Freedom to Protest for Palestine or….?
JVL Introduction
Jonathan Cook’s piece on the attempts to stop, limit, contain and suppress the 24th National March for Palestine over the last 15 months outlines what happened before, during and after the event and why we we must continue to protest – and not only for Palestine. This clampdown stretched to Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, formerly Leader of the Labour Party and Shadow Chancellor. The allegations are that they, along with Chris Nineham Chief Steward of the march, a Holocaust survivor and others had pushed through a cordon whereas video evidence shows having “told the police precisely what they intended to do” (ie go as far as police allowed towards the BBC)”and then, when the police blocked their way, they would lay down flowers, in memory of the slaughtered children in Gaza…” and that this is what they did.
After 23 peaceful marches with very few arrests, this felt very different. It matters because it is part of trying to suppress or at least marginalise the voices of Palestinian people and all who stand for justice, it lays the way for further repression of free speech on any issue (clearly Environment campaigners are already being targeted). This impacts on us all and leads the way to an authoritarian state.
An additional aspect for JVL is that, once again, Jewish people and possible feelings of discomfort, are seen to take precedence over those opposing a (plausible) genocide and the feelings of Palestinian people in this country who have seen their own family members murdered, their homes destroyed and their neighbourhoods pulverised.
LL
This article was originally published by Jonathan Cook's Blog on Mon 20 Jan 2025. Read the original here.
Corbyn is being smeared again – this time to stop protests against genocide
I was an eyewitness to events on Saturday. The Metropolitan police are lying when they claim the ex-Labour leader and MP John McDonnell forced their way through a police cordon
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You say, “The Met’s statement on the march is revealing: “Conditions were put in place after taking into account the cumulative impact of the prolonged period of protest on Jewish Londoners, particularly when protests are in the vicinity of synagogues often on Saturdays, the Jewish holy day.”
The Met’s deeply racist statement assumes all “Jewish Londoners” are in favour of Israel’s genocide and that all of them find protests against it offensive. In doing so, the police choose to ignore the many thousands of Jews who regularly turn out at the protests to say Israel’s genocide is not being conducted in their name.” According to the Institute for Jewish Policy Research 74% of British Jews are against Israel’s actions. I assume that 74% are in support of the marches rather than feeling threatened by it. https://www.jpr.org.uk/reports/what-do-jews-uk-think-about-israel-and-its-leaders-and-how-has-changed-october-7?fbclid=IwY2xjawH8UexleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHWZ_PihmNDmxrL88W004h22jLdI-rcrD52atXXw2uHPCx_xR1TcS3b1B2A_aem_mzxModFx74RVu1sDMLs1KQ
It seems to me that the rot set in when we started having to ask permission to have demonstrations at all. About 12 years ago, organisers had to ask permission and tell police the march route.I do not remember this happening between say 1968 and 2010, but my memory may be faulty. Perhaps it’s just that the police negotiations have become much more onerous. On this last occasion , first the start of march route was altered – twice – then even the static protest conditions were altered. ‘Zones’ were set up and altered without warning. It was almost impossible not to trespass. I have noticed several familiar Jewish names among the 70+ arrested. I personally would have liked to continue towards the BBC , but when the JVL banner turned around I thought it was best for us to stay together. Whereas the marches to date have been inspiring, this was a dispiriting experience. Of course this is exactly what the police tactics aimed for, but it’s the government that tells the police what to do. Police have been under huge pressure to make arrests and failed to find any real reason to do so. It is a nightmare if Cooper is going to be an even more repressive Home Sec than Braverman!