UK
20 January, 2025
Left Foot Forward
The PSC has accused the Met Police of "extremely heavy-handed and aggressive policing"
Left Foot Forward
The PSC has accused the Met Police of "extremely heavy-handed and aggressive policing"
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The Palestine Solidarity Campaign and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn have criticised the police for promoting “a misleading narrative” about a pro-Palestine protest over the weekend.
Corbyn challenged the Metropolitan Police’s claim that protestors had broken through the police line, stating it was “not an accurate description of events at all”.
Approximately 77 protestors were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of breaching protest conditions. Nine have been charged with breaching protest conditions under the Public Order Act.
The first day of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire began yesterday after 15 months of conflict, with three women hostages released from Gaza and 90 Palestinians freed from Israeli prisons in return.
Before the demonstration, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) accused the police of imposing “repressive conditions” that barred protesters from marching to the BBC to protest against the “pro-Israel bias” of its coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The police said the reason for not allowing the march to take place outside the BBC was that it could cause disruption to a nearby synagogue.
During the protest on Saturday, the Met Police posted on X stating: “The group that forced its way through the police line is now held at the north west corner of Trafalgar Square.
“Anyone in that group should now disperse and leave the area. Anyone remaining in breach of the conditions, or inciting further breaches, will be arrested.”
In a statement on X, the PSC said its director, Ben Jamal, had asked a small group, including John McDonnell MP, Jeremy Corbyn, and Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos, to peacefully approach police lines to request permission to lay flowers at the BBC.
The statement added that Jamal said the delegation would stop and lay flowers at the police’s feet if they were prevented from proceeding to the BBC.
Video footage of the march shows the police saying the group could go through.
According to the PSC, Chris Nineham, the chief steward of the march and a founding member of Stop the War, then requested that the group be allowed to continue to the BBC but was “violently arrested by police”.
The PSC said they “were confronted with extremely heavy-handed and aggressive policing” at the march, and that with less than 24 hours’ notice, police imposed “complex restrictions” preventing people from assembling at various locations in Whitehall at various times of the day.
They said that as a result people were “arrested without warning, on flimsy pretexts including simply for inadvertently standing in this central area at the wrong time”.
Corbyn said in a post on X that he was part of a delegation of speakers “who wished to peacefully carry and lay flowers in memory of children in Gaza who had been killed”.
“This was facilitated by the police. We did not force our way through.”
“When we reached Trafalgar Square, we informed police that we would go no further, lay down flowers and disperse.”
“At that point, the chief steward, Chris Nineham was arrested. We then turned back and dispersed.”
Corbyn added: “I urge the police to release all bodycam footage and retract its misleading account of events.”
McDonnell also called on the Metropolitan Police to share footage of him having a conversation with a police officer about the group’s intentions at the march.
Both Corbyn and McDonnell agreed to be interviewed under police caution about events at Saturday’s protest. Left Foot Forward understands that the police interviews took place yesterday afternoon.
The Met Police said conditions were put in place “after taking into account the cumulative impact of the prolonged period of protest on Jewish Londoners, particularly when protests are in the vicinity of synagogues often on Saturdays, the Jewish holy day”.
The statement said that during the protest “officers saw a coordinated effort to breach these conditions which prevented protestors forming up in the vicinity of a synagogue located a short distance from Portland Place.
“This is despite the PSC agreeing to a static protest and numerous updates from the Met to protestors prior to the march and on the day.”
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
Former UK Labour Party leader agrees to be interviewed by police over pro-Palestinian rally
Metropolitan Police investigating ‘coordinated effort’ by organizers to breach conditions imposed on event
Aysu Bicer and Zuhal Demirci |20.01.2025 - TRT/AA
LONDON
Former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell have agreed to be interviewed by police following a pro-Palestinian rally in central London on Saturday.
The Metropolitan Police are investigating what it described as a coordinated effort by the rally’s organizers to breach conditions imposed on the event.
Corbyn, 75, and McDonnell, 73, voluntarily appeared at a police station in the capital on Sunday afternoon.
The rally, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), saw thousands gather in Whitehall after police blocked plans for a march from Portland Place, near the headquarters of the BBC.
Officers had imposed conditions under the Public Order Act restricting the protest to Whitehall, citing concerns over a potential "serious disruption" near a synagogue.
Police said a group of protesters broke through a police line to reach Trafalgar Square, where officers stopped them.
The Metropolitan Police posted a photo on social media showing a group that it said had forced its way through the police line being held at the northwest corner of Trafalgar Square.
Corbyn, however, disputed the account.
"This is not an accurate description of events at all," he said in a post on X.
He said he was part of a delegation of speakers intending to lay flowers in memory of children killed in Gaza, which was "facilitated by the police."
McDonnell echoed his comments.
“We did not force our way through. The police allowed us to go through, and when we stopped in Trafalgar Square, we laid our flowers down and dispersed."
Nine people, including Corbyn’s brother Piers Corbyn, and Chris Nineham, a chief steward on the march, have been charged with public order offences and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court in the coming days.
The Met Police also confirmed that 24 people have been bailed while 48 remain in custody. Three other men aged 75, 73 and 61 have agreed to be interviewed under criminal caution.
The protest coincided with the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.
Corbyn, who now sits as an independent member of parliament (MP) for Islington North, has been a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights.
McDonnell, the MP for Hayes and Harlington, also sits as an independent after Labour suspended the whip from him for six months in July 2024 over his vote against the government on child benefit rules.
-Highest number of arrests
The demonstration in London drew tens of thousands of supporters of Palestine, despite the police-imposed restrictions and banning of a previously agreed-upon route.
During the protest, 77 people were arrested.
Met Commander Adam Slonecki said security forces have been deployed for more than 20 national protests organized by the PSC since October 2023.
He highlighted that the number of arrests at yesterday’s rally marked the "highest number” recorded at such demonstrations during this period.
Metropolitan Police investigating ‘coordinated effort’ by organizers to breach conditions imposed on event
Aysu Bicer and Zuhal Demirci |20.01.2025 - TRT/AA
LONDON
Former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell have agreed to be interviewed by police following a pro-Palestinian rally in central London on Saturday.
The Metropolitan Police are investigating what it described as a coordinated effort by the rally’s organizers to breach conditions imposed on the event.
Corbyn, 75, and McDonnell, 73, voluntarily appeared at a police station in the capital on Sunday afternoon.
The rally, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), saw thousands gather in Whitehall after police blocked plans for a march from Portland Place, near the headquarters of the BBC.
Officers had imposed conditions under the Public Order Act restricting the protest to Whitehall, citing concerns over a potential "serious disruption" near a synagogue.
Police said a group of protesters broke through a police line to reach Trafalgar Square, where officers stopped them.
The Metropolitan Police posted a photo on social media showing a group that it said had forced its way through the police line being held at the northwest corner of Trafalgar Square.
Corbyn, however, disputed the account.
"This is not an accurate description of events at all," he said in a post on X.
He said he was part of a delegation of speakers intending to lay flowers in memory of children killed in Gaza, which was "facilitated by the police."
McDonnell echoed his comments.
“We did not force our way through. The police allowed us to go through, and when we stopped in Trafalgar Square, we laid our flowers down and dispersed."
Nine people, including Corbyn’s brother Piers Corbyn, and Chris Nineham, a chief steward on the march, have been charged with public order offences and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court in the coming days.
The Met Police also confirmed that 24 people have been bailed while 48 remain in custody. Three other men aged 75, 73 and 61 have agreed to be interviewed under criminal caution.
The protest coincided with the announcement of a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.
Corbyn, who now sits as an independent member of parliament (MP) for Islington North, has been a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights.
McDonnell, the MP for Hayes and Harlington, also sits as an independent after Labour suspended the whip from him for six months in July 2024 over his vote against the government on child benefit rules.
-Highest number of arrests
The demonstration in London drew tens of thousands of supporters of Palestine, despite the police-imposed restrictions and banning of a previously agreed-upon route.
During the protest, 77 people were arrested.
Met Commander Adam Slonecki said security forces have been deployed for more than 20 national protests organized by the PSC since October 2023.
He highlighted that the number of arrests at yesterday’s rally marked the "highest number” recorded at such demonstrations during this period.
‘Why should the police decide where we march?’ ask protesters
A report from the front of the Palestine march, where anger bubbled to the point where protesters pushed through police lines
Marchers pushed past police line and barricades on Saturday
By Thomas Foster
Tuesday 21 January 2025
Stand with Ben Jamal, say no to repression of Palestine movement
In order to repress the Palestine movement, the British state is going after its leaders and have charged Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal
Police have charged Ben Jamal, director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Activists broke through police lines after the police tried to stop them from marching
The Palestine march in London (Picture: Guy Smallman)
The Palestine movement in Britain faced one of its biggest tests during its national demonstration on Saturday.
The British state was determined to block marchers from leaving Whitehall. But tens of thousands of people defied the massed ranks of the Metropolitan Police, who’d come determined to mete out mass arrests and repression.
Palestine marchers wanted to march from Whitehall to the BBC, but the Met erected police lines and barricades.
Around 3pm, Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal announced that a delegation would march towards the BBC.
The crowd opened and a delegation, including MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, went to the front and were let through.
The Met did not want to let the march through. But it broke through the police’s barricade. The police quickly reformed. But protesters pushed through the second line too—and a sea of people streamed into Trafalgar Square.
Police blocked the exits and arrested chief steward Chris Nineham of the Stop The War Coalition.
One campaigner who pushed through police lines told Socialist Worker, “The cops are stopping democracy, our demonstration, our right to protest. They are orchestrated by our government and our government is pro-Zionist.
“They are denying our democratic rights because they don’t want us protesting our genocide. Our government wants to defend a colonial outpost in the Middle East and so the police are against us.”
Police arrested at least 50 other people and violently repressed the protest in Trafalgar Square. The police stopped people from marching on the BBC, but the Palestine movement showed its radicalism and determination.
Paul told Socialist Worker, “The police have been so obstructive—we especially wanted to come out to make a point about freedom to protest.”
The demonstration was supposed to gather outside the BBC in Portland Place to expose the hypocrisy of its reporting. But police denied marchers that right, claiming it would threaten a nearby synagogue.
“They are all out to get these marches banned if they can,” Paul said. “It’s an excuse that there is a synagogue nearby—as if that matters. Lots of us here are Jewish, but it seems we are the wrong kind of Jews.”
Protester Phoebe said, “It’s a disgrace that they try to stop people marching. I don’t know how they can live with themselves. I’m here because of the atrocities that this country is enabling in Gaza and around the world. The ceasefire brings hope but is not enough.”
Protester Ali Hadi said, “I’ve been to almost all of the protests. It’s because of the invasion, the occupation, the genocide. So I’m obviously very happy to see the ceasefire. I hope it lasts.
“But you have to look at the root cause,” he added. “The apartheid and the occupation. It will happen again unless the Palestinians have human rights and unless they have a state. They have to live side by side but they need equal rights.
“People who face injustice are always going to lash out—they just want liberation.”
Since the ceasefire was provisionally announced on Wednesday, Israel has escalated it’s brutal destruction and murder in Gaza.
Zakariya told Socialist Worker, “Israel uses it as an excuse and opportunity to do maximum damage just before it is called.” “On the back of how many dead” does this come, he asked. “Is this truly long lasting? I’m doubtful.”
He added, “Israel’s intentions are to grow and make a larger Israel and expand. It is not just spontaneous—these are steps that the Israeli government is taking.”
Fiona, who lives in London, said that, “Palestine needs more than a ceasefire. It needs a solution, preferably a one secular state with equal rights for all.” She argued that means to “stop arming Israel and stop all diplomatic support to Israel.”
The West has facilitated Israel’s genocide. Marc, who travelled from Nottingham, slammed the hypocrisy of Joe Biden talking up his role in the peace talks. “Israel couldn’t carry out its genocide without the US backing it,” he told Socialist Worker.
What has happened over the last 15 months has shown that those at the top “will side with anyone who furthers their own interests”. “I think that Donald Trump will just give Israel even more support,” he said.
He argued, “We have to keep going until the occupation ends. We need numbers, boycotts, anything that we can do. I’ve been in over a dozen marches and will come to many more.”
Arthur, a protester from Liverpool, said, “I don’t trust Israel at all. There’ll be a ceasefire while they get their hostages back, and then their genocide will start up again.
“I hope this brings Israel down, but they have the backing of the American Empire and Britain.”
Lindsey German from Stop The War told the demonstration, “Tomorrow we have the ceasefire in Gaza. Everyone must celebrate this brief pause in the brutality. But we all know the level of destruction is horrific.
“That is the fault of the Israelis, but not them alone—it’s the fault of everyone who said Israel has the right to defend itself.
“Everyone knows this ceasefire could’ve happened months ago, but it didn’t because they allowed the genocide. It is shocking to see the level of repression we have faced over our democratic right to march.
“We are not going to stop demonstrating as the ceasefire is just the beginning of freedom from Palestinians.”
Dr Ismail Patel from Friends of Al-Aqsa emphasised the power of the demonstrations. “This is a milestone—so we need to continue, to demonstrate, to boycott, to campaign,” he said. “Our collective strength is greater than that of Starmer and it can give peace and justice to the whole of humanity.
“We stand here with a glimmer of hope. We have to understand that we have a great struggle we must continue.”
A sense of defiance captured the 23rd national Palestine demonstration—we need more of that militancy and mass numbers to win. It’s vital to keep fighting for the British state to cut all ties with Israel and stop all arms sales—and for a free Palestine from the river to the sea.
A report from the front of the Palestine march, where anger bubbled to the point where protesters pushed through police lines
Marchers pushed past police line and barricades on Saturday
(Picture: Guy Smallman)
By Thomas Foster
Tuesday 21 January 2025
SOCIALIST WORKR Issue
“Let us march! Let us march!” This was the chant that dominated the front of the Palestine march in central London on Saturday, as ordinary people demanded the police let them out of Whitehall.
At around 3pm, the demand was won. Protesters pushed against, and broke through police lines—a moment of mass resistance against police repression.
But anger had been bubbling from around 1.30pm, when a section of campaigners tried to march towards the police, halting right in front of police lines.
From that point onwards, there was constant arguing with the police. One protesters, carrying a placard that read “Jews Against Genocide”, demanded that the march be let through.
Another shouted, “Who do you protect?” One protester, who had travelled from Bournemouth, told Socialist Worker that they couldn’t understand the police’s actions.
Arguments turned into frustration, with anti-police chants growing in frequency as the afternoon went on.
Why should the police decide where ordinary people protesting can and cannot go? There was a sentiment that the scene unfolding was an injustice.
More police were brought in to tighten up the line, with a detective walking along their ranks, marshalling each officer to stand closer together.
And then, frustration turned into defiance as the crowd started to push against the police.
One young person starting to slap an officer’s custodian helmet.
Protesters broke through a section of the police line, triggering a retreat in which the police then reformed a line a few metres back.
But protesters were now confident in their own strength. They stepped into the space that had been allowed to them, and as the crowd swelled, people pushed once again.
The police offered little resistance, with their line swiftly dissipating. Seas of people flooded into Trafalgar Square, cheering and whooping.
People were then unclear on the direction of the march, as a few stewards tried to direct people towards the north west corner of the square.
In that corner, police vans had parked, blocking the way. The same was true in the north east corner, leaving the march unable to leave Trafalgar Square.
Despite this, it was an important step. In the face of the most intense police repression yet, the Palestine march was defiant.
“Let us march! Let us march!” This was the chant that dominated the front of the Palestine march in central London on Saturday, as ordinary people demanded the police let them out of Whitehall.
At around 3pm, the demand was won. Protesters pushed against, and broke through police lines—a moment of mass resistance against police repression.
But anger had been bubbling from around 1.30pm, when a section of campaigners tried to march towards the police, halting right in front of police lines.
From that point onwards, there was constant arguing with the police. One protesters, carrying a placard that read “Jews Against Genocide”, demanded that the march be let through.
Another shouted, “Who do you protect?” One protester, who had travelled from Bournemouth, told Socialist Worker that they couldn’t understand the police’s actions.
Arguments turned into frustration, with anti-police chants growing in frequency as the afternoon went on.
Why should the police decide where ordinary people protesting can and cannot go? There was a sentiment that the scene unfolding was an injustice.
More police were brought in to tighten up the line, with a detective walking along their ranks, marshalling each officer to stand closer together.
And then, frustration turned into defiance as the crowd started to push against the police.
One young person starting to slap an officer’s custodian helmet.
Protesters broke through a section of the police line, triggering a retreat in which the police then reformed a line a few metres back.
But protesters were now confident in their own strength. They stepped into the space that had been allowed to them, and as the crowd swelled, people pushed once again.
The police offered little resistance, with their line swiftly dissipating. Seas of people flooded into Trafalgar Square, cheering and whooping.
People were then unclear on the direction of the march, as a few stewards tried to direct people towards the north west corner of the square.
In that corner, police vans had parked, blocking the way. The same was true in the north east corner, leaving the march unable to leave Trafalgar Square.
Despite this, it was an important step. In the face of the most intense police repression yet, the Palestine march was defiant.
‘We will not be intimidated from protesting for Palestine’—Lindsey German from Stop The War
The Metropolitan police have charged leading figures in the Palestine movement with public order offenses
Lindsey German, convenor of Stop The War, on the Palestine protest in London last Saturday (centre)
The organisers of the Palestine demonstrations are defiant in the face of state repression.
Lindsey German, convenor of the Stop The War Coalition, told Socialist Worker, “We will not be intimidated or prevented from protesting.”
The British state has charged Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal and Stop The War vice chair Chris Nineham with public order offenses. Ben is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 21 February.
The aim is to intimidate the Palestine movement off the streets—these orders come from the top.
Lindsey said, “The actions of the Metropolitan Police on Saturday were an attack on our civil liberties and right to protest.
“All those who support Israel’s genocide in Gaza—government, media and Zionist organisations —have wanted to ban our demos from the outset.
“They are trying to stop us showing solidarity with the Palestinians. The targeting of leading figures of the movement is an outrage and is a danger to us all. We will organise to defend our rights.
“We demand they drop the charges against Ben Jamal and Chris Nineham and that the government repeals the draconian Public Order Act.”
The British state has prosecuted activists who’ve taken direct action against arms companies or those who’ve chanted in support of the Palestinian’s right to resist. Now, it is going after the leaders of the movement in a brazen provocation.
It comes after the Metropolitan Police violently repressed the 23rd national demonstration in London last Saturday.
The day after, the Met’s chief Mark Rowley boasted at a meeting of the pro-Zionist Board of Deputies of British Jews that the police did “more than we have ever done before”.
Rowley added that the police had “almost never before” made “terror‑related” arrests at protests.
But he said they’d made “many tens of those” over the past 15 months.
This is a threat to the whole labour movement. If the police can get away with repressing a Palestine demo, they can get away with clamping down on any protest or picket line. Defend the right to protest, keep mobilising on the streets for Palestine. Join the workplace day of action on 13 February. Go to Stop The War for more details
The Metropolitan police have charged leading figures in the Palestine movement with public order offenses
Lindsey German, convenor of Stop The War, on the Palestine protest in London last Saturday (centre)
By Tomáš Tengely-Evans
Tuesday 21 January 2025
Tuesday 21 January 2025
The organisers of the Palestine demonstrations are defiant in the face of state repression.
Lindsey German, convenor of the Stop The War Coalition, told Socialist Worker, “We will not be intimidated or prevented from protesting.”
The British state has charged Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal and Stop The War vice chair Chris Nineham with public order offenses. Ben is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 21 February.
The aim is to intimidate the Palestine movement off the streets—these orders come from the top.
Lindsey said, “The actions of the Metropolitan Police on Saturday were an attack on our civil liberties and right to protest.
“All those who support Israel’s genocide in Gaza—government, media and Zionist organisations —have wanted to ban our demos from the outset.
“They are trying to stop us showing solidarity with the Palestinians. The targeting of leading figures of the movement is an outrage and is a danger to us all. We will organise to defend our rights.
“We demand they drop the charges against Ben Jamal and Chris Nineham and that the government repeals the draconian Public Order Act.”
The British state has prosecuted activists who’ve taken direct action against arms companies or those who’ve chanted in support of the Palestinian’s right to resist. Now, it is going after the leaders of the movement in a brazen provocation.
It comes after the Metropolitan Police violently repressed the 23rd national demonstration in London last Saturday.
The day after, the Met’s chief Mark Rowley boasted at a meeting of the pro-Zionist Board of Deputies of British Jews that the police did “more than we have ever done before”.
Rowley added that the police had “almost never before” made “terror‑related” arrests at protests.
But he said they’d made “many tens of those” over the past 15 months.
This is a threat to the whole labour movement. If the police can get away with repressing a Palestine demo, they can get away with clamping down on any protest or picket line. Defend the right to protest, keep mobilising on the streets for Palestine. Join the workplace day of action on 13 February. Go to Stop The War for more details
Support the Justice for Kwabena campaign
Over 100 people rallied in support of Kwabena Devonish, an activist targeted by the British state, on Friday of last week.
They gathered outside Bristol Crown Court where Kwabena was attending a pre-trial hearing on charges under the Terrorism Act.
The charges are in connection with a speech at a demonstration in November 2023.
Faiza Mahamud from Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign said, “What Kwabena said in Cardiff isn’t unique.
“We have been screaming and shouting this across Britain, and been asking for the end to British arms sales to Israel.”
Kwabena’s trial is due to take place in August. If found guilty, it will have repercussions for the Palestine solidarity movement in Britain and beyond.
Sarah Bates Go to justice4kwabena.substack.com/
Over 100 people rallied in support of Kwabena Devonish, an activist targeted by the British state, on Friday of last week.
They gathered outside Bristol Crown Court where Kwabena was attending a pre-trial hearing on charges under the Terrorism Act.
The charges are in connection with a speech at a demonstration in November 2023.
Faiza Mahamud from Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign said, “What Kwabena said in Cardiff isn’t unique.
“We have been screaming and shouting this across Britain, and been asking for the end to British arms sales to Israel.”
Kwabena’s trial is due to take place in August. If found guilty, it will have repercussions for the Palestine solidarity movement in Britain and beyond.
Sarah Bates Go to justice4kwabena.substack.com/
In order to repress the Palestine movement, the British state is going after its leaders and have charged Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal
Police have charged Ben Jamal, director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign
(Picture: Guy Smallman)
SOCIALIST WORKER
Monday 20 January 2025
The British state is determined to punish the Palestine movement for defying the police in central London last Saturday.
The state charged Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), on Monday. He is charged with public order offences, including “inciting people to fail to comply with conditions”.
Ben is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 21 February.
The Metropolitan police arrested over 70 people on the protest—including chief steward Chris Nineham of the Stop The War (STW). They have charged nine people, including Nineham, with public order offences.
In a statement following the charge, Ben said, “Police officers turned up at my front door to inform me that charges were being brought against me.
“The state wishes to silence our movement. It will not succeed. We will not stop protesting and campaigning until every brick in the wall of apartheid that imprisons and oppresses the Palestinian people is torn down, until Palestinians in exile are free to return to their homes and on every inch of their historic homeland, from the river to the sea, are finally able to live in freedom with justice.”
And on Sunday the police interviewed under caution left wing MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell. The aim is to intimidate the Palestine movement off the streets—and the orders come from the top.
A statement from coalition of organisers said, “This is a direct assault on freedom of assembly and democracy.
“The police’s actions, including their false statements after the event, are deeply troubling.
“We demand the immediate release of all those arrested and remain resolute in our campaign for freedom and justice for the Palestinian people.”
It added, “It is important to be clear that all the aggressive behaviour came solely from the police.
“The protesters maintained a peaceful stance throughout. The heavy-handed response from the police, based on flimsy pretexts, is unacceptable.”
The police were determined to block marchers from leaving Whitehall last Saturday. But tens of thousands of people defied the massed ranks of the Metropolitan Police, who’d come determined to hand out mass arrests and repression.
Once it got through to Trafalgar Square, cops repressed the march and stopped people from marching on the BBC.
It’s vital to keep building the Palestine movement—mass numbers are key to stand up to state repression. Stand with all those arrested, say no to the state clampdown, keep up the fight for Palestine.
The state charged Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), on Monday. He is charged with public order offences, including “inciting people to fail to comply with conditions”.
Ben is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 21 February.
The Metropolitan police arrested over 70 people on the protest—including chief steward Chris Nineham of the Stop The War (STW). They have charged nine people, including Nineham, with public order offences.
In a statement following the charge, Ben said, “Police officers turned up at my front door to inform me that charges were being brought against me.
“The state wishes to silence our movement. It will not succeed. We will not stop protesting and campaigning until every brick in the wall of apartheid that imprisons and oppresses the Palestinian people is torn down, until Palestinians in exile are free to return to their homes and on every inch of their historic homeland, from the river to the sea, are finally able to live in freedom with justice.”
And on Sunday the police interviewed under caution left wing MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell. The aim is to intimidate the Palestine movement off the streets—and the orders come from the top.
A statement from coalition of organisers said, “This is a direct assault on freedom of assembly and democracy.
“The police’s actions, including their false statements after the event, are deeply troubling.
“We demand the immediate release of all those arrested and remain resolute in our campaign for freedom and justice for the Palestinian people.”
It added, “It is important to be clear that all the aggressive behaviour came solely from the police.
“The protesters maintained a peaceful stance throughout. The heavy-handed response from the police, based on flimsy pretexts, is unacceptable.”
The police were determined to block marchers from leaving Whitehall last Saturday. But tens of thousands of people defied the massed ranks of the Metropolitan Police, who’d come determined to hand out mass arrests and repression.
Once it got through to Trafalgar Square, cops repressed the march and stopped people from marching on the BBC.
It’s vital to keep building the Palestine movement—mass numbers are key to stand up to state repression. Stand with all those arrested, say no to the state clampdown, keep up the fight for Palestine.
Tens of thousands defy police on Palestine march in London
Activists broke through police lines after the police tried to stop them from marching
The Palestine march in London (Picture: Guy Smallman)
SOCIALIST WORKER
Saturday 18 January 2025
Saturday 18 January 2025
The Palestine movement in Britain faced one of its biggest tests during its national demonstration on Saturday.
The British state was determined to block marchers from leaving Whitehall. But tens of thousands of people defied the massed ranks of the Metropolitan Police, who’d come determined to mete out mass arrests and repression.
Palestine marchers wanted to march from Whitehall to the BBC, but the Met erected police lines and barricades.
Around 3pm, Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal announced that a delegation would march towards the BBC.
The crowd opened and a delegation, including MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, went to the front and were let through.
The Met did not want to let the march through. But it broke through the police’s barricade. The police quickly reformed. But protesters pushed through the second line too—and a sea of people streamed into Trafalgar Square.
Police blocked the exits and arrested chief steward Chris Nineham of the Stop The War Coalition.
One campaigner who pushed through police lines told Socialist Worker, “The cops are stopping democracy, our demonstration, our right to protest. They are orchestrated by our government and our government is pro-Zionist.
“They are denying our democratic rights because they don’t want us protesting our genocide. Our government wants to defend a colonial outpost in the Middle East and so the police are against us.”
Police arrested at least 50 other people and violently repressed the protest in Trafalgar Square. The police stopped people from marching on the BBC, but the Palestine movement showed its radicalism and determination.
Paul told Socialist Worker, “The police have been so obstructive—we especially wanted to come out to make a point about freedom to protest.”
The demonstration was supposed to gather outside the BBC in Portland Place to expose the hypocrisy of its reporting. But police denied marchers that right, claiming it would threaten a nearby synagogue.
“They are all out to get these marches banned if they can,” Paul said. “It’s an excuse that there is a synagogue nearby—as if that matters. Lots of us here are Jewish, but it seems we are the wrong kind of Jews.”
Protester Phoebe said, “It’s a disgrace that they try to stop people marching. I don’t know how they can live with themselves. I’m here because of the atrocities that this country is enabling in Gaza and around the world. The ceasefire brings hope but is not enough.”
Protester Ali Hadi said, “I’ve been to almost all of the protests. It’s because of the invasion, the occupation, the genocide. So I’m obviously very happy to see the ceasefire. I hope it lasts.
“But you have to look at the root cause,” he added. “The apartheid and the occupation. It will happen again unless the Palestinians have human rights and unless they have a state. They have to live side by side but they need equal rights.
“People who face injustice are always going to lash out—they just want liberation.”
Since the ceasefire was provisionally announced on Wednesday, Israel has escalated it’s brutal destruction and murder in Gaza.
Zakariya told Socialist Worker, “Israel uses it as an excuse and opportunity to do maximum damage just before it is called.” “On the back of how many dead” does this come, he asked. “Is this truly long lasting? I’m doubtful.”
He added, “Israel’s intentions are to grow and make a larger Israel and expand. It is not just spontaneous—these are steps that the Israeli government is taking.”
Fiona, who lives in London, said that, “Palestine needs more than a ceasefire. It needs a solution, preferably a one secular state with equal rights for all.” She argued that means to “stop arming Israel and stop all diplomatic support to Israel.”
The West has facilitated Israel’s genocide. Marc, who travelled from Nottingham, slammed the hypocrisy of Joe Biden talking up his role in the peace talks. “Israel couldn’t carry out its genocide without the US backing it,” he told Socialist Worker.
What has happened over the last 15 months has shown that those at the top “will side with anyone who furthers their own interests”. “I think that Donald Trump will just give Israel even more support,” he said.
He argued, “We have to keep going until the occupation ends. We need numbers, boycotts, anything that we can do. I’ve been in over a dozen marches and will come to many more.”
Arthur, a protester from Liverpool, said, “I don’t trust Israel at all. There’ll be a ceasefire while they get their hostages back, and then their genocide will start up again.
“I hope this brings Israel down, but they have the backing of the American Empire and Britain.”
Lindsey German from Stop The War told the demonstration, “Tomorrow we have the ceasefire in Gaza. Everyone must celebrate this brief pause in the brutality. But we all know the level of destruction is horrific.
“That is the fault of the Israelis, but not them alone—it’s the fault of everyone who said Israel has the right to defend itself.
“Everyone knows this ceasefire could’ve happened months ago, but it didn’t because they allowed the genocide. It is shocking to see the level of repression we have faced over our democratic right to march.
“We are not going to stop demonstrating as the ceasefire is just the beginning of freedom from Palestinians.”
Dr Ismail Patel from Friends of Al-Aqsa emphasised the power of the demonstrations. “This is a milestone—so we need to continue, to demonstrate, to boycott, to campaign,” he said. “Our collective strength is greater than that of Starmer and it can give peace and justice to the whole of humanity.
“We stand here with a glimmer of hope. We have to understand that we have a great struggle we must continue.”
A sense of defiance captured the 23rd national Palestine demonstration—we need more of that militancy and mass numbers to win. It’s vital to keep fighting for the British state to cut all ties with Israel and stop all arms sales—and for a free Palestine from the river to the sea.
We will march against Israel’s genocide and BBC bias – Stop the War
“We are calling on all those who support an immediate ceasefire and an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, as well as everyone who believes in the democratic right to protest, to join us in London at 12 noon on Saturday 18 January.”
By the Stop the War Coalition
Last week, the Metropolitan Police publicly confirmed its intention to prevent our planned protest at the BBC on Saturday 18 January, by imposing an exclusion order banning Palestine solidarity protestors from entering the area surrounding the BBC throughout the day. We will not be silenced.
Since the Police announced their imposing of orders to prevent a protest at the BBC, nearly 200 MPs, trade union and civil society leaders and groups including Amnesty International UK and Akiko Hart, Director of Liberty, Holocaust survivors and their descendants, lawyers, journalists and prominent cultural figures have spoken out in support of the right to protest. Today, they have been joined by over 700 members of the Jewish community.
In recent weeks, Israel has intensified its genocide against the Palestinian people – including massacres of civilians sheltering in so-called ‘safe zones’ and the destruction of the last remaining medical facilities in the north of Gaza. Our marches reflect the overwhelming outrage felt by those who have witnessed these atrocities for more than a year alongside the ongoing complicity of the British government.
Recent investigations have exposed widespread anger amongst BBC staff at the skewed nature of its coverage, and its consistent failure to adhere to its own editorial standards, including by dehumanising Palestinians and obscuring the truth of Israel’s crimes against them. It is entirely unacceptable for the Metropolitan Police to abuse public order powers to shield the BBC from democratic scrutiny.
Contrary to the excuse offered by the police – that they have taken this action to prevent potential disruption to a nearby synagogue – the closest synagogue to the BBC is not even on the route of the march. As the Metropolitan Police have acknowledged, there has never been any threat to a synagogue attached to any of our marches. In fact, every march has been joined by thousands of Jewish people – many in an organised Jewish bloc.
We are calling on all those who support an immediate ceasefire and an end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, as well as everyone who believes in the democratic right to protest, to join us in London at 12 noon on Saturday 18 January. We will assemble in Whitehall, which will allow us to form up in massive numbers, and we will march in an orderly fashion towards the BBC. We call on the Metropolitan Police to drop these repressive restrictions and accept our right to demonstrate at the BBC.
#WeWillMarch
- The National Demonstration for Palestine is assembling at Whitehall at 12pm Saturday 18th January.
- The Palestine Coalition of demonstration organisers have published a statement against the Met Police’s attempts to stop the National Demonstration for Palestine, you can read it and view the full list of signatories here.
- You can follow Stop the War on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and Twitter/X.
