October 5th 2024.
In central London, a clash between protesters and police erupted just hours after a march began. The protest was in support of Palestine and was organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. As tensions rose, two people were arrested for allegedly assaulting an emergency worker. The Metropolitan Police had formed a cordon to prevent any groups from breaking away from the main protest, and arrests were made when some individuals attempted to get past the officers.
The demonstration was met with counter-protests at various locations, such as the junction of Kingsway and Aldwych and at the junction of the Strand and Trafalgar Square. The police had anticipated a large turnout and had a significant presence across London to manage the protests and memorial events in remembrance of the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7.
The morning of the protest, activists gathered in Bedford Square, where they planned to target companies and institutions they believe are complicit in Israel's actions. These include Barclays Bank and the British Museum. Demonstrators blocked traffic on Tottenham Court Road by gathering outside a Barclays branch and holding up a sign that read, "Shame on those who looked away from the sadistic genocide of mainly children in Gaza and the West Bank." Later, a group gathered outside the British Library, chanting slogans such as "Yemen, Yemen make us proud. Turn another ship around" and "British Museum. Paint it red. Over 100,000 dead."
In their protest, some activists held Lebanese and Iranian flags and banners with messages like "we do not stand with genocide" and "Zionism is racism." Chants of "free, free Palestine" echoed through the square. Meanwhile, in another part of the city, a black cab carrying Ian Hislop was reportedly hit by a gunshot. The UK's busiest train station, which is located in London, will be closed for eight days over Christmas. And an iconic London market has been put up for sale for an astounding amount of money.
During the protest, a leader addressed the activists, reminding them not to engage with the police or counter-protesters. "We definitely don't talk to the blue bibs," they said. The demonstration was part of a larger "Stop The War Coalition" demonstration against Israeli strikes on Gaza and Lebanon. The leader urged everyone to stay united and keep each other safe. "Only we can keep each other safe," they emphasized.
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