Lucy Nichols argues that the mass rally met with repressive levels of policing will not stop our solidarity with the people of Gaza

Saturday saw Whitehall in Central London densely packed with protesters standing against the ongoing Israeli aggression in Palestine. Even though there is now a ceasefire agreement, Israel is continuing to bomb Gaza and our government is continuing to support it.

The 24th national demonstration for Palestine was unable to assemble at the BBC as initially planned and was then banned from marching altogether as part of a concerted campaign of police repression.

Despite this, the mass movement that has been built over 15 months was defiant and determined to show solidarity with Palestine and defend the right to protest. Speakers at the rally included actor Khalid Abdulla, Eddie Dempsey of the RMT, Jeremy Corbyn, Apsana Begum and Leanne Mohamed.

From the start of the day, there was a heavy police presence, entirely hostile to the protesters, including trade union activists carrying banners while protesters assembled. 

Arbitrary restrictions were in place, with the police at one point forcing protesters away from the stage – the agreed place to assemble according to the Met Police the evening before.

The police have arrested at least 77 people at latest figures, many on completely spurious grounds. This included chief steward of the demonstration Chris Nineham, who was brutally pulled to the floor and dragged to a police van.

After the rally, a delegation comprised of the leaders of the 6 organisations in the Palestine coalition along with MPs, Holocaust survivor Stephen Kapos and celebrities, began walking towards the BBC Portland Place to place toys and flowers at its gates in a message of opposition to their complicity with the genocide in Gaza.

After the police moved their vans and let the protesters through, the demonstration headed up to Pall Mall East, where another police line – this time riot police – was waiting.

After a few more minutes of chanting at the police, the delegation placed flowers and children’s toys at the feet of the riot police to challenge the police’s complicity with the violence and their infringement of our rights.

It was at this point that the riot police moved in to violently arrest Chris, completely unprovoked and causing a crush among the protesters.

Saturday’s demonstration was the highest number of arrests on any national Palestine demonstration and a clear attempt by the police to intimidate protesters.

There was a clear understanding among protesters that the police were acting politically and undemocratically; the demonstration was a defence of our right to protest.

The police have threatened further arrests. It is critical that the movement is ready to rally in defence of those arrested, including Chris Nineham, and to protect our right to protest.