Latest news with #MarchforPalestine
Middle East Eye
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
UK police accused of being heavy-handed at protest against BBC coverage on Gaza
London's Metropolitan Police is facing accusations of being heavy-handed after three people were "violently" arrested for protesting outside the BBC's offices over the broadcaster's coverage of the war on Gaza. One protester told Middle East Eye that he was repeatedly punched by officers late on Tuesday after police attempted to carry out an arrest. "The way the police acted was so violent. I've never seen this level of brutality towards protesters before," Rajiv Sinha, the director of Hindus for Human Rights UK, told MEE. "A large group of officers made their way through the crowd in a single-file line to arrest one person. We started pushing back and began chanting 'this is repression' as they dragged the protesters away." Sinha said the police vastly outnumbered the small crowd, and highlighted footage posted online which appeared to show officers hitting some of those in attendance. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Youth Demand, one of the organisers behind the protest, accused the Metropolitan Police of "extreme policing". "We were met with extreme policing, but we held it together to rally against the ongoing genocide," the spokesperson said in a video posted on Instagram. Earlier this year, the police imposed restrictions banning protests outside the BBC during the national March for Palestine in January. Officers arrested several people for allegedly breaking these restrictions, including Chris Nineham, who serves as the national steward for the National March for Palestine and chairs the Stop the War Coalition. Ben Jamal, who chairs the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, was also called in for questioning. Both Jamal and Nineham pleaded not guilty to breaking the Public Order Act. Following the January protest, the police summoned several people for additional questioning, including Raghad Altikriti, who chairs the Muslim Association of Britain. Altikriti spoke to MEE after her police interview on Wednesday, where she condemned the police's attempts at intimidation. "It was not a pleasant experience being called in for standing up for justice and against oppression, especially when you know you have done nothing wrong," Altikriti told MEE. "Our strength is driven by the fact that we have been largely peaceful, with even statements by the police confirming that." A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told MEE that three people were arrested and no restrictions were imposed. "One person was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker after an officer received minor injuries," the spokesperson said. "Two people were identified as wanted for conspiracy to commit public nuisance. They were both arrested. However, one of the suspects was later de-arrested."
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anti-Trump rallies expected to draw thousands across the US
Thousands of people were descending Saturday on Washington's National Mall and other cities across America in opposition to the policies of Donald Trump, in the largest protests since he returned to the White House. At a time of spreading global resentment against the Republican president, rallies took place earlier in international capitals including Paris, Rome and London. A loose US coalition of dozens of left-leaning groups like MoveOn and Women's March organized "Hands Off" events in more than 1,000 towns and cities and in every congressional district, the groups say. The unifying theme: the growing resentment of what the group Indivisible has called "the most brazen power grab in modern history," led by Trump, his advisor Elon Musk "and their billionaire cronies." Trump has angered many Americans by moving aggressively to downsize the government, impose his conservative values and sharply pressure even friendly countries over trade terms -- causing stock markets to tank. "Trump, Musk, and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights -– enabled by Congress every step of the way," Indivisible said on its website. Many Democrats are irate that their party, in the minority in both the House of Representatives and Senate, has seemed so helpless to resist Trump's aggressive moves. The largest protest Saturday is expected to take place starting at noon (1600 GMT) just blocks from the White House, on the National Mall in Washington, with prominent Democrats including Representative Jamie Raskin set to address the crowd. Separately, a March for Palestine has been scheduled in Washington around the same time. Saturday's demonstrations could offer a temperature reading of just how hot voters' feelings are. A Women's March protest shortly after Trump's first election in 2016 drew an estimated half-million people to Washington; advance estimates for Saturday's turnout have been far smaller. As Trump continues aggressively shaking things up in Washington and beyond, his approval rating has fallen to its lowest since taking office, according to recent polling. But despite pushback around the globe to his sweeping imposition of tariffs, and bubbling resentment from many Americans, the White House has dismissed the protests, and the Republican president has given no sign of relenting. "My policies will never change," he said Friday. bbk/md
Al Arabiya
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Anti-Trump rallies expected to draw thousands across the US
Thousands of people were descending Saturday on Washington's National Mall and other cities across America in opposition to the policies of Donald Trump, in the largest protests since he returned to the White House. At a time of spreading global resentment against the Republican president, rallies took place earlier in international capitals including Paris, Rome and London. A loose US coalition of dozens of left-leaning groups like MoveOn and Women's March organized 'Hands Off' events in more than 1,000 towns and cities and in every congressional district, the groups say. The unifying theme: the growing resentment of what the group Indivisible has called 'the most brazen power grab in modern history,' led by Trump, his advisor Elon Musk 'and their billionaire cronies.' Trump has angered many Americans by moving aggressively to downsize the government, impose his conservative values and sharply pressure even friendly countries over trade terms -- causing stock markets to tank. 'Trump, Musk, and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights -- enabled by Congress every step of the way,' Indivisible said on its website. Many Democrats are irate that their party, in the minority in both the House of Representatives and Senate, has seemed so helpless to resist Trump's aggressive moves. The largest protest Saturday is expected to take place starting at noon (1600 GMT) just blocks from the White House, on the National Mall in Washington, with prominent Democrats including Representative Jamie Raskin set to address the crowd. Separately, a March for Palestine has been scheduled in Washington around the same time. Saturday's demonstrations could offer a temperature reading of just how hot voters' feelings are. A Women's March protest shortly after Trump's first election in 2016 drew an estimated half-million people to Washington; advance estimates for Saturday's turnout have been far smaller. As Trump continues aggressively shaking things up in Washington and beyond, his approval rating has fallen to its lowest since taking office, according to recent polling. But despite pushback around the globe to his sweeping imposition of tariffs, and bubbling resentment from many Americans, the White House has dismissed the protests, and the Republican president has given no sign of relenting. 'My policies will never change,' he said Friday.
