Carolyn Gelenter told Skwawkbox on Friday that she’d decided simply bearing witness to Saturday’s demo was not enough
Jewish Peacenik and descendant of Holocaust survivors Carolyn Gelenter was arrested at 4.30pm on Saturday at the huge London demonstration against Israel’s genocide and Keir Starmer’s Israel-driven decision to ban non-violent direct action group Palestinian Action as part of his war on the rights of British citizens to protect Israel from protest and criticism.
Gelenter had told Skwawkbox on Friday that she was part of a group of Jewish women who had been asked to attend the protest to witness the state’s actions against the entirely peaceful demonstrators – hundreds were arrested – but that she had decided simply bearing witness was not enough. She was eventually bailed in the early hours of Sunday morning until 17 November, when she has to report to Plumstead police station for police interview.
Israel has slaughtered approaching half a million people, overwhelmingly civilians, during the Gaza genocide so far according to its military’s own data.
Each police officer showing what a complete pillock he/she really is. Low IQ folk having a power trip.
amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/uk-nearly-900-arrests-palestine-protest-shows-governments-disregard-our-protest
Police make 857 arrests under the Terrorism Act at yesterday’s Defend Our Juries demo
Amnesty’s observers witnessed episodes of police aggression, including supporters of the protest being shoved away and batons being pulled out on people
‘The scenes yesterday were a shocking demonstration of how the UK’s overly broad terrorism laws are being used to suppress free speech’ – Kerry Moscogiuri
Responding to news that police made 857 arrests under the Terrorism Act at yesterday’s Defend Our Juries peaceful protest, Kerry Moscogiuri, Amnesty International’s Director of Campaigns and Communications, said:
“The staggering number of arrests at yesterday’s peaceful protest marks a new low for protest rights in this country. It’s completely ridiculous for police to be targeting and arresting people for sitting down, quietly holding a sign.
“Amnesty International deployed observers to the protest, and police claims that the protest turned violent are a misrepresentation. Our observers witnessed the Defend Our Juries protest being entirely peaceful.
“Some supporters of the protest shouted insults at the police and a small number of them attempted to prevent the police from carrying arrestees away. This did not appear to be a coordinated effort.
“Police officers, on a number of occasions, were aggressive towards supporters of the protest. This included violently shoving people away and pulling out batons to make space whilst protesters were arrested and hauled into police vans.
“Peaceful protest is a fundamental right. The scenes yesterday were a shocking demonstration of how the UK’s overly broad terrorism laws are being used to suppress free speech.”
The Met Police said 890 arrests were made: 857 arrests were for showing support for Palestine Action, while 33 were arrested for other offences, including 17 for assaults on police officers.