Where and when is the next pro-Palestine protest in London? Met Police advise organisers to move meeting point
Share:
The Metropolitan Police has warned organisers of a pro-Palestine march against starting their demonstration near a London synagogue on Saturday, January 18. Protesters planned to gather outside BBC's Broadcasting House in central London before marching to Whitehall. However, on Thursday night, Scotland Yard told the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) that their proposed route was threatening to “seriously disrupt” the Shabbat services at a neighbouring synagogue.
The Met has “considered the opinions of local community and business representatives” including members of a synagogue located “very short distance” from the planned rally meet-up location. They added they could impose Public Order Act restrictions to stop the proposed rally if the PSC wished to continue to use Portland Place as their meeting point.
In response to the Met’s demand, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) said in a statement on Wednesday: “The Palestine coalition rejects the implication that our marches are somehow hostile to or a threat to Jewish people.”. Meanwhile, the PSC said that police had agreed on the route about two months prior, and they were only made aware of the modification on Wednesday.
According to commander Adam Slonecki, who will be leading the police operation that weekend, the PSC is “continuing to encourage protestors to form up in Portland Place”. He said: “It is not our role to give permission for protests, but we can use our powers under the Public Order Act to apply conditions.”.
