Statement by Stop the War Coalition on this Saturday’s march -7th Sept
from thefreeonline https://wp.me/pIJl9-DTL Sept 6, 2024 by Mike Sivie at Vox Political and Stop the War Coalition (on Telegram: t.me/thefreeonline )
#WeWillMarch This Saturday – Join Us
Alongside our partners in the coalition that organise the national demonstrations for Palestine we have released the following statement in relation to Saturday’s march. Please share it on social media.
https://x.com/STWuk/status/1832082610626892101
Under Keir Starmer’s burgeoning police state and organisers have been told at short notice not just that they must start at 2.30pm instead – posing problems for many who have to travel into London and get home again afterwards – but also that anyone who marches earlier than 2.30pm will be arrested. Organisers call to igmore police order.
We are deeply concerned by the Metropolitan Police’s decision to impose severe and unjustified restrictions on Saturday’s demonstration against the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
These new conditions, including a delayed start time of two and a half hours after the advertised assembly, effectively hinder our fundamental right to peaceful assembly and protest.
For 18 consecutive marches since October, we have gathered at 12 PM and commenced shortly thereafter—an arrangement that accommodates those travelling long distances, including thousands who have pre-booked coach travel.
The last-minute disruption of these plans, without any clear rationale, raises serious questions about the police’s respect for our democratic rights.
For more on the behaviour of the police in this matter read this.
Since notifying the police of our intentions on 8 August, we have faced a series of delays, obstacles, and uncooperative behaviour. Meetings have been cancelled without notice, and our reasonable proposal for an alternative route to the Israeli Embassy was dismissed outright.
Now, with just four days’ notice, the police have imposed these new conditions without explanation, creating unnecessary obstacles for a demonstration expected to draw over one hundred thousand people.
The treatment of the Palestine movement by the police is unprecedented and deeply troubling.
The consistent refusal to consider our proposed routes and the imposition of unreasonable conditions appear to be based on unfounded assumptions that our protests will lead to disruption or disorder, despite our long history of peaceful demonstrations.
Such actions risk undermining the right to protest, a cornerstone of democracy.
It is crucial that the police reconsider these actions in light of their responsibility to uphold democratic freedoms.
We will assemble at the advertised point, and, in exercising our right to peaceful protest, we will march to the Israeli Embassy. It is essential that the police recognise the importance of respecting the rights of citizens to gather and express their views peacefully.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Palestinian Forum in Britain, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Stop the War Coalition, Muslim Association of Britain, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
I’d Like to Volunteer on Saturday
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