🔗 Share this article

In today's Britain, public demonstration is no longer a fundamental right. Instead, it has become a privilege that those in power grant or deny at their discretion. This represents the implication of new regulations that the ruling administration is putting forward, which would dictate when and where protests can occur, with potential prison sentences for those who defy these limitations.

Gradual Weakening of Civil Liberties

Earlier administrations had already undermined this fundamental freedom: the previous Tory administration had given law enforcement sweeping new authorities, which international human rights organizations had censured as "serious and undue limitations" on democratic freedoms. Taken together, these incremental assaults on freedom have practically eliminated the historically earned right to public demonstration.

Exploiting Atrocity to Justify Suppression

The latest restrictive measures are being justified by referring to last week's heinous anti-Jewish assault on a British mosque. There should be universal agreement that the security of Jewish communities in Britain must be safeguarded. However, using this atrocity as a pretext to suppress dissent is not only unrelated to that responsibility but perverts it.

"If you can't draw the line at mass killing, you likely can't establish limits at democracy," commented a prominent American author, a statement that applies equally for the present administration.

Historical Perspective of Demonstration

Consider Britain's long tradition of protest and direct action against racial discrimination and fascism, from the 1936 Battle of Cable Street to after World War II Jewish anti-fascist movements and the 1970s mobilizations against the far-right organization. Many of these early protesters were branded as radicals in their time, even while they were advocating the freedoms of marginalized groups.

Current Reality

In the current complex situation, here's what's actually occurring: Israel – a foreign state – is committing acts that international bodies have characterized as genocide. Its warfare have led the global justice body to issue legal indictments against Israel's prime minister and his former defense minister.

Western popular sentiment has changed significantly against Israel's military campaign. In Britain, a substantial majority of citizens believe Israel has probably committed international law violations. Most people would support a complete ban on weapons exports to the state, and approve the arrest of Netanyahu.

Silencing Dissent

Having essentially lost the public debate, Israel's supporters are now exploiting a vile anti-Jewish attack to attempt to silence a mass movement against a moral catastrophe. The British government seems included in this attempt. Ministers have not enacted extensive restrictions on Israel and have allowed arms exports to continue.

People who are demonstrating against the destruction of Gaza have been characterized as hateful extremists. Yet there's a significant reason why there hasn't been a more extensive crackdown on these demonstrators until now: very limited protesters have made genuinely hateful statements about Jewish people, giving law enforcement minimal reason to take action.

Dangerous Conflation

Merging Jewish identity with the policies of the Israeli state is not only manipulative but also dangerous. The standard interpretation of antisemitism, accepted by the British government and numerous institutions, has been appropriately challenged for potentially stifling legitimate criticism of Israel. However, there should be no disagreement about one of its key examples: that "making Jewish people collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel" constitutes antisemitism.

Increasing Limitations

This is why we've reached a point where police authorities can suggest that demonstrations criticizing Israel's actions should be called off because they might "inadvertently or intentionally" endorse anti-Jewish sentiment. Similarly, government officials have stated that acknowledgment of Palestinian statehood has made political parties "implicated" in alleged abuse experienced by Jewish communities.

Inconsistent Treatment

On the very day as the synagogue attack, the Israel's army killed dozens of Palestinian civilians in Gaza – adding to the terrible count from two years of ongoing violence that have taken many thousands of human lives. British political leaders and media outlets have barely concealed the minimal importance they attach to Palestinian life. This represents one of the most brazen expressions of discrimination in our time.

Crossing Thresholds

Our government has already crossed a dangerous threshold by banning a specific activist group, a peaceful, human rights-focused activist collective. Thousands of British protesters have been detained, primarily for holding signs against mass killing and supporting the banned organization. Many of those arrested are elderly citizens; including a retired priest and the child of a Holocaust survivor.

Global Comparisons

It's not difficult to see where this path leads. In the United States, political leaders helped vilify pro-Palestinian protests: a former House Speaker implied that some were "linked with" foreign governments, while the current president described such protests as antisemitic. In doing so, they contributed to normalizing the repressive measures on such protests – and on free speech in general.

Future Concerns

If a conservative administration comes to power, it would be granted extensive authority to suppress opposition. What might a new administration do with this restrictive framework? Our forebears fought, endured hardship and sacrificed their lives to secure our freedoms. We may eventually regret how easily we permitted them to slip away.