Why It Matters:
The event has become increasingly significant due to rising worries about freedom of expression and the right to protest in the country.
The Big Picture:
At a peaceful march in London held last Saturday, Palestinian supporters called for an end to the siege of Gaza, an end to Israel's genocide in Palestine, an end to Western support for the Zionist regime, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, and the start of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
The participants in the march, which numbered more than 80,000, also called for an end to threats against Iran and Lebanon. At that demonstration, police arrested at least 77 people and sent some to court. Several pro-Palestinian peace activists, including former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and independent MP John McDonnell, were also summoned to the police.
Key Points:
• Amnesty International has described the restrictions imposed by the British police on the demonstrations as “unnecessary and disproportionate” and “truly worrying”.
• Zack Polanski, deputy leader of the U.K. Green Party, has written to the U.K. Home Secretary calling for an independent investigation into the crackdown on pro-Palestinian demonstrations in London.
What They Are Saying:
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament(CND) has said in a statement that the crackdown on anti-war and anti-Israel demonstrations in the U.K. is a direct attack on the right to freedom of expression and democracy in the country. The organization has called for the immediate release of those detained.
Go Deeper:
In recent years, particularly after October 7, 2023, large demonstrations in London have supported Palestine and Gaza residents.
The scale of these pro-Palestinian protests has raised concerns among Israeli authorities, who have condemned them as anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic.
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