London Mayor Sadiq Khan is being pressured to stop protests that some are calling “hate marches,” especially after a recent terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester. Critics say these protests are creating division in society and putting a big strain on police resources.
The attack happened on Yom Kippur, a major Jewish holiday, when a man drove his car into worshippers and stabbed a security guard at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation. Two people were killed, and several others were injured. The attacker, a British citizen originally from Syria, was shot and killed by police at the scene.
In response, some politicians are calling for all pro-Palestine marches in London to be cancelled. They believe these gatherings are making tensions worse, especially at a time when the Jewish community is feeling frightened and under threat.
MP Louie French said that the protests are doing more harm than good. He believes they’re spreading hate and forcing the police to spend millions managing the crowds — money and time that could be used to protect local communities instead.
Susan Hall, a Conservative member of the London Assembly, was shocked by a pro-Palestine protest outside Downing Street just hours after the Manchester attack. She said it was unacceptable and that these marches should be stopped immediately. She urged both Labour leader Keir Starmer and Mayor Sadiq Khan to take action.
Police asked the organisers of a major upcoming protest in London to delay their plans. Officers are concerned about safety and want to focus on protecting both Jewish and Muslim communities in the city. Despite this, some protestors went ahead with marches and used offensive language. One woman at a protest in central London reportedly said she didn’t care about the Jewish community in the wake of the attack.
Police confirmed that 40 people were arrested at that protest, including six for attacking officers.
Alex Wilson, a Reform Party politician, said the protests were not about political expression — he claimed they were a celebration of violence against Jews. He called on Sadiq Khan to use his authority to stop all similar protests planned for the weekend.
But not everyone agrees with banning the marches. Liberal Democrat Hina Bokhari argued that the right to protest is a core part of British democracy. She accused Conservative and Reform politicians of trying to silence people, comparing their actions to what might happen in an authoritarian country like Russia.
Sadiq Khan’s office has said that he supports the right to protest as long as it is peaceful and lawful. His spokesperson added that people planning to protest should think carefully about how their actions and words might affect others, especially after such a horrific attack.
Protests are still expected to go ahead over the weekend. The Mayor’s office said that now more than ever, Londoners need to come together to show that extremists will never succeed in dividing the city.
