Met threaten to arrest pro-Palestine activists failing to stick to new demo route
Those attending the PSC-led demo on Saturday have been instructed by police to form up in Russell Square
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
The Metropolitan Police have threatened to arrest pro-Palestine activists failing to adhere to a new route set out for a march scheduled for this Saturday.
Recognising the disruption that a planned demo, -set to begin at Portland Place, close to Central Synagogue – would have had on Shabbat services, police have instructed demonstrators to instead form up in Russell Square and head on a new route ending in Whitehall.Communal leaders stress demand for pro-Palestine demo to avoid synagogue
In a statement the Met confirmed they would have a “significant policing presence” in Portland Place to ensure strict conditions around the march are not breached.
They added:”Anyone breaching the conditions, or inciting others to do so, is committing an offence.
“The consequences for doing so include arrest.”
`The statement followed claims Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) director Ben Jamal reportedly said his group would go ahead with its planned march from Whitehall to the BBC on Saturday, even if the police dispersed the crowd en route.
Ismail Patel, chairman of Friends of Al-Aqsa, who are also behind the march, said in a speech he would go to “prison” rather than agree to the change to the protest’s route.
Met Commander Slonecki said: “Our role is not to take sides. We police without fear or favour and we have taken the decisions we have motivated only by the need to ensure groups can exercise their right to peaceful protest, while also ensuring the wider community can go about their lives without serious disruption.”
Slonecki said that the force had offered PSC alternative days of the week to protest outside BBC, “where we could be confident that they wouldn’t cause serious disruption to the lives of those attending the synagogue.”
He said the “onus” should not be on the Jewish community to change their Shabbat activity.
“We are also aware of some more recent commentary suggesting that reversing the route should be acceptable because the morning service at the synagogue would have finished.
“The synagogue is in use throughout the day and such a position doesn’t take into account other services and gatherings. The onus should not be on others to change their behaviour, such as leaving by a specific time, in order to accommodate the needs of protest groups,” Slonecki said.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.