Ahead of the second anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel, Sir Keir Starmer urged students not to protest on 7 October, branding it as “un-British”.
Following the attack on the Heaton Park synagogue in Northern Manchester, he addressed the community, vowing to do “everything” in his power to protect the British people as hatred towards the Jews is “rising once again”.
In his article in The Times, he wrote that protests planned on the anniversary by students, mainly in London, was disrespectful. For some, he says that pro-Palestine protests have been a “despicable excuse to attack British Jews.”
“This is not who we are as a country. It’s un-British to have so little respect for others. And that’s before some of them decide to start chanting hatred towards Jewish people all over again.”
However, with new approaches to policing protests announced, many have challenged the Prime Minister recent comments as an attack on people’s rights to protest.
City News joined protestors at the Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration on 11 October to hear what they had to say.
Adam led a group of students in the march from Socialist Student – Courtesy of Sophia-Ines Klein
Adam, the National organiser for Socialist Students estimated that this was his thirtieth pro-Palestine protest.
He thinks that the Labour government, like the Tories, are using the “Palestine protests as an excuse to more widely clamp down on all forms of protests.”
Anah came to the protest in London from Leicester with her family – Courtesy of Sophia-Ines Klein
“The country has been protesting for centuries”, said Anah, a former Londoner who now lives in Leicester.
Anah has been going to protests since she was a child and said that “protests have always worked.”
She said that she did not notice much police presence that day and emphasised that “we do need police protection… we can’t allow for rallies without the police.”
Jane was attending her second pro-Palestine protest after her first one in Salisbury one year into the war. – Courtesy of Sophia-Ines Klein
“Is he British? Does he know anything about the history of this country?” said Jane.
She emphasised that she appreciated the presence of police at the protest as a “barrier” between pro-Palestine and pro-Israel protesters.
“I think the police are there to make sure that this march passes peacefully.”
Protestors carrying Palestinian flat at Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration – Courtesy of Sophia-Ines Klein
Following the first-stage of the ceasefire announcement, Patrick felt the energy at the pro-Palestine protest had been “re-galvanised,” and said he did not feel a strong police presence that day.
However, he believes “the role of the police should be to keep order” but thinks “they’re protecting state corporate interest in trying to silence the Palestine movement.”
He added that Starmer’s comment was “ridiculous”.
“It’s un-British to support a genocide, or it should be.”
“The Britain that I want to see wouldn’t be one that’s silent about genocide.”
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HeadlineUn-British? Protestors say Sir Keir Starmer needs a history lesson.
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StandfirstProtestors at the Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration challenge Sir Keir Starmer after he says student protesting is “un-British”.
Ahead of the second anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel, Sir Keir Starmer urged students not to protest on 7 October, branding it as “un-British”.
Following the attack on the Heaton Park synagogue in Northern Manchester, he addressed the community, vowing to do “everything” in his power to protect the British people as hatred towards the Jews is “rising once again”.
In his article in The Times, he wrote that protests planned on the anniversary by students, mainly in London, was disrespectful. For some, he says that pro-Palestine protests have been a “despicable excuse to attack British Jews.”
“This is not who we are as a country. It’s un-British to have so little respect for others. And that’s before some of them decide to start chanting hatred towards Jewish people all over again.”
However, with new approaches to policing protests announced, many have challenged the Prime Minister recent comments as an attack on people’s rights to protest.
City News joined protestors at the Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration on 11 October to hear what they had to say.
Adam led a group of students in the march from Socialist Student – Courtesy of Sophia-Ines Klein
Adam, the National organiser for Socialist Students estimated that this was his thirtieth pro-Palestine protest.
He thinks that the Labour government, like the Tories, are using the “Palestine protests as an excuse to more widely clamp down on all forms of protests.”
Anah came to the protest in London from Leicester with her family – Courtesy of Sophia-Ines Klein
“The country has been protesting for centuries”, said Anah, a former Londoner who now lives in Leicester.
Anah has been going to protests since she was a child and said that “protests have always worked.”
She said that she did not notice much police presence that day and emphasised that “we do need police protection… we can’t allow for rallies without the police.”
Jane was attending her second pro-Palestine protest after her first one in Salisbury one year into the war. – Courtesy of Sophia-Ines Klein
“Is he British? Does he know anything about the history of this country?” said Jane.
She emphasised that she appreciated the presence of police at the protest as a “barrier” between pro-Palestine and pro-Israel protesters.
“I think the police are there to make sure that this march passes peacefully.”
Protestors carrying Palestinian flat at Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstration – Courtesy of Sophia-Ines Klein
Following the first-stage of the ceasefire announcement, Patrick felt the energy at the pro-Palestine protest had been “re-galvanised,” and said he did not feel a strong police presence that day.
However, he believes “the role of the police should be to keep order” but thinks “they’re protecting state corporate interest in trying to silence the Palestine movement.”
He added that Starmer’s comment was “ridiculous”.
“It’s un-British to support a genocide, or it should be.”
“The Britain that I want to see wouldn’t be one that’s silent about genocide.”
