this post was submitted on 06 Nov 2023

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Organisers of pro-Palestine marches fear ban on Saturday’s protest in London (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

27 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Wasn't planning on going, but am now seriously considering it. Why is Cruella getting involved.

I don't know anyone who doesn't have sympathy for the Israelis that were impacted by the Hamas attack, but 10k Palestinians killed in 30 days is more than all the civilian casualties in the Ukraine war todate.

Wanting an end to Palestinian deaths is not the same as supporting Hamas.

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Irrespective of one’s political views, this is a travesty and part of a long term campaign by the the tories (probably can add Labour to this too) to silence free speech.

I have a friend who is very into the environment. She told me recently that she stopped getting involved because she feared arrest.

Peaceful protest is being criminalized in this country. It’s so sad especially since protest doesn’t affect the governments ability to enact their policies (brexit, Iraq war etc)

[–] [email protected] 13 points 10 months ago

I have a friend who is very into the environment. She told me recently that she stopped getting involved because she feared arrest.

In the states showing up at a peaceful protest against fossil fuels can get you labeled as a terrorist. And some states even have laws against protesting against energy companies.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/oct/25/fossil-fuel-company-donate-lawmakers-anti-protest-exxon-koch

[–] [email protected] 13 points 10 months ago (1 children)

What better way to honour the sacrifices of so many in wars of old by exercising your right and freedom to peaceful protest. Especially one that is a protest against the suffering and killing of innocent lives.

I just don't understand why the Tories feel they need to wade into this. It's such bad PR for them if nothing else. What are they gaining?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Playing devils advocate here. Possibly because they seem one sided? As others have said you can support Palestine without supporting Hamas. Are there any placards calling for release of hostages? Calling for both sides to stop shooting?

I notice lots of the banners are prominently advertising Socialist Worker, they like to get in on anything that goes against a sitting government and turn it to their own agenda. They've always been there, since the 1970s, at the edges, just nudging things along and stirring up feelings that are already running hot.

I dont think any marches other than those of remembrance are a good idea this weekend.

Then again there's the saying that any publicity is good publicity. But when it kicks off, as it most likely will, when some muppet throws a firework or whatever at the police, the Home Secretary and all will be crying 'See, we told you so' and come up with even more half baked ideas.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago (1 children)

That's fair, I understand that. I don't mind a one sided protest, even one that I don't agree with, as long as it's peaceful.

For example I don't have a car and rely on the trains to get me to work so when train drivers strike / protest it's a massive inconvenience to me and on at least two occasions almost cost me my days pay trying to get on site via other means. Their strike / protests are one sided too (also accompanied by Socialist Worker) and I don't recall them waving placards about fiscal prudence. But they were all peaceful and respectful and they're well within their rights to protest / march / strike like that. And good for themselves.

Protesting peacefully is a civil liberty that we have enjoyed for hundreds of years and surely something these wars were fought to protect? I find it really disrespectful that the state should now turn around and suggest that you suspend your civil liberties for a day.

As I understand it the march is not scheduled to pass the cenotaph nor is it scheduled at the same time. So why is this a thing?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (2 children)

If they're not going to be be near cenotaph then fine. But you just know there will be some (on both sides) wanting it to kick off. I wouldn't mind betting the two scumbags just let back onto the birdsite are getting their tuppence in as well.

And no, the government shouldn’t be making mileage out of this. They will though as it plays right into their agenda.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

If they're not going to be be near cenotaph then fine.

The way you've worded that response provides the reason why Cruella et al. did wade in. Because it's a hypothetical for you, "oh, if that's the case..." – it IS the case, but unless you're part of the protest or following sympathetic sources, you're simply unlikely to know that. In fact, you're likely to assume the opposite. You're likely to presume that this is something that goes right past the cenotaph because that's exactly how the Tory agitators have framed it. As Tory Baroness Warsi called them: arsonists.

I wouldn't mind betting the two scumbags just let back onto the birdsite are getting their tuppence in as well.

Yeah at least one of them, Tommeh, is actively organising marches as we speak. The rhetoric coming out of (I think, at present) 3 far-right marches is all about "defending the cenotaph" from "terrorism". Predictable, which is why Cruella and the others are such reprehensible cunts.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

They're going from the rallying point which I believe is over a mile from the cenotaph to UN building which is even further away. Also it's not happening until 1:45 p.m. which will be after all the happenings anyway.

There's no "oh well if they do it this way then fine I guess" about it. It is, and never was, about the cenotaph. The only people who ever talked about it was the government, no one from the protest ever mentioned it.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

The comments in this thread from people whinging about it being remembrance weekend are ridiculous. You want to not protest current wars, suffering and death so that you can think about past wars, suffering and death? Silly. Silly.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

Couldn't say it better myself.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:

Organisers of pro-Palestine marches that have brought hundreds of thousands of people to the streets of London have raised fresh concerns that a major protest planned for Saturday could be banned.

Ben Jamal, the director of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, held a meeting with senior Metropolitan police officers on Monday to finalise details of the route – but there is growing anxiety that the home secretary, Suella Braverman, will intervene.

Speaking earlier on Monday, Jonathan Hall, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, suggested he would be concerned by an attempt to ban the march.

On Sunday, the deputy prime minister, Oliver Dowden, became the latest senior government figure to criticise the protests after Braverman’s description of them as “hate marches”.

“We saw some evidence of hateful behaviour at the marches, including arrests for inciting racial hatred, but obviously it remains the case rightly that people are able to, peacefully, within the law, express their views,” the spokesperson said.

Jamal said they wanted “a route well away from [Whitehall], but [with] a genuine political purpose, which is why we landed on marching to the US embassy for obvious reasons, because who is the primary agent in not pressing Israel for a ceasefire?

The original article contains 749 words, the summary contains 201 words. Saved 73%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Why do they HAVE to protest this weekend? Rememberance Weekend? Can't they protest next weekend? Why does it ABSOLUTELY HAVE to be this weekend? It's very insensitive to their home country.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

I mean... sounds like they've done all they can to avoid making it an issue. It's happening well after the minute of silence (only starts at 12:45), nowhere near the Cenotaph (the main focus is the US embassy which is 2 miles from it, and the route doesn't go via the Cenotaph either). And the main Remembrance events are happening on Sunday anyway.

Unfortunately nothing ever happens unless you inconvenience people. It's the reason why Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil are so effective, whether you agree with their goals or not.

As much as it's nice to be considerate, I doubt that it's too high at the top of their minds given that a people are currently being eased off the map.

And all this without even taking into account Britain's current and historical role in creating and perpetuating this conflict.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

I think people from their home country can decide what is insentive to their home country.

I don't think it's insensitive at all. Those people didn't sacrifice their lives to see a repeat of this happening. It's border line genocide.

And minor correctiong, it's not rememberence day, that's on Sunday. Saturday is Armistice day, and you know what armistice means? It means Ceasefire. Go figure...

[–] [email protected] -1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

Braverman is an unelected Zionist whose first loyalty is to Israel.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Sorry I have to preserve what you wrote here before you edit it.

Braverman is an unelected Zionist whose first loyalty is to Israel.

You wanna explain that one?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Eh? I didn't edit it. I stand by it because it's true.

https://www.thejc.com/news/politics/rishi-reshuffle-the-jewish-movers-and-shakers-in-sunaks-new-government-44gKgDb3wf5iU7mFlE8r98

She's unelected like the rest of the Tory criminals. squatting in government.

Calling someone a Zionist isn't what you think it means despite the best efforts of anti Palestinian racists.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

she said: “We are fans in my household of Larry David and Jackie Mason. I’m the number one supporter of Friday night dinners at my husband’s family – including chicken schnitzel.”

Wow I didn't realise she was a Zionist. 🤣

She's unelected

Oh she wasn't elected in Fareham in 2015?

I understand that she's terrible at her job and needs to be out of office as soon as possible but this level of wild hyperbole does no good for discussion.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago (2 children)

If you want to talk about hyperbole she called ceasefire protests "hate marches".

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Don't lower yourself to her disgustingly low standards. She feeds off division. The best way to counter it is to be level headed and explain the facts and the truths in a rational way.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

That's good advice.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

But she was elected. Presumably by people who never had to talk to her

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Eh?

[–] [email protected] -2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

I think it should be called off. It's Remembrance Weekend. By all means do it on Friday, Monday, next weekend, etc. But it's arguably the most sacred day of our calendar.

However, banned sounds a bit much. Maybe forcefully relocated to somewhere where nothing is happening, sure. Or postponed to the evening if no events are happening then.