Clash of Flags: Fury as Met Chief Likens Jewish Protesters to Rowdy Football Fans

 

The head of the Metropolitan Police has come under fire after comparing two Jewish men waving Israeli flags at a pro-Palestinian protest to reckless football hooligans. The remarks by Sir Mark Rowley, made during a live interview on LBC, have provoked accusations of “victim-blaming” and “two-tier policing” from Jewish groups and the men involved.

 

 

The controversy centers around a protest held by Palestine Action in Trafalgar Square, where approximately 500 demonstrators gathered. Isaac Grand, 22, a trainee barrister, and a 28-year-old man who chose to remain anonymous, staged a small counter-protest by waving an Israeli flag and using a megaphone to make pro-Israel statements. They were quickly surrounded by a hostile crowd chanting “Zionist scum!” and had to seek refuge on a double-decker bus after tensions escalated.

 

 

In video footage obtained by The Telegraph, a Metropolitan Police officer can be heard telling the pair that “waving an Israeli flag” could constitute a breach of the peace. When Mr. Grand asked whether that was a criminal offense, the officer replied: “No it’s not. But it is now... look at them protesting for Palestine.” The officer then added: “There’s a time and a place, isn’t there?”

 

 

Sir Mark defended the police’s actions by claiming the two men had deliberately provoked the crowd. “They chose to walk into the middle of the Palestine Action protest and then reveal the Israeli flags,” he said. “Just as if you were a Spurs fan and walked into the middle of a bunch of Arsenal fans at a heated local derby and then started waving Spurs flags, the police would hoick you out of there, wouldn’t they, and say: ‘Don’t be so damn stupid. You’re going to start a fight.’”

 

He insisted the issue was about public safety, not political bias. “If they’d wanted to protest on the other side of the road and express their view, the officers would have facilitated that,” he said. “But if you want to walk into the middle of something to try and create an incident, then of course we’re going to try and protect you from yourselves.”

 

Mr. Grand condemned the Commissioner’s comments, telling The Telegraph: “Sir Mark Rowley’s rhetoric is akin to a rape victim being told it was her fault for dressing ‘provocatively’.” He added: “Rowley is now in a damage control campaign, maligning us to justify his ‘two-tier’ mob policing strategy. We are not hooligans. We just reminisce for a Britain where there was free speech and a justice system that applied the law equally.”

 

A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism called the comparison to “mindless football hooligans” deeply insulting. “They believe that the people protesting potentially wish them and their country harm. The police readily acknowledge this, as does the Government, which is moving to proscribe Palestine Action,” the spokesperson said. “When is Sir Mark Rowley finally going to crack down on the thuggish behaviour of Palestine protesters? Instead of acting on the threat, the Met Commissioner has chosen to victim-blame.”

 

The Met Police said the two men were temporarily held on the bus “for their own safety” and not because they had committed a crime. “As the officer explained at the time, the men had every right to protest, but it was unwise for two people to walk into a crowd of 500 people with opposing views and not expect a confrontation to follow,” said a spokesman.

 

The larger protest saw 13 arrests and instances of violence against officers. Scotland Yard had imposed an exclusion zone around Parliament Square, forcing demonstrators to convene in Trafalgar Square. Some blocked traffic and chanted slogans like “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” while others displayed symbols associated with pro-Hamas sentiment.

 

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced during the rally that Palestine Action would soon be classified as a terrorist organization. Once proscribed, supporting or joining the group will be illegal under UK law.

 

The incident has reignited debate about free speech, safety at demonstrations, and the Metropolitan Police’s impartiality, leaving many to question whether the right to protest truly applies equally to all.

 

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph  2025-06-26

 

 

I'm surprised they didn't just arrest them for being "openly Jewish".

 

The Met is a disgrace. And they will only get worse under Labour since they share the same stance on Jews. 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd130lp70x5o

 

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

He insisted the issue was about public safety, not political bias. “If they’d wanted to protest on the other side of the road and express their view, the officers would have facilitated that,” he said. “But if you want to walk into the middle of something to try and create an incident, then of course we’re going to try and protect you from yourselves.”

Entirely reasonable.

 

Perhaps not so much a protest as a performance.

 

"Mr. Grand condemned the Commissioner’s comments, telling The Telegraph: “Sir Mark Rowley’s rhetoric is akin to a rape victim being told it was her fault for dressing ‘provocatively’.” He added: “Rowley is now in a damage control campaign, maligning us to justify his ‘two-tier’ mob policing strategy. We are not hooligans. We just reminisce for a Britain where there was free speech and a justice system that applied the law equally.”

 

The above paragraph says it all!!

Although I don't condone these actions, I would point out that this is exactly what is done to pro-Palestinian protesters all the time! 🥺

4 minutes ago, Red Forever said:

Another excuse for the supporters of the murdering IDF to shout “anti semite” at anyone pointing out the murderous acts of IDF.

NO…..we’re not anti Jewish. We’re against the apartheid state of Israel and the criminal Netanyahu carrying out genocide on the Palestinians.

 

   Who was it that shouted "antisemite " ?

I read the article twice and could nt see who made the anti semite accusation .

   Are you yourself denying being any anti semite when no one has even suggested that you were ?

I think reckless football fans will be offended after being likened to Jewish protesters.

15 minutes ago, Geoff914 said:

I think reckless football fans will be offended after being likened to Jewish protesters.

 

   They wasn't though 

Zionist trolling post removed @Jeff the Chef

11 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

I think reckless football fans will be offended after being likened to Jewish protesters.

Maybe not Spurs fans. 😅😅