London pro-Palestine march draws 250,000, 20 arrested

Why it matters

A national pro-Palestine march organised by the Palestine Coalition filled central London on Saturday, October 10, with organisers estimating around 250,000 participants. The march set off from Victoria Embankment at midday, crossing Westminster Bridge, York Road, Waterloo Bridge and The Strand before a rally on Whitehall that ended shortly before 5pm.

The Metropolitan Police imposed conditions under the Public Order Act on both the march and a counter-protest, including requiring demonstrators to remove face coverings. Twenty arrests were made: six for criminal damage after climbing onto the Battle of Britain memorial on Victoria Embankment; seven for breach of conditions, two of whom also refused to remove face coverings; and two for displaying placards supporting the proscribed organisation Palestine Action.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn MP addressed the Whitehall rally to loud cheers, saying recent UK government sanctions on illegal West Bank settlements were the result of "our demonstrations, our marches".

A counter-protest by Stop The Hate, numbering about 30 people, gathered outside New Scotland Yard, separated from the march by metal barriers and a line of officers. A national march for Palestine also took place in Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon, ending with a rally outside the Scottish Parliament.