Southend MP and council leader urge police to prevent ‘intimidatory’ anti-Israel march

A local MP and council leader in Southend have called on Essex police to prevent a planned march through the area by anti-Israel demonstrators, citing language promoting the event which referred to the city as a “horrific Zionist area”.

Bayo Alaba, Labour MP for Southend East and Rochford, described how he was “urging the police to prevent this event from taking place, as it seems this protest may be carried out in bad faith and used to intimidate residents.

“The right to peacefully protest is a fundamental principle of our democratic society, and it should never be misused to promote hate.

The march has been advertised in affiliation with a variety of groups, including  “Southend Action for Palestine”, “Palestine Pulse”, “London Irish Brigade”, and both the Peterborough and Cambridge branches of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign – although not the Southend PSC branch itself.

Whatsapp messages sent along with the flyer included the sentence: “Southend is a horrific Zionist area, and if uou [sic] came to the last demo, you will have already witnessed this.” It is unclear which individual or organisation shared the flyer via whatsapp with this language.

Mr Alaba’s statement referenced this language, saying “I must be clear, I am not in support of this protest going ahead. I am appalled by the description of Southend as a ‘horrific Zionist area’.

“It is crucial that the Jewish community feel safe in the city they call home.”

Councillor Daniel Cowan, the Labour leader of Southend on Sea city council, also condemned the planned march, saying: “on 30 August…there is a planned protest march along Southend sea front and through the high street. I have asked Essex Police for this to be stopped. This is advertised as a peaceful protest yet is being shared with hideous, racist language describing our city.

“I contacted Essex police, expressing my belief that for some the “protest” is an antagonistic stunt designed to harass and intimidate decent people in our city. I cherish the right to peaceful protest but I will not condone an event that is being promoted as a protest in a ‘horrific Zionist area’ that people would have ‘witnessed’ had they attended the last demo.”

In April, a similar demonstration was organised by anti-Israel campaigners, which was widely criticised by Jewish communal organisations due to its choice to march on the Sabbath in the immediate vicinity of the city’s synagogues at a time when congregants would be emerging from prayers. The Community Security Trust described it as “a deliberately antagonistic act”.

Police forces have powers available which can be used to restrict protest in some circumstances. Section 12 powers allow for restrictions to be placed on procession or procession routes where protests travel from one location to another. Section 14 powers allows for restrictions to be placed upon freedom of assembly, including defined timings and assembly locations.

Any outright ban on procession would require the Home Secretary’s approval, as set out in Section 13 of the Public Order Act.

Councillor Cowan’s statement continued, saying: “I have urged the police to use every power they possess to prevent racism and intimidation from being legitimised on our streets.

“Our Jewish families should not feel unsafe in their city or told to stay inside to avoid abuse. The abusers should not be allowed in our city. This march is also planned on the last Saturday of the summer holidays and during City Jam so we will have thousands of tourists in the city. It is not safe to allow a demonstration of this size or nature.

“Southend does not tolerate racism and intimidation. I have asked Essex Police to support us in this endeavour.”

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of a planned gathering in the Westcliff and Southend area which is due to take place on Saturday 30 August.

“Although we are yet to receive a formal notification from organisers, we speak every week with our communities and local people, and we fully understand the concerns which have been raised.

“This directly informs our policing plans – we are listening, and we will make sure we put local people first.”