Sunak calls Armistice Day pro-Palestinian protests ‘disrespectful’
According to Rishi Sunak, the upcoming pro-Palestinian demonstrations set to take place in London on Armistice Day are deemed to be inflammatory and lacking respect.
The leader of the government expressed concern that the Cenotaph and various war memorials might be defiled on a day when a large number of demonstrators were scheduled to participate. He stated that there was a significant and immediate danger.
He spoke up after Tom Tugendhat, the security minister, expressed worry about the upcoming protest organized by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC) on November 11th in downtown London. Tugendhat took action by contacting the police regarding the matter.
On the day of Armistice, a march is scheduled to honor the soldiers who lost their lives in the first world war. As a sign of respect, the participants will observe a two-minute silence. The PSC has confirmed that the march won't be held near Whitehall or the Cenotaph during Remembrance weekend.
Karen Findlay, a Met police commander who specializes in maintaining public order and handling large events, stated that the organizers of the march had assured the police that they had no plan to disturb the Remembrance events and were working closely with law enforcement officers.
During a press conference, she stated that they have made it clear that they do not plan to interfere with Remembrance events. They are currently cooperating with us to determine a separate path and gathering locations that will not affect the designated area of the Remembrance event.
According to Findlay, authorities will employ facial recognition technology that looks back in time to recognize individuals who took part in the London protest on Saturday. He pledged to take prompt action and extract suspects from the gathering if required.
During a press conference, she clarified that the stricter police procedures implemented were not influenced by any external political or media influences, stating that they maintain their autonomy in their operations. The police are merely reviewing their methods, considering the recent events that have taken place, to ensure that they remain adaptive and effective.
Sunak previously utilized the online platform X (previously known as Twitter) to express that he had requested the assistance of the home secretary in ensuring that the police can carry out all necessary actions to preserve the solemnity of Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.
The speaker expressed that organizing demonstrations on Armistice Day is likely to cause offense and show a lack of respect. There is a considerable chance for damage or disrespect towards the Cenotaph and other monuments related to war, which would be unacceptable to the British society and principles they uphold.
We must ensure that we safeguard the privilege to respectfully commemorate and honor those who have made the greatest sacrifice for the sake of our liberties.
Tugendhat is a former military member and he shared on Times Radio last Friday that Remembrance Day serves as a time to honor and pay tribute to those we have lost. The Cenotaph holds a significant and sacred place in the hearts of all British people, and it is not acceptable to hold protests that pass by it during this solemn day of commemoration.
This is why I have penned letters to the London mayor, Westminster council, and the Metropolitan police. My intention was to urge them to meticulously review their current capabilities and explore alternative options. In my opinion, the timing is unsuitable for a protest.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, criticized Tugendhat by stating that he was just showing off. Khan added that if the security minister had the proper understanding of his role, he would know that only the home secretary, who is also a cabinet member, has the authority to prohibit marches.
Khan, in an interview with the PA Media news agency, stressed the significance of Remembrance events to protestors. He emphasized that Scotland Yard was reaching out to protest organizers to ensure that they do not go near the Cenotaph. The PSC, who promised to steer clear of the Cenotaph's location, criticized Sunak's remarks as "extremely reckless." They felt that it prompted far-right activists to take action and put an end to the protests.
According to Ben Jamal, who is in charge of the PSC, the home secretary's past statements aimed at portraying every supporter of the Palestinian people's rights as evil set the stage for the latest comments. The reality is that this new statement has a hidden agenda: stifling the overwhelming public support for putting an end to Israel's incessant attacks on Gaza's populace.
All the demonstrations we have organized have been calm, well-organized, and joined by massive crowds of protesters from various backgrounds in Britain.
Yasmine Ahmed, the UK director of Human Rights Watch, spoke out against Sunak's actions, denouncing them as an unacceptable effort by the British government to imply that showing empathy for the struggles of Palestinians is incompatible with honoring the bravery and sacrifices of British military personnel.
