More than 70 protesters were arrested during a massive solidarity rally for Palestine in London on Saturday, January 18. With approximately 100,000 participants, the demonstration aimed to condemn British complicity in the genocide in Gaza and call for justice for Palestine ahead of the ceasefire agreement set to take effect the next day. Activists have denounced the arrests as an unabashed attack on freedom of speech and the right to protest in Britain.
Among those arrested was Stop the War activist Chris Nineham, while others, including MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, as well as Palestine Solidarity Campaign head Ben Jamal, were questioned under caution. Reflecting on Saturday’s events, Stop the War Coalition representative John Rees described the arrests as “a state attempt to close down protests on the question of Palestine,” warning that without a strong public response, similar tactics will be used to stifle other areas of activism.
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In the lead-up to Saturday’s action, organizers were forced to make significant changes to the protest’s plans after the police reversed previously agreed arrangements regarding the route. Initially, the demonstration was set to pass by the BBC to highlight the media outlet’s biased reporting on the genocide in Gaza, which has contributed to the dehumanization of Palestinians over the past 15 months. “The BBC is a major institution – it is a publicly-funded state broadcaster and is rightly accountable to the public,” the Palestine Solidarity Campaign stated at the time. “The police should not be misusing public order powers to shield the BBC from democratic scrutiny.”
Despite criticism of the limitations imposed on the march, organizers agreed to adjust the protest to comply with the new requirements. However, just one day before the demonstration, the police introduced additional restrictions, effectively limiting the protesters’ ability to gather in the designated area. Many of those arrested during the rally were charged under these last-minute restrictions, even though participants had little time to become aware of the changes.
The most blatant example of police suppression came as a small delegation, including Nineham, Corbyn, McDonnell, and Holocaust survivors, symbolically moved towards the BBC. Their intention was to lay flowers for the 18,000 children killed in Gaza at the edge of the police cordon, with no plans to breach it, according to organizers. Footage released by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign shows police inviting the delegation to pass through the cordon. While the group awaited further instructions at a second cordon, police forces confronted them, violently arresting Nineham.
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After the demonstration, London police claimed the repression was a response to alleged violent behavior by protesters supposedly attempting to force their way past police lines. This narrative was supported by Labour’s Home Minister Yvette Cooper. However, eyewitness accounts and video material from the protest contrast this version of events, suggesting it was a fabricated attempt to justify police repression. Both Corbyn and McDonnell stated there was no intention or attempt to breach police lines, highlighting the “bizarre” decision to arrest Nineham.
“This is a direct assault on freedom of assembly and democracy,” said Stop the War in a statement on Sunday. “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.”
Although Nineham and others were released over the weekend, the charges against them imply bans on participating in future protests. This development heightens existing concerns over escalating restrictions on public dissent in Britain, affecting not only Palestine solidarity mobilizations but also climate justice protests, industrial action, and other demonstrations.
