Pro-Palestine Protest Erupts in London — Nearly 500 Dragged Away by Police

 

 

Chaos erupted in central London as police arrested nearly 500 people during a protest supporting the outlawed group Palestine Action.

 

The Metropolitan Police confirmed 492 arrests during Saturday’s mass demonstration around Trafalgar Square, organised by campaign network Defend Our Juries. The group said around 1,000 protesters joined the rally, defying pleas from ministers and police to postpone it following Thursday’s deadly synagogue attack in Manchester.

 

Palestine Action was proscribed by the government in July, making it illegal to show any support or affiliation. Of those arrested, 488 were detained for backing a banned organisation, with ages ranging from 18 to 89.

 

The vigil saw demonstrators read out the names of Palestinian children killed in Gaza. Among those detained was a vicar holding a sign that read: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.” Police said many protesters refused to walk voluntarily and had to be carried by five officers each, delaying arrests.

 

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urged protesters to “respect the grief of British Jews,” while Jewish leaders condemned the demonstration. However, Defend Our Juries’ Zoe Cohen, herself Jewish, said she mourned victims “of multiple atrocities” and insisted cancelling the vigil would be “letting terror win.”

 

Police deployed 1,500 officers to control the protest and later imposed Public Order Act restrictions on a separate march in Whitehall after protesters tried to move toward Parliament Square.

 

By 10 p.m., 297 people remained in custody, while others were released on bail.

 

Key Takeaways

• 492 arrests made in London protest backing banned group Palestine Action.

• Demonstration defied police warnings issued after Manchester synagogue attack.

• Critics say protesters showed poor judgment; organisers call it an act of “compassion.”

 

Original Source:

Think this is going to stop? Join Palestine Action: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/join-palestine-action. Or maybe you like genocide. You know that makes you an antiSemite, right?