More than 400 people were arrested in at a Palestine rally in central London last month, as thousands, including Kingston lecturers, protested for Palestine despite a police appeal to postpone.
Over 1,000 people gathered in Central London in solidarity with Palestine, the 31st national demonstration, including members of the Kingston University and College Union (UCU).
When asked why it was important that the Kingston UCU was there in solidarity, Kingston lecturer Francis Grahl told The River: “Our university still has opaque investments, including in institutions which are indirectly supporting the arms trade to Israel, we want to know where our students’ fees are going.”
The UCU website details its demands, including Kingston University ceasing its links with Barclays bank, with a freedom of information request revealing that as of October 2024, Kingston still held £28 million with Barclays.
The protest started at 1pm, with swift arrests by police for people holding placards and signs that support Palestine Action, the group that the UK government designated a ‘terrorist organisation’ under the 2000 Terrorism Act.
When quizzed by The River: one of the protesters, Ruth, said: “[The police and the government] try to silence us, we won’t comply with unjust laws. Our rights are being eroded.”
At least 2,094 Palestine action supporters have been arrested since July 2025, with section 5.5 of the 2000 terrorism act stating that ‘Palestine Action promotes and encourages terrorism’.
The legal ban however can be challenged in court after a verdict was upheld by three judges to allow co-founder Huda Ammori a judicial review into the proscription of her group.
Before she was arrested, a 70-year-old Palestine Action supporter, who wished to stay anonymous said: “We’re doing this for you, we’re being arrested so you don’t have to be, I’m retired so it gives me something to do.”
The police presence was particularly strong following the Manchester synagogue attack last month, at the Heaton Park Hebrew congregation synagogue. Two Jewish men were killed, and three others were severely wounded.
The attack was carried out on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, by Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent, one of the victims was shot by police gunfire, Al-Shamie was shot dead at the scene.
Despite the recent stabbing, there was still a strong Jewish contingent present protesting for Palestine, with Jewish protestor Janet saying; “Being Jewish doesn’t mean being Zionist,” going on to say that the Jewish people have a long history of standing on the side of the oppressed.
Janet’s presence at the protest and case for defending Palestine was amplified and particularly important as her father was one of the organisers of the Battle of Cablestreet, where on October 4th of 1936, Jewish residents and trade unionists blocked Oswald Mosley’s fascist march through the east end, for her the protest was symbolic.
Jewish solidarity with Palestine is present and visible in the UK despite not being dominant, with several groups including ‘The Jewish Network for Palestine’ attending protests and organising events throughout the country.
The protestors were not all united however, with Matt from The Revolutionary Communist Group (RCG) stating that: “People are saying this is a misuse of the terrorism powers, we disagree, they’re being used to cut people off from fighting imperialism around the world.”
The view of the ‘Revolutionary Communist Group’ was that the protest was ineffectual, as it was a silent protest, which led to members of the RCG confronting the protest welfare officers about their methods.
The organisers made it clear due to the synagogue attack, they wanted to remain respectful of the dead while still bringing attention to the war in Gaza, the silence however was not used by members of the RCG, who put their point across via speakers and a large microphone.
Kat, longtime RCG member and activist, stated: “this is a good but limited protest, the terrorism act is a form of silencing, which is why we have a bit of a problem with people being silent.” They, alongside others held up signs saying, ‘I oppose genocide, I support Palestine action’.
The conflict in Gaza has so far killed over 68,000 Palestinians and over 1,900 Israelis with US President Donald Trump looking to explore potential avenues to peace, so far attempts have ended in failure.
