A pro-Palestine march in London is now subject to strict conditions to protect a nearby synagogue from disruption
London: A pro-Palestine march planned for central London has run into some new rules. The police are worried about how it might affect a nearby synagogue.
The protesters wanted to march near the BBC’s Broadcasting House, but now they have to change their route. The police made this decision to avoid disrupting the Central Synagogue.
On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police told the organizers they need to start at Russell Square instead of Portland Place. The new route will take them through Kingsway, Aldwych, and the Strand, ending at Whitehall.
Plus, they have to wrap things up by 4:30 PM. Met Commander Adam Slonecki, who’s in charge of the police operation, said they’ve been working closely with the organizers and community leaders.
He emphasized that the police are neutral and just want to make sure everyone can protest peacefully without causing too much disruption to the community.
Some reports suggested this was a blanket ban on protests outside the BBC, but that’s not true. The police understand why the protesters want to be there and are open to finding other days for them to demonstrate without causing issues for the synagogue.
They also pointed out that the synagogue is busy all day, not just during morning services, so it’s not fair to expect congregants to change their plans for the protest.
Ben Jamal, the director of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, argued that Saturday is the best day for protests since it allows people from all over the country to join in. He feels the police are effectively blocking their right to protest.
The police took into account the views of local community members and the synagogue congregation before making their decision. Holding the march on a Saturday, which is a holy day for Jews, was a significant factor in their considerations.
