Police To Pro-Israel Protesters: Free Speech in Britain Has “a Time and a Place” Now…
Commissioner of London’s police force made matters worse when he later proclaimed that the pro-Israel protesters had acted like “damn stupid” football fans.
Commissioner of London’s police force made matters worse when he later proclaimed that the pro-Israel protesters had acted like “damn stupid” football fans.
An angry crowd gathered in London on Monday evening after the government announced the Palestine Action campaign group was to be designated as a terrorist organisation.
Activists went on what the Campaign Against Antisemitism described as “a new spree of criminal vandalism in London” and chanted: “Met Police can go to hell.”
They are likely, however, to have been pleased to see officers confronting Jewish counter-protesters who waved the Israeli flag. These were told that this simple action could be a breach of the peace, and that while Britons have a right to free speech and protest, “there’s a time and a place, isn’t there?”
Sir Mark Rowley, commissioner of London’s police force, made matters worse when he later told LBC radio that the pro-Israel protesters had acted like “damn stupid” football fans.
Isaac Grand, who was accosted by the police for waving the Israel flag, toldThe Daily Telegraph:
Sir Mark Rowley’s rhetoric is akin to a rape victim being told it was her fault for dressing ‘provocatively.’
Journalist Allison Pearson added that the encounter suggests police have “no grasp of free speech at all” and have “lost control of the streets.”
Met Police Sergeant says to protester waving Israeli flag in London, You’re here to wind people up”. Says he can’t arrest 500 people! No grasp of free speech at all. Police have lost control of the streets. @metpoliceuk
The proscription of Palestine Action follows attacks on two British military planes by the group’s activists earlier this month. Labour Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described this as “the latest in a long history of unacceptable criminal damage committed by Palestine Action.”
Met Police officers also arrested a number of pro-Palestine activists at the demo, including for “obstruction” and for a “racially aggravated public order offence.”
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
