MPs Alarmed as Met Police Blocks Pro-Palestine March Plans Near BBC
MPs express concern after Met Police halts Pro-Palestine march near BBC, citing disruption fears
Pro-Palestine, Met Police, BBC, London, John McDonnell, Shabbat
London: There’s been quite a stir over the Pro-Palestine march planned outside the BBC. It was supposed to happen this Saturday, but the Met Police stepped in.
Some MPs are really worried about this. They think the police are overreacting by trying to stop the march, claiming it could disrupt a nearby synagogue. But the police say they just want to avoid any chaos.
John McDonnell, a Labour MP, and a few others have pushed back against the police’s decision. They want the restrictions lifted so the march can go ahead as planned.
The police, however, insist they’re not banning the protest. They’ve suggested moving it to another day to avoid clashing with Shabbat services.
Last week, the Met used the Public Order Act to block the march, which was supposed to start at Broadcasting House and head to Whitehall. Now, they’ve set conditions that prevent protesters from gathering in the area.
Things got even messier when the police claimed the protest group changed the route at the last minute, which they say is a big deal.
On the flip side, the Campaign Against Antisemitism is backing the police, saying they support the measures to keep the area safe. They feel the regular protests have made parts of London uncomfortable for the Jewish community.
Ben Jamal from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign argues that Saturday is the best day for these protests since it allows more people to join in from all over the country.
He feels the police are unfairly stopping them from protesting outside the BBC, which he believes is a key location for accountability.
In a motion, the MPs expressed their alarm over the police’s actions, stating that the march route was agreed upon weeks ago. They believe the BBC should be open to public scrutiny.
The police have said they considered the views of local communities before making their decision, especially since Saturday is a holy day for many.
Commander Adam Slonecki, who’s in charge of policing that weekend, explained that they can set conditions for protests to manage them better.
He noted that they’ve been using these powers more frequently lately, especially given the ongoing protests in the area.
Many Jewish Londoners have expressed concern about the protests affecting their plans and attendance at religious services.
In response, the PSC has strongly criticized the police for trying to stop the march, arguing that the route was confirmed long ago and has been used infrequently.
They also pointed out that the police’s reasoning about potential disruption to the synagogue doesn’t hold up since it’s not even on the march route.
Plus, they highlighted that many Jewish people have joined the marches, showing that the events aren’t hostile to the community.