Pro-Palestine protesters goal Pret as police battle crowds in London

Pro-Palestine protesters focused a string of shops throughout Manchester on Saturday together with McDonald’s and Starbucks as gatherings in London threatened to show ugly following a day of greater than 100 protests across the UK.

Photographs from Manchester confirmed a line of cops standing outdoors McDonald’s in Oxford Street as a bunch of males, some sporting Palestinian keffiyeh scarves, held up a Palestine flag and pushed up in opposition to the officers.

Protesters additionally focused a Pret-A-Manger and Starbucks espresso retailers, with an indication exhibiting the Starbucks retailer was shut resulting from ‘unexpected circumstances’.

Elsewhere, a pro-Palestinian demo assembled outdoors Downing Street amid an ongoing ‘day of motion’ by pro-Palestinian activists that has seen police difficulty dispersal orders following unrest on Whitehall.

British Transport Police officers arrested a minimum of 5 folks at a sit-in at London Waterloo after they refused to go away the station regardless of an order banning public assemblies being enacted. 

The protestors in Manchester claimed that Pret and Starbucks are supporting Israel by opening retailers within the nation. Video taken from this afternoon’s march reveals protestors shouting ‘disgrace on you’ and ‘boycott Pret’ outdoors the shop.

Others pressed carboard banners on the home windows of the café on the junction of Oxford Street and Portland Street. Police officers atended the scene and ordered the protestors to maneuver away from the realm.

Demonstrators additionally shouted ‘disgrace’ as they handed a Starbucks on Peter Street. Another department of Starbucks on Deansgate was closed ‘resulting from unexpected circumstances’, in accordance with a be aware posted on the entrance door.

The cause for the closure just isn’t but identified.

Thousands of persons are estimated to have attended the most recent demonstration within the metropolis, which have been held for the previous few weeks. Those behind the protest, organised by the Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine, are calling held to name for a direct ceasefire to the battle.

In London, The Metropolitan Police shared a CCTV picture of protesters gathered on Whitehall reverse the doorway to the prime minister’s official residence in one in every of greater than 100 demos happening throughout the nation at this time. 

Outside Downing Street, movies shared on social media purported to point out small scuffles between cops and protesters, as officers rushed to separate arguing activists. 

The Met Police stated two males in balaclavas have been noticed within the space, ‘showing to look at the group of pro-Palestinian protesters’ earlier than being ‘inspired to go away’. 

At 6.40pm, the power issued a Section 35 Dispersal Order till 11pm throughout Westminster, that means that anybody who refuses to go away when requested to take action by an officer might be arrested. 

At Waterloo, the British Transport Police confirmed it had arrested 5 protesters earlier than dispersing the sit-in to outdoors the station.

‘Numerous cops stay in attendance to keep up order,’ a press release added. 

The Met Police stated these dispersed from the station made their technique to Westminster Bridge the place they ‘sat within the street’, earlier than transferring when officers approached to Parliament Square.

The power added the group ‘is a mixture of pro-Palestinian protesters and JSO activists’, saying it had arrest one ‘distinguished’ Just Stop Oil member.

By 7.30pm, police stated all protesters had dispersed. The power added it had arrested six folks in relation to pro-Palestine protests and 4 associated to JSO protests all through the day for offences together with breach of bail situations, public order, racially aggravated public order, inciting racial hatred, affray and obstruction.

It comes as protesters held sit-in protests at main UK prepare stations regardless of elevated policing throughout railway networks.

The BTP deployed enhanced officer patrols in England, Scotland and Wales on Saturday.

Footage shared on social media confirmed a small crowd sitting on the ground in Manchester Victoria Station, whereas the power confirmed one other group of round 25 had executed the identical at Leeds station shortly after 2pm.

BTP issued Section 14a orders prohibiting protests on Saturday at lots of London’s major rail stations from 10am to 11pm, however shortly after 2.30pm the power posted on X {that a} group of roughly 200 protesters had arrived at London Bridge station within the English capital.

A police cordon was additionally put in place round London Bridge, however 5 minutes later they posted once more to say the group had left the realm and passengers might entry the station as common.

McDonald’s was focused by some pro-Palestine protesters on Saturday as a result of its Israeli franchise has been providing free meals to troopers within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Other Middle Eastern franchised have distanced themselves from the transfer, whereas McDonald’s world mother or father firm has distanced itself from taking any stance on the Israel-Hamas warfare.

It advised the BBC: ‘McDonald’s Corporation just isn’t funding or supporting any governments concerned on this battle, and any actions from our native developmental licensee enterprise companions have been made independently with out McDonald’s consent or approval.’

However, folks have taken excessive measures to specific their distaste with the quick meals chain, releasing mice painted within the colors of the Palestinian flag into eating places within the UK. 

The gatherings got here as protesters in north London assembled outdoors Keir Starmer’s parliamentary workplace and chanted ‘Keir Starmer’s a wasteman’ and ‘What do we would like? A ceasefire. When do we would like it? Now’. 

Others held up indicators saying ‘Stop the warfare on Gaza’ as they massed outdoors the Labour chief’s workplace days after he ordered Labour MPs to not present help for an SNP modification to the King’s Speech calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The packed street was crammed with Palestinian flags, with additional placards studying: ‘save Gaza’s youngsters’ and: ‘no justice, no peace.’

Protesters held indicators saying ‘Who the f*** does not vote for a ceasefire?’ and ‘Starmer disgrace on you’ as they walked by means of Camden. 

John Rees, nationwide officer for the Stop the War Coalition, advised crowds: ‘My message to Keir Starmer is that this. One, you’re a wasteman. Two, get with the programme, demand a ceasefire now.’

The crowds additionally heard from 33-year-old Palestinian Nida Badawi, who advised crowds: ‘I do know we’re stressed. For the previous 40 days, over 40 days, I really feel like my coronary heart’s been ripped out of my physique.

‘I’m simply right here to remind you whereas we’re standing right here, it is not the time to remain quiet. They want to listen to our voices.’

Protesters additionally gathered outdoors the workplace of Harrow East Conservative MP Bob Blackman, who voted in opposition to a movement calling for a ceasefire in Gaza earlier this week. Other MPs’ places of work have been focused in latest days.

Protesters defied orders by the British Transport Police to keep away from transport hubs and staged protests at each London Bridge and Waterloo stations. 

BTP officers have moved in to disperse protesters, handing them leaflets to tell them that they are going to be arrested in the event that they refuse to go away.

Shortly after 4.30pm – the deadline given to protesters to go away Waterloo – the power stated on X, previously Twitter: ‘Following engagement with protest liaison officers, protestors are refusing to go away Waterloo station as agreed. Therefore we’re transferring to arrest section.’ 

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters have started marching from outdoors Chalk Farm station in north London as a part of the day of nationwide motion.

Elsewhere, 1000’s of protesters marched in Newcastle to name for a ceasefire, whereas an estimated 18,000 folks protested on a wet day in Glasgow.

Members of Scottish Labour, the SNP and the Scottish Greens have been amongst these to deal with the gang on Glasgow Green.

SNP MP Anum Qaisar stated: ‘11,000 folks have been massacred in Gaza, nearly half of whom are youngsters. Over 1,000 folks killed in Israel by the atrocious assault by Hamas.

‘These numbers are rising and they’ll proceed to rise day by day until there’s a direct ceasefire.’

But amid scenes earlier this week of police merely standing by as pro-Palestinian activists climbed the Royal Artillery Memorial in Hyde Park, Met Commander Karen Findlay says officers have been advised to take stronger motion.

As nicely as making ‘expectations clear’ to police on the bottom to take decisive motion, she has advised protesters who climb memorials that they may very well be answerable for prison harm expenses.

Footage of the Hyde Park incident on Wednesday sparked anger amid the police response – with officers merely standing by and watching as one in every of them politely requested a person to return down, making no strikes to arrest him. 

Commander Findlay stated: ‘We have made our expectations clear to officers who will likely be on responsibility this weekend. 

‘At a minimal they’re to intervene decisively once they see behaviour which is clearly disrespectful, utilizing their abilities in coping with the general public as they do every single day.

‘They will likely be seeking to take constructive motion, together with arrests, as quickly as disrespectful behaviour turns into disorderly behaviour of the kind lined by a lot of public order offences.

‘They may also intervene the place crucial to forestall a breach of the peace.

‘Protesters intent on climbing over memorials and different monuments also needs to remember that they weren’t designed for this goal, making them inclined to break which is able to seemingly represent a prison offence.

‘There is evident laws in place to cope with harm of any kind, even whether it is minimal or was induced recklessly and never deliberately.’

However, the Met commander admitted that policing individuals who climb warfare memorials could be a ‘problem’ for officers – as a result of there is no such thing as a specific legislation that makes the motion illegal.

She has referred to as on pro-Palestinian marchers to point out respect and to stick to the legislation, warning that ‘hate crime won’t be tolerated’. Met assets will likely be closely deployed in areas with massive Jewish and Muslim communities.

Commander Findlay added: ‘Regrettably, whereas nearly all of protesters popping out in latest weeks have been peaceable, we have now continued to see folks participating in offensive chanting or deliberately carrying placards that cross the road from political statements into racially or religiously aggravated offences.

‘By all means come out and protest to make your voice heard as is your proper, but when your intention is to offend, to incite hatred, or to trigger concern and intimidation then it is best to keep away.’

Rather than an enormous march in London, as has been seen in latest weeks with 1000’s of protesters converging on the capital, the Day of Action for Palestine has seen greater than 100 occasions happen in several components of the UK on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the British Transport Police (BTP) has banned protests on Saturday at lots of London’s major rail stations, anticipating that demonstrations on the nation’s busiest transport hubs might trigger extreme disruption.

Ahead of the protests, a vigil was held at Downing Street on Friday to mourn the civilians and healthcare employees killed in Israel‘s relentless bombing marketing campaign on the Gaza Strip over latest weeks.

Israel started strikes on the enclave after the October 7 atrocities by Palestinian terror group Hamas, which noticed 1,200 killed.

The Palestinian demise toll has surpassed 12,000, together with 5,000 youngsters, the Hamas-run Health Ministry stated on Friday. 

Dolls have been laid in entrance of the Prime Minister’s residence to focus on the variety of youngsters and infants killed within the bloody warfare, whereas protesters additionally held aloft placards with the names of medics who’ve misplaced their lives whereas attempting to save lots of others.

Furious protesters have been calling for a ceasefire for weeks, and now protests will grip the nation as a part of a coordinated day of motion which is able to contain commerce unionists.

Labour was left in chaos this week as MPs confronted stress from members and pro-Palestinian activists to again a vote for a ceasefire in Gaza, particularly after 19 shadow ministers defied the management to talk in favour of a ceasefire. 

In the top, ten frontbenchers and 46 different Labour MPs sided with the SNP modification to the King’s Speech which demanded an ‘fast ceasefire’ within the besieged territory.

Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, stated the rallies have been organised to point out that ‘peculiar folks’ help a ceasefire.

‘This Saturday, peculiar folks throughout the UK will come out once more to point out the overwhelming majority of them help a ceasefire,’ he stated.

‘They will present their solidarity with Palestinians who’re struggling unimaginable hurt.’

A spokeswoman for organisers Stop The War Coalition stated on Friday: ‘Tomorrow is the day of motion that we have referred to as for.’ 

‘Groups across the nation are organising native rallies and marches to principally construct for the nationwide demonstration that has been referred to as for subsequent Saturday,’ she stated.

The spokeswoman added that a lot of the rallies could have audio system, and a few will nonetheless march.

‘I feel most of them have audio system from varied organisations which might be concerned in the primary marches, after which commerce unionists,’ she stated.

This week, Labour noticed a string of frontbench resignations after ten MPs defied Sir Keir Starmer and voted for an finish to combating.

MPs who didn’t insurgent in opposition to the celebration chief have seen demonstrations of their constituencies, with marchers anticipated in Emily Thornberry’s seat of Highbury and Islington at this time.

Last Saturday additionally noticed surprising scenes of violence as far-right soccer hooligans claiming to be ‘defending the Cenotaph’ clashed with police. 

Today, the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) voiced fears that ‘genocidal hate chanting and antisemitic rhetoric’ could be heard on Britain’s streets.

The Met stated 300,000 folks joined a pro-Palestinian march by means of London on Armistice Day, which noticed some displaying antisemitic slogans and sickening help for Hamas. 

Meanwhile, the CAA filmed a number of protesters evaluating Israel to Nazi Germany, with one branding Benjamin Netanyahu ‘worse than Hitler’. 

The Metropolitan Police stated {that a} ‘vital’ policing operation is deliberate for the capital this weekend because it plans to crackdown on any hateful behaviour.

Commander Karen Findlay, who’s main the Met’s operation in London, stated: ‘Whilst there is no such thing as a single massive central protest occasion on Saturday, our policing priorities stay the identical throughout the native occasions which might be resulting from happen.

‘We are right here to make sure that folks can train their proper to protest however to make it possible for is finished lawfully, and that unreasonable disruption to the lives of different Londoners is stored to a minimal.

‘Our officers will intervene swiftly the place they see offences happening. In specific, I need to reiterate that there is no such thing as a place for hate in London. Hate crime won’t be tolerated.

‘Regrettably, whereas nearly all of protesters popping out in latest weeks have been peaceable, we have now continued to see folks participating in offensive chanting or deliberately carrying placards that cross the road from political statements into racially or religiously aggravated offences.’

The British Transport Police have issued Section 14a orders prohibiting protests on Saturday at lots of London’s major rail stations.

The orders will likely be in place between 10am and 11pm at Waterloo, Charing Cross, King’s Cross, London Bridge, Euston, Liverpool Street, Marylebone, Paddington, Victoria and St Pancras.

Assistant Chief Constable Sean O’Callaghan stated: ‘We have been made conscious of a number of deliberate demonstrations resulting from happen on Saturday November 18 throughout railway stations in London.

‘We absolutely respect the rights of individuals to protest lawfully however the place we imagine this might trigger critical disruption to the railway providers, we should act.’

On Friday, schoolchildren walked out of their courses as a part of a coordinated ‘faculty strike for Palestine’. 

In Bristol, kids handed in a petition calling for a ceasefire, whereas comparable occasions came about in different cities throughout the UK. 

It got here after tons of of pupils at a Wimbledon women’ faculty took half in a banned march in help of Palestine which left Jewish college students feeling ‘remoted and threatened’ on Wednesday. 

Footage posted on TikTok reveals how streams of uniformed women aged 11-16 defied a ban on any political occasion inside the faculty campus this week – leaving some women, together with a few of Jewish backgrounds, feeling unsafe.

And on Thursday, a crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters surrounded the Labour constituency workplace of MP Rushanara Ali after she abstained from Wednesday’s Gaza ceasefire vote in Parliament, following an earlier protest their by schoolchildren within the day. 

The Department of Education has responded by stressing that youngsters must be at school and never ‘lacking out on their training’.