Scotland Yard has banned a pro-Palestine march from gathering outside the BBC's London headquarters next Saturday, citing the proximity of the proposed assembly point to a synagogue. Police said they had imposed the Public Order Act after concluding that the rally risked causing serious disruption to worshippers attending Shabbat services on the Jewish holy day.
The Metropolitan Police said they had reflected on the views of local community and business representatives, including congregation members at a synagogue a very short distance from the planned meeting point in Portland Place. The force had earlier asked the protest organisers, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), to alter their plans to avoid disturbing worshippers, but they refused.
In response, the PSC said it utterly condemned the use of repressive powers and rejected any implication that its marches were hostile to or a threat to Jewish people. The group noted that police had acknowledged there had not been a single incident of any threat to a synagogue attached to any of the marches.
Thirteen Holocaust survivors and descendants of survivors signed a joint letter opposing the Met's decision, saying they had attended numerous Palestine demonstrations in London and received nothing but support and warmth from fellow demonstrators. The letter described the move as a clear attempt to dissuade people from opposing the Gaza genocide.
Commander Adam Slonecki, leading the policing operation that weekend, said the cumulative impact of prolonged protest had caused concern for many Jewish Londoners, leading some to alter plans or reduce attendance at religious services. He insisted the decision was based on detailed consideration of evidence and had been communicated to the PSC before any letter from MPs and peers, which had no impact on the decision.
The PSC had planned to march from outside the BBC's headquarters to Whitehall in protest against what organisers described as the broadcaster's pro-Israel bias in its coverage.
