London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The Met has withdrawn some restrictions on a pro-Palestine protest in central London after a row with organizers who claimed they were being ministered unfairly.
Police had specified the time and location of the rally but have given way in some cases following the cancellation of another march which Scotland Yard expressed would ease pressure on them. The “End the Genocide – Stop Arming Israel” march, beginning in Regent Street and finishing in Kensington Road, was initially called by police not to begin before 2.30 pm. They expressed it must conclude by 6 pm or 30 minutes after the conclusion of addresses, whichever is earlier.
The restriction had inflamed march organisers who argued the limit would severely affect the influence of the rally. One of the leaders of the demonstration Ben Jamal advised police to re-think. He stated: “As they have publicly acknowledged, the marches have been overwhelmingly peaceful with no threat of major public disorder. To make changes to the start time seems to us to be a tactic designed to deter people from attending.”
How Did the Met Adjust the Timing for the March?
The Met stated that it would loosen the conditions as another event had been canceled. The march can directly set off at 1.30 pm after assembling from noon and finish by 5.30 pm or the conclusion of speeches at the end of the rally, whichever is earlier. There will also be more freedom of movement than under the previous policy management.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan stated after the change of plan: “The risk-assessment process to scheduled events is dynamic and takes into account the continuously changing picture across London.
“Conditions were charged to mitigate concerns from communities, including about a typical event that would have clashed with the planned route of the march. The last-minute conclusion to cancel one of the other pre-planned circumstances means we have reviewed the requirements imposed on the march – this is in line with our legal commitment to balance the lawful right to protest and the threat of serious disruption to the wider community.”
How Did Protest Organizers View the Met’s Revised Plan?
A message from the protesters related the Met’s revamped plan as a “great victory” and tagged the Met’s handling of the event a “debacle”. It added: “With less than 24 hours to go, the Metropolitan Police has declined its attempt to frustrate our national rally for Palestine. Tomorrow we will stride to the Israeli Embassy as planned.
“Following a week of debate and attempts to bully and intimidate the protest organizers, the police have now decided that protesters will assemble from noon, at Regent Street St James’s as we had originally planned. Previous conditions that were inflicted in a wholly unjustified attempt to control us from doing so have now been rescinded.