Babak Belurs

Kamis, 09 November 2023

Pro-Palestinian protest in London: Row over Suella Braverman’s claim of police bias - BBC

By Henry Zeffman & Joshua Nevett

BBC Politics

A row has erupted over Home Secretary Suella Braverman's attack on the Metropolitan Police for its handling of pro-Palestinian protests.

Writing in The Times, Ms Braverman accused the force of applying a "double standard" to its policing of protests.

She claimed aggressive right-wing protesters were "rightly met with a stern response", while "pro-Palestinian mobs" were "largely ignored".

Her comments have been condemned by former police officers and MPs.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing calls to sack Ms Braverman, with Labour accusing the home secretary of undermining police independence and "deliberately creating division".

One senior Conservative MP told the BBC: "The home secretary's awfulness is now a reflection on the prime minister. Keeping her in post is damaging him."

But the home secretary's allies on the right of the Conservative Party have defended her and argued that a pro-Palestinian march planned for Saturday in central London should not have been allowed to go ahead.

Conservative MP Danny Kruger denied Mrs Braverman was interfering, and said she was entitled to comment on the "broader culture of police".

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Ms Braverman comments came after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held a meeting with Met Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to discuss security ahead of a pro-Palestinian march taking place this Saturday, which is also Armistice Day.

Neither Mr Sunak or Ms Braverman have publicly called for the police to ban Saturday's march, but the prime minister has urged organisers to call it off, saying the choice of date was "provocative and disrespectful".

In an article for The Times, the home secretary claimed that there was "a perception that senior officers play favourites when it comes to protesters".

The home secretary said the pro-Palestinian marches, which began last month in response to Israel's siege of Gaza, had been "problematic" because of "violence around the fringes" as well as "highly offensive" chants, posters and stickers.

"Right-wing and nationalist protesters who engage in aggression are rightly met with a stern response yet pro-Palestinian mobs displaying almost identical behaviour are largely ignored, even when clearly breaking the law," she wrote.

The BBC has been told Mr Sunak's team suggested amendments to the home secretary's draft, but not all of them were applied to the eventual article published last night.

A government source told the BBC: "We are not commenting on internal process."

There have been regular protests in London after Hamas gunmen launched an unprecedented assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip on 7 October, killing more than 1,400 people and taking more than 200 hostages.

Israel has been carrying out strikes on Gaza since then in response, and has now also launched a ground offensive. More than 10,500 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

London's police force has faced increasing pressure to prevent Saturday's pro-Palestinian march from going ahead.

But Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has said it may only be stopped if there is a threat of serious disorder, and that the "very high threshold" has not been reached.

More on Israel-Gaza war

Follow live: Latest updates
From Gaza: Palestinian given two hours to evacuate whole neighbourhood
From Israel: Pain still raw a month after Hamas attacks
Watch: BBC's Jeremy Bowen in Gaza with Israeli forces
Explained: Who are the hostages taken by Hamas from Israel?
History behind the story: The Israel-Palestinian conflict

Plenty of the home secretary's colleagues agree with Ms Braverman on the substance of her article, but they are frustrated by repeatedly having to defend - or distance themselves from - her rhetoric.

One government figure told the BBC Mrs Braverman's intervention was "unhinged".

Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper described it as a "dangerous attempt to undermine respect for police", while London mayor Sadiq Khan said it was "irresponsible".

"The PM's weakness when it comes to standing up to Suella is the most shocking thing in all this," claimed a senior Labour source.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Mr Sunak "must finally act with integrity by sacking his out-of-control home secretary".

"Suella Braverman is now putting police officers in harm's way ahead of far right protesters flocking to the capital this weekend," Sir Ed said.

He said her remarks demonstrated the "increasing politicisation of policing", and how the march is handled should be an operational matter for officers.

A graphic showing the route of the pro-Palestinian march

In her article, Ms Braverman wrote that she believed the marches were not "merely a cry for help for Gaza", but an "assertion of primacy by certain groups - particularly Islamists - of the kind we are more used to seeing in Northern Ireland".

A source close to the home secretary told the BBC the comment was a reference to the activities of "dissident republicans".

Responding to the article, one Conservative Party source called the comparison with Northern Ireland "wholly offensive and ignorant".

Ms Braverman also questioned why "lockdown objectors were given no quarter by public order police yet Black Lives Matters demonstrators were enabled, allowed to break rules".

"I have spoken to serving and former police officers who have noted this double standard," the home secretary wrote.

Former cabinet minister Nadine Dorries claimed Ms Braverman was trying to get sacked to give her a platform of martyrdom in service of the right-wing.

"The competition is on now for who is going to be the leader of the opposition," Ms Dorries told the BBC.

More on Israel-Gaza war

Follow live: Latest updates
From Gaza: Palestinian given two hours to evacuate whole neighbourhood
From Israel: Pain still raw a month after Hamas attacks
Watch: BBC's Jeremy Bowen in Gaza with Israeli forces
Explained: Who are the hostages taken by Hamas from Israel?
History behind the story: The Israel-Palestinian conflict

The row between the government and the Metropolitan Police had appeared to be cooling, with the prime minister accepting that Saturday's march could go ahead.

But following Ms Braverman's article, it is more intense than ever, fuelling discontent within the Conservative Party and putting pressure on the prime minister.

Plenty of the home secretary's colleagues agree with her on the substance, but they are frustrated by repeatedly having to defend - or distance themselves from - her rhetoric.

One government figure told the BBC Mrs Braverman's intervention was "unhinged".

Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper described it as a "dangerous attempt to undermine respect for police", while London mayor Sadiq Khan said it was "irresponsible".

"The PM's weakness when it comes to standing up to Suella is the most shocking thing in all this," claimed a senior Labour source.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Mr Sunak "must finally act with integrity by sacking his out-of-control home secretary".

"Suella Braverman is now putting police officers in harm's way ahead of far right protesters flocking to the capital this weekend," Sir Ed said.

Dal Babu, a former Met chief superintendent, said Mrs Braverman's comments would cause "huge problems and difficulties for police".

He said her remarks demonstrated the "increasing politicisation of policing", and how the march is handled should be an operational matter for officers.

A source close to the home secretary told the BBC the comment was a reference to the activities of "dissident republicans".

Responding to the article, one Conservative Party source called the comparison with Northern Ireland "wholly offensive and ignorant".

Ms Braverman also questioned why "lockdown objectors were given no quarter by public order police yet Black Lives Matters demonstrators were enabled, allowed to break rules".

The home secretary wrote: "Right-wing and nationalist protesters who engage in aggression are rightly met with a stern response yet pro-Palestinian mobs displaying almost identical behaviour are largely ignored, even when clearly breaking the law?

"I have spoken to serving and former police officers who have noted this double standard."

Former cabinet minister Nadine Dorries claimed Ms Braverman was trying to get sacked to give her a platform of martyrdom in service of the right-wing.

"The competition is on now for who is going to be the leader of the opposition," Ms Dorries told the BBC.

Rabu, 08 November 2023

'Freedom is the right to peacefully protest': PM accepts pro-Palestine march will go ahead on Armistice Day - Sky News

Rishi Sunak has described a planned pro-Palestinian march in London on Armistice Day as "disrespectful" - but has accepted the protest will go ahead.

The prime minister met with the chief of the Metropolitan Police Sir Mark Rowley for a crisis meeting this afternoon - and had vowed to hold him "accountable" for the commissioner's decision to greenlight the demonstration on 11 November.

Sir Mark had resisted calls to try and block a march taking place - and said, after looking at intelligence, the legal threshold for a ban had not been met.

Israel-Gaza latest: 'Hamas head of weapons killed'

In a statement, the prime minister said: "Freedom is the right to peacefully protest. And the test of that freedom is whether our commitment to it can survive the discomfort and frustration of those who seek to use it, even if we disagree with them. We will meet that test and remain true to our principles."

He added: "It's welcome that the police have confirmed that the march will be away from the Cenotaph and they will ensure that the timings do not conflict with any remembrance events.

"There remains the risk of those who seek to divide society using this weekend as a platform to do so. That is what I discussed with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner in our meeting.

"The commissioner has committed to keep the Met Police's posture under constant review based on the latest intelligence about the nature of the protests."

Sir Mark Rowley has interpreted the law correctly

By Graham Wettone, policing analyst

Sir Mark Rowley was very careful with his words about why the pro-Palestinian protest this Saturday has not been banned.

He spoke about the legal issues around banning a gathering and then explained the possible options for a ban.

He has interpreted the law correctly and some in government appear to have misunderstood or misinterpreted it, and forgotten the police have operational independence.

Section 12 of the Public Order Act 1986 allows for marches and processions to have conditions placed on them if the senior officer "reasonably believes" it may result in serious disorder, damage or disruption.

The Met can impose conditions relating to the duration and route of a march, as placing a number restriction is totally unworkable. That is what they will be doing with the organisers this Saturday, as the organising groups have refused to cancel the protest.

Section 13 of the Public Order Act relates to banning a march. This is only applicable if the commissioner reasonably believes that the powers under Section 12 - any conditions he imposes on the procession - will not be sufficient to prevent serious disorder.

Sir Mark clearly stated that, at the moment, the intelligence does not support the "reasonable belief" that serious disorder is likely, hence he cannot legally apply for a ban under Section 13. I would agree that is probably the case - but intelligence will be developing over the next few days, and the commissioner did not rule out the situation may change before Saturday.

Sir Mark then explained the law around gatherings or assemblies. Police can impose conditions on these under Section 14 of Public Order Act, which is similar to Section 12 in that there needs to be a "reasonable belief" of "serious disorder".

However a key difference is that Section 13 only applies to processions or marches under Section 12 - and not gatherings under Section 14. There are no legal powers to ban people gathering.

The Met tried to prevent unlawful assemblies using Section 14 across London a few years ago with Just Stop Oil, but the High Court ruled it was unlawful and that gatherings cannot be legally banned.

The likely scenario as it stands is that if a ban went in for the march, the organising groups would still have people attend a "gathering" - and the fact a ban is in place may well increase numbers. If groups then decide to separate off in different directions, and if there are significant numbers in the thousands, then arresting all is impossible.

PM 'picking a fight with police'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had accused Mr Sunak of "cowardice" for "picking a fight" with the police.

He tweeted: "Remembrance events must be respected. Full stop.

"But the person the PM needs to hold accountable is his home secretary. Picking a fight with the police instead of working with them is cowardice."

Home Secretary Suella Braverman had called the pro-Palestinian demonstrations "hate marches" and said anyone who vandalised the Cenotaph on Armistice Day "must be put into a jail cell faster than their feet can touch the ground".

No 10 denies putting pressure on Met

Downing Street denied seeking to put pressure on the Met, which is operationally independent, and insisted the meeting was about "seeking assurances" that their approach is "robust".

The Met has said its officers were already preparing for remembrance events over the weekend and "we will do everything in our power to ensure that people who want to mark the occasion can do so safely and without disruption."

In a statement on Tuesday, Sir Mark said: "The laws created by Parliament are clear. There is no absolute power to ban protest, therefore there will be a protest this weekend."

He added that the use of the power to block moving protests is "incredibly rare" and must be reserved for cases where there is intelligence to suggest a "real threat" of serious disorder.

He said organisers of Saturday's rally have shown "complete willingness to stay away from the Cenotaph and Whitehall and have no intention of disrupting the nation's remembrance events".

"Should this change, we've been clear we will use powers and conditions available to us to protect locations and events of national importance at all costs."

Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts

Organisers say protest will be 'well away' from Cenotaph

Tens of thousands have demonstrated in London in recent weeks over Palestinian deaths in the Israel-Hamas war, with 29 arrested during a fourth week of protests last Saturday, during which fireworks were thrown.

Organisers of the protest next Saturday say it will be "well away" from the Cenotaph - going from Hyde Park, around a mile from the war memorial in Whitehall, to the US embassy - and won't start until after the 11am silence.

Several Cabinet ministers have spoken out about the situation, with Health Secretary Steve Barclay telling Sky News that 11 November was the "wrong day" for protest action in London.

He said: "There is a legal threshold and the Commissioner is of the view that that legal threshold has not been met.

"Obviously, the Home Office and colleagues will discuss that over the course of the day."

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFodHRwczovL25ld3Muc2t5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS9mcmVlZG9tLWlzLXRoZS1yaWdodC10by1wZWFjZWZ1bGx5LXByb3Rlc3QtcG0tYWNjZXB0cy1wcm8tcGFsZXN0aW5lLW1hcmNoLXdpbGwtZ28tYWhlYWQtb24tYXJtaXN0aWNlLWRheS0xMzAwMjA5N9IBkAFodHRwczovL25ld3Muc2t5LmNvbS9zdG9yeS9hbXAvZnJlZWRvbS1pcy10aGUtcmlnaHQtdG8tcGVhY2VmdWxseS1wcm90ZXN0LXBtLWFjY2VwdHMtcHJvLXBhbGVzdGluZS1tYXJjaC13aWxsLWdvLWFoZWFkLW9uLWFybWlzdGljZS1kYXktMTMwMDIwOTc?oc=5

2023-11-08 17:48:45Z
2574553221

Carol Vorderman quits BBC show saying she will ‘not be silenced’ by social media rules - The Guardian

Carol Vorderman has quit her weekly BBC Radio Wales show, saying she will “not be silenced” by the corporation’s new social media guidelines.

Vorderman, who has hosted the Saturday morning show for five years, said BBC Wales management had decided she “must leave” after she continued to express forthright opinions, often about the government’s running of the country, on social media.

In September the BBC updated its social media guidelines to include a strengthened “Lineker clause”, in an attempt to stop high-profile presenters expressing strong views on party politics.

Vorderman, who earlier this year called the government “a lying bunch of greedy, corrupt, destructive, hateful, divisive, gaslighting crooks”, said she respected the BBC’s social media guidelines but was “not prepared to lose my voice on social media, change who I am, or lose the ability to express the strong beliefs I hold about the political turmoil this country finds itself in”.

In a statement on X, formally Twitter, Vorderman wrote: “The BBC recently introduced new social media guidelines, which I respect. However, despite my show being light-hearted with no political content, it was explained to me that, as it is a weekly show in my name, the new guidelines would apply to all and any content that I post all year round.

“Since those non-negotiable changes to my radio contract were made, I’ve ultimately found that I’m not prepared to lose my voice on social media, change who I am, or lose the ability to express the strong beliefs I hold about the political turmoil this country finds itself in.

“My decision has been to continue to criticise the current UK government for what it has done to the country which I love – and I’m not prepared to stop. I was brought up to fight for what I believe in, and I will carry on.

“Consequently I have now breached the new guidelines and BBC Wales management have decided I must leave. We each must make our decisions.”

She said she was sad to leave “wonderful friends” at Radio Wales and wished her listeners “all the love in the world”, adding: “But, for now, another interesting chapter begins.”

Gary Lineker caused turmoil within the BBC this year when he refused to apologise for tweets about the language used by the home secretary, Suella Braverman, to describe asylum seekers. The BBC’s director general, Tim Davie, suspended Lineker, only to reinstate him after a staff rebellion.

The guidelines state that presenters on flagship shows must not endorse or attack a political party, criticise the character of individual politicians in the UK, or take up an official role in campaigning groups.

Lineker last week questioned the home secretary’s decision to label a pro-Palestine march planned for Armistice Day as a “hate march”. Organisers have said they will not go past the Cenotaph, while the Metropolitan police said protest groups are not planning to march on Remembrance Sunday.

Braverman wrote on X that it was “unacceptable to desecrate Armistice Day with a hate march through London”. In response, Lineker wrote: “Marching and calling for a ceasefire and peace so that more innocent children don’t get killed is not really the definition of a hate march.”

Reacting to Vorderman’s decision to quit the BBC, a spokesperson for BBC Wales said: “Carol has been a presenter on BBC Radio Wales since 2018. We’d like to thank her for her work and contribution to the station over the past five years.”

Vorderman’s punchy posts

September 2023

“Rishi Sunak lies. Eating meat tax doesn’t exist. New flying tax doesn’t exist. Compulsory car sharing doesn’t exist. Mandatory insulation upgrade doesn’t exist. Mind you, a recycling bin each for Dozy, Nasty, Sweary, Dodgy, Greedy, Shouty & Bully at GE is a grand idea.”

August 2023

Responding to Penny Mordaunt’s call to bring back national service:

“Bring Back National Service” cries Penny Mordaunt. What a pile of utter nonsense. She also spouts that Tories alone believe in personal responsibility and looking after others. WOW! Current Tories care only about themselves and their snouts in the troughs of power and money. FACT”

June 2023

“The Tory Gov has now lost around half of those who voted for them in 2019. Why? Cos they’re a lying bunch of greedy, corrupt, destructive, hateful, divisive, gaslighting crooks. No need for a focus group Sunak....it’ll just tell you the same…”

December 2022

On Jeremy Clarkson’s comment about Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex:

“NO Jeremy Clarkson. Not on any level, in any circumstance, is it ok to write this stuff about any woman & absolutely NO to ‘everyone who’s my age thinks the same’. No no no. We absolutely do NOT think the same. Listen to the noise Jeremy. The crowds are chanting ‘shame on YOU’.”

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiYWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZWd1YXJkaWFuLmNvbS9jdWx0dXJlLzIwMjMvbm92LzA4L2Nhcm9sLXZvcmRlcm1hbi1xdWl0cy1iYmMtc2hvdy1zb2NpYWwtbWVkaWEtcnVsZXPSAWFodHRwczovL2FtcC50aGVndWFyZGlhbi5jb20vY3VsdHVyZS8yMDIzL25vdi8wOC9jYXJvbC12b3JkZXJtYW4tcXVpdHMtYmJjLXNob3ctc29jaWFsLW1lZGlhLXJ1bGVz?oc=5

2023-11-08 17:27:00Z
2601509077

Imran Hussain: Labour frontbencher resigns in support of Gaza ceasefire - The Guardian

A member of Labour’s frontbench has resigned “with a heavy heart” over the party’s position on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Imran Hussain, MP for Bradford East, said he could no longer “sufficiently in all good conscience” serve as a shadow levelling up minister as he wanted to be a strong advocate for a ceasefire.

“Over recent weeks, it has become clear that my view on the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza differs substantially from the position you have adopted,” Hussain said in a resignation letter to the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, published on social media.

“A ceasefire is essential to ending the bloodshed, to ensuring that enough aid can pass into Gaza and reach those most in need, and to help ensure the safe return of the Israeli hostages.”

He said he had been proud to work alongside Starmer and his deputy, Angela Rayner, in developing a plan for employment rights, but could not “in all good conscience” push for a cessation of hostilities while remaining part of the frontbench.

Since the Guardian reported about the first 20 councillors who were ready to quit the party last month over Starmer’s comments on LBC and the party’s position, many frontbenchers who represent constituencies with large Muslim communities had been on resignation watch. Those constituencies included Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester and Leeds.

Despite Starmer’s efforts to clarify the comments he made during an LBC interview in which he said Israel “has the right” to withhold power and water from Gaza, Hussain said the party leader’s comments had left him “deeply troubled”.

“I have unequivocally condemned Hamas’s attacks of 7 October and I firmly agree that every country has the right to defend itself. This however can never become a right to deliberately violate international law on protecting civilians or to commit war crimes,” he wrote.

Hussain ultimately wants the party to go further and call for a ceasefire, and he is joined by at 15 other Labour frontbenchers who have either called for a ceasefire or shared others’ demands for a ceasefire on social media, including Yasmin Qureshi and Jess Phillips.

Asked if Labour MPs had been told not to attend pro-Palestine marches this weekend, the shadow education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said: “We’ve been told we need to be careful that we don’t end up alongside people where there may be banners or language being used that is unacceptable, and sadly there have been incidents on some of these marches where that has happened. I appreciate that it’s not the majority of people who want to demonstrate.”

Pressed on Hussain’s views on whether Israel had breached international law, Phillipson said all Labour MPs “have to tread with a degree of caution”, adding that “Imran has reached his own decision”.

Starmer had sought on Friday to portray the party as unified in its position on the Israel-Hamas conflict, insisting that calls for a ceasefire and humanitarian pauses were “coming from the same place”.

Hussain’s resignation puts Starmer’s leadership under strain. A number of senior Labour MPs do not feel his comments on the Middle East conflict this week have done enough to “hold the parliamentary Labour party together”, given the “level of anger within Labour’s grassroots”.

The Labour leader has argued that a ceasefire would freeze the status quo and that Hamas’s murder of 1,400 people on 7 October and the group’s stated intention to strike again and again makes this untenable.

Starmer has followed the White House in calling for humanitarian pauses to allow aid to get into Gaza. Labour backs a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.

Senior Labour figures, including the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, and the Greater Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, have also challenged Starmer’s stance.

The Labour leader of Burnley borough council resigned along with 10 other councillors in protest at Starmer’s refusal to call for a ceasefire; while at least 330 Labour councillors have signed a letter urging Starmer to back a ceasefire.

The Labour leadership has sought to toughen its line towards Israel. David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, after visiting the region, said the “number of dead Palestinian civilians and children is shocking” as he called on Israel to take further steps to stop a “humanitarian catastrophe”, including a pause in the fighting.

Lammy said Israel “must uphold international law” and also warned of violence in the West Bank.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiaWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRoZWd1YXJkaWFuLmNvbS9wb2xpdGljcy8yMDIzL25vdi8wOC9pbXJhbi1odXNzYWluLWxhYm91ci1mcm9udGJlbmNoZXItcmVzaWducy1nYXphLWNlYXNlZmlyZdIBaWh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLnRoZWd1YXJkaWFuLmNvbS9wb2xpdGljcy8yMDIzL25vdi8wOC9pbXJhbi1odXNzYWluLWxhYm91ci1mcm9udGJlbmNoZXItcmVzaWducy1nYXphLWNlYXNlZmlyZQ?oc=5

2023-11-08 12:56:34Z
2600670551

Selasa, 07 November 2023

Stay away from pro-Palestinian protests to avoid threat of clashes, Johnny Mercer tells veterans - The Telegraph

Former soldiers have been warned by the veterans minister to stay away from London on Armistice Day to avoid clashes with pro-Palestinian protesters.

Johnny Mercer, the minister for veterans’ affairs, said it was right that demonstrations should go ahead at the weekend, pointing out that former soldiers such as himself had “put on the uniform” in order to uphold “our fellow citizens’ right to protest”.

His stance puts him at odds with Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, who has described Saturday’s planned demonstration as a “hate march”.

The Cabinet has been split over Mrs Braverman’s approach, with one Cabinet minister privately alarmed by her comments, which they described as “ridiculous” and blamed her for creating “this problem”.

Separately, Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, declined to call Saturday’s demonstration a “hate” march when asked on Radio 4’s Today programme if he agreed with the Home Secretary’s assessment.

Mr Mercer, a former Army captain who served in Afghanistan, said he had spent the past few days trying to dissuade veterans groups from organising counter-protests on Saturday that could lead to clashes with pro-Palestinian marchers.

But in his letter to Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Mr Mercer also demanded greater protection for elderly veterans travelling to the capital for Remembrance events.

He said such protection was particularly needed at railway stations after a series of sit-in protests at mainline terminals.

A 78-year-old poppy seller at Waverley Station in Edinburgh said he was punched and kicked after being surrounded by protesters, while a stall at Charing Cross station in central London was also besieged at the weekend.

Scotland Yard has pleaded with the leaders of the pro-Palestinian march on Armistice Day to call it off amid growing fears of violent disorder.

In the letter, seen by The Telegraph on Tuesday, Mr Mercer said he had been trying to dampen tensions. He told Sir Mark: “I wanted to write to offer you some encouragement as you deal with a very difficult policing challenge over this Remembrance weekend.

“I have spent this last weekend dissuading various veterans groups from organising marches or protests this Saturday. Remembrance is not a political event, and neither is it a protest. It is our one moment a year when the nation – of all our brilliantly diverse persuasions and colours – comes together to remember our war dead.

“I, like most veterans, feel passionately about our fellow citizens’ right to protest and the freedoms of speech and expression that we once put on the uniform to uphold.”

Jim Henderson, a 78-year-old retired paratrooper (circled), said he was punched and kicked during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at Edinburgh Waverley station on Saturday

Mr Mercer said he was concerned that their right to protest was “conflicted with the deliberately antagonistic actions of a few, who misunderstand Remembrance and seek to put off those who are taking part or attending events in London”.

But he stressed that elderly veterans “for whom travelling to London once a year is an important part of their Remembrance” needed to be able to travel to the capital “unmolested”.

He requested that the Met “make full use of the powers at their disposal to ensure that these concerns do not materialise”.

Around 70,000 people are expected in London for the pro-Palestinian demonstration. Groups have warned that anti-Semitic chants by some protesters and others who appear to have glorified terrorist atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel on Oct 7 have made large parts of London a “no go zone” for Jews.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiamh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnRlbGVncmFwaC5jby51ay9wb2xpdGljcy8yMDIzLzExLzA3L3Byby1wYWxlc3Rpbmlhbi1wcm90ZXN0cy1qb2hubnktbWVyY2VyLXZldGVyYW5zLWFybWlzdGljZS_SAQA?oc=5

2023-11-07 15:10:00Z
2574553221

Babak Belurs

Kamis, 09 November 2023

Pro-Palestinian protest in London: Row over Suella Braverman’s claim of police bias - BBC

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

More on Israel-Gaza war

Related Topics

Alfie Lewis: Murder charge after boy stabbed near Horsforth school - BBC.com

Related Topics

Related Internet Links

London Gaza rally: Row over Braverman's claim of police double standards - BBC

More on Israel-Gaza war

Related Topics

Rabu, 08 November 2023

'Freedom is the right to peacefully protest': PM accepts pro-Palestine march will go ahead on Armistice Day - Sky News

Sir Mark Rowley has interpreted the law correctly

Carol Vorderman quits BBC show saying she will ‘not be silenced’ by social media rules - The Guardian

Vorderman’s punchy posts

Imran Hussain: Labour frontbencher resigns in support of Gaza ceasefire - The Guardian

Selasa, 07 November 2023

Stay away from pro-Palestinian protests to avoid threat of clashes, Johnny Mercer tells veterans - The Telegraph