London Police Warn Protesters: Expressing Support for Hamas, Hezbollah Is Crime
London (Quds News Network)- London’s Metropolitan Police have issued a warning in advance of a major pro-Palestine rally that expressing support for either Hamas or Hezbollah is a “criminal offence.”
Issuing a statement in the run-up to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) rally on Saturday in the UK capital, the police said it is a “criminal offence to invite or express support for a proscribed organisation through chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos,” London Evening Standard reported.
There will be a “highly visible” police presence at the scheduled rally – the 21st pro-Palestinian protest march in London since October 2023 – which will be faced with counterprotesters from Stop the Hate, a group who claim that pro-Palestinian protesters should “stop supporting terror”.
PSC demonstrators will march from Park Lane to Whitehall on Saturday afternoon.
London marches for Palestine 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/2fAmAnLsBr
— Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@PSCupdates) November 30, 2024
The advocacy group, which has been at the forefront of organising pro-Palestine marches across the country, are demanding an end to what it calls “British complicity in Israel’s genocide and apartheid” of Gaza.
Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jon Savell, who is leading the policing operation, said “regular discussions” have taken place with the PSC, Stop the Hate, as well as faith and community groups – particularly the Jewish community in the city.
“Officers will be highly visible along the protest route and wider area to ensure the events take place safely and will deal with any offences,” he said.
