As tens of thousands of demonstrators marched through London, former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf said that the government was “abusing” anti-terror legislation against pro-Palestine protestors. On Saturday afternoon, a demonstration led by organizations affiliated with the Palestine Coalition marched from Russell Square in the heart of London to Whitehall.
With marchers holding Palestinian flags and shouting “free, free Palestine” and “stop bombing Iran,” organizers estimated that 350,000 people joined the demonstration.
Near Waterloo Bridge, hundreds of counter-protesters organized by the pro-Israeli organization Stop The Hate were passed by other demonstrators who screamed, “shame on you.” The protests follow news on Friday that Palestine Action will be banned by the Home Secretary for damaging two planes at RAF Brize Norton.
Following video footage of two individuals inside the RAF station, one of whom seemed to be spraying paint into an aircraft’s jet engine, Yvette Cooper decided to outlaw the group, making it illegal to be a member or supporter of Palestine Action.
Is the government silencing pro-Palestine voices unfairly?
“While we stand a stone’s throw from Downing Street, let’s make it clear to the Prime Minister: You try to intimidate us with your anti-terror laws by abusing them, but you’ll never silence us as we speak out against the genocide that you’re supporting,” former SNP leader Mr. Yousaf said while speaking to crowds at the national march for Palestine in Whitehall. The terrorists are the ones who are actually killing children; we are not them.”
The government’s plans to outlaw Palestine Action were described as “absolutely horrendous” by a pro-Palestine demonstrator.
“The Government has stated since yesterday that they will also attempt to ban peace activists who are attempting to take action against the genocide – so Palestine Action is now being targeted by our Government, which is absolutely horrendous,”
artist Hannah Woodhouse, 61, told the PA news agency.
London-based Ms. Woodhouse went on to say: “It appears that non-violent peace protesters are being targeted by counterterrorism measures.” The goal of the peace activists is to disarm Israel, which is the government’s responsibility. Disarming a state that is committing genocide is currently the responsibility of every government.
Pro-Palestine activists were informed by musician Paloma Faith that she would not “stick to music and stay away from politics.”
“Those who facilitate these crimes against humanity need to be held accountable, not those of us who are compassionate and humane enough to stand against it,”
the 43-year-old composer continued, addressing the march’s throngs.
Politicians are trying to “turn people who protest against the invasion of Iran or the occupation of Palestine into terrorists,” former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn warned demonstrators.
While some demonstrators held Iranian flags, others held placards that stated, “choose the right side of history,” and included an image of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The signs were supplied by the Islamic Human Rights Commission.
The prohibition of Palestine Action, according to human rights organization Liberty, “would be a huge step change in how counter-terror laws are applied.” In a statement, its director of external affairs, Sam Grant, said:
“We urge the Home Secretary to reconsider. Targeting a protest group with terrorism powers in this way is a shocking escalation of the Government’s crackdown on protest.”
