Ahead of demonstrations during the Israel-Hamas conflict, London’s metropolitan police distributed leaflets to protesters warning them against using racist language or provocative chants, as doing so could result in arrest. Over 50,000 people are scheduled to attend a march against antisemitism on Sunday, and organizers anticipate 100,000 demonstrators in London on Saturday. More than 1,500 officers, according to the police, will be on duty in order to provide “robust intervention” against any criminal activity.
“The conflict in the Middle East is continuing, and here in London we are still seeing the cumulative impact of continued protest, increasing tensions, and rising hate crime,” stated Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan.
“Our Muslim and Jewish communities are particularly affected by this fear and anxiety. Our strategy reflects the fact that we now have far more knowledge than we did seven weeks ago about the overall impact of these protests,” he stated.
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This states, as one might anticipate, that anyone who promotes racism or hatred toward any group should be prepared to face arrest. So should anybody who backs Hamas or any other prohibited group. We will not put up with anyone who disseminates hate speech or who encourages acts of terrorism, including the murder or kidnapping of innocent people, he threatened.
For the marches, stringent schedules and boundaries have also been established. In order to prevent breakaway groups, police officers on duty will be “using all the legal powers at our disposal” to ensure dispersal at the conclusion of the protests.
Caution: Do not use the word “jihad”
“There was considerable debate about the use of the word ‘jihad’ in protests,” the police warned, threatening those who used the term. Although it is a word that undoubtedly offends and worries people, its use is always situational. We will respond swiftly and forcefully if we believe that this chant is being used to promote antisemitism, terrorism, or acts of violence.”
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“The Met is in favor of people using protest as a legal means of expressing their opinions. But the law also forbids the encouragement of terrorism and shields citizens from discriminatory and religious harassment. Although most demonstrators have followed these guidelines, some have gone too far, it stated.
