Pro-Palestinian protesters blocked roads outside the British parliament in London on Saturday, demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and clashing with police who prevented them from marching across Westminster Bridge.
A collective of organizations protested in London on Saturday afternoon for a ceasefire in Gaza and to "END the Israeli Occupation." The protest collectives refused to share information with the Metropolitan Police about their planned protest routes, the Metropolitan Police said on X.
Various protest groups, including Sisters Uncut and Black Lives Matter, are planning to hold a protest in central London today.Officers have attempted to speak with the organisers, however they have not shared any information with us about their proposed route.This has an… pic.twitter.com/k70Y6bIP1d
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) January 6, 2024
It is unclear if the police had been informed of the protests beforehand. The police website advises that, by law, protest organizers must provide 6 days' notice to the police before the event with information including the date, time, route, and names and addresses of the organizers.
Keeping identities concealed
Black Lives Matter instructed attendees on how to "keep yourself and others safe from surveillance" on X. They advised protesters to keep their identities concealed by wearing masks, and coverable clothing and to hide identifiable features.
BLM's X post also accused the police and far right of targeting protesters, using the footage collected from the protests to "gather intelligence."
Keep yourself and others safe from surveillance today and whenever you’re out protesting. wear a mask cover identifiable features and clothing try to take images that do not show faces and identifiable features ️ cover faces w/ a blurring app/video editing/emojis pic.twitter.com/wt2H6gjgR0
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) January 6, 2024
In previous London pro-Palestinian protests, a number of arrests were made after individuals were photographed with antisemitic placards.
BLM and Sisters Uncut announced that the protests would begin in St James' Park, having previously only published a countdown to when the protest location would be announced.
Location dropping at 10 am Stay ready!pic.twitter.com/VdQJW3IqoI
— #BlackLivesMatterUK (@ukblm) January 5, 2024
London, like other Western cities, has seen regular and sometimes large demonstrations calling for Israel to halt the bombardment of Gaza triggered by a surprise Oct. 7 attack by Hamas terrorists that killed more than 1,200 people.
Videos posted on social media showed police blocking protesters' access to the bridge and a Reuters reporter said there had been several small scuffles. Unable to fully access the bridge, where they had planned to unfurl banners, protesters instead occupied the surrounding roads.
Police said they had imposed a legal order limiting the location of the protests and that by 3 p.m. (1500 GMT) people had begun to disperse. Those who refused to comply with an order to leave could be arrested, police said.
The police have told them to stop playing loud music. Heartening to see a strong response. pic.twitter.com/Zr8NmcAjpC
— Heidi Bachram ️ (@HeidiBachram) January 6, 2024
Gary Mond, Chairman of the National Jewish Assembly, told the Jerusalem Post that today's protest marches marked a new low in anti-Israel demonstrations. He explained "First, it is appalling that the organisers refused to co-operate properly with the police. This behaviour should be examined and action taken against the various organisations if possible. Second, the 'pro-Palestinian' marchers now being supported by other left-wing protest groups such as Black Lives Matter and Sisters Uncut reveals the fundamentally antisemitic nature of these latter entities too."
HAPPENING NOW OUTSIDE PARLIAMENTNow the mob are chanting to each other, as if in a cult, how best to behave when talking to Police. pic.twitter.com/hapoa2cM2X
— Harry's Place (@hurryupharry) January 6, 2024