed light on the complicity of the British government in Israel’s attacks on Gaza and to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people who continue to face ethnic cleansing and collective punishment.
