Several demonstrations are expected to take place this weekend across central London.
With Israel’s security cabinet approving Gaza’s ceasefire agreement, one of London’s more prominent recent protests may be coming to an end.
Here is everything you need to know about the planned demonstrations for this weekend.
Static rally for Palestine
The Met imposed conditions last week that protestors must gather in Russell Square to set off at 1pm. But organisers of the protest, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), have since revealed they will be gathering in Whitehall at 12pm.
PSC took to social media to call on people to gather in Whitehall.
The group wrote: “We have resisted police attempts to force us to assemble at Russell Square.
“We call for the police to lift the restrictions on us marching. If they refuse to do so and prevent us from marching, we will rally on Whitehall in protest.”
Earlier this week, commander Adam Slonecki, who is leading the policing operation this weekend, said: “We will have a significant policing presence in the area around Portland Place to ensure the conditions we have set out are not breached and serious disruption is avoided.
“I would appeal to anyone intending to join this protest to avoid that scenario by heading to Russell Square and following the route we have set out. There are groups that are not formally part of the organising coalition who will be planning to announce gathering points with the intention of joining the main demonstration and we’d encourage them to now opt for Russell Square or locations very close by.
“Anyone breaching the conditions, or inciting others to do so, is committing an offence. The consequences for doing so include arrest. We don’t want to have to arrest people but we have the resources to do so, including at scale, if we need to.”
Speakers will include award-winning activist Patsy Stevenson as well as Camille Kumar, managing director of Abortion Support Network, and Sabby Dhalu, co-convenor of Stand Up To Racism and joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism.
A group of demonstrators will gather at the Old Palace Yard outside the Houses of Parliament to hear the speeches, which are expected to continue until approximately 4pm.
Organisers of the women’s march wrote in a statement: ”With Donald Trump set to return as US president in January 2025 and Nigel Farage picking up the anti-abortion mantle here in the UK, it’s time to make our voices heard.
“We are marching because violence against women and girls in the UK has increased by 37% since 2018 and has now been declared a national emergency. We are marching because abortion in England and Wales, if not carried out according to the strict requirements of the Abortion Act 1967, is technically still a criminal offence carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
“We are marching because reproductive rights are being removed state by state in the US making it increasingly more difficult to access safe abortions, and where vital healthcare is needed to save a woman’s life.”