Where Does the Crackdown on Britain's Democratic Freedoms Stop? It Began with Palestinian Protests

In contemporary Britain, protest has ceased to be a fundamental right. Instead, it has become a conditional permission that authorities grant or deny as they see fit. This represents the implication of proposed measures that the current government is putting forward, which would dictate when and where protests can take place, with potential imprisonment for those who defy these restrictions.

Erosion of Civil Liberties

Previous governments had already weakened this fundamental freedom: the former Conservative government had granted law enforcement extensive additional powers, which international human rights organizations had censured as "serious and unjustified limitations" on democratic freedoms. Taken together, these incremental assaults on liberty have effectively eliminated the historically earned right to freedom of protest.

Using Tragedy to Rationalize Suppression

The latest restrictive measures are being defended by referring to last week's terrible antisemitic assault on a British mosque. There should be universal agreement that the security of Jewish communities in Britain must be safeguarded. However, using this atrocity as a justification to stifle opposition is not only disconnected to that duty but perverts it.

"When you cannot draw the line at genocide, you probably cannot draw the line at democracy," observed a well-known American author, a statement that rings true for the present administration.

Historical Context of Demonstration

Consider Britain's long tradition of public demonstration and direct action against racial discrimination and fascism, from the 1936 Battle of Cable Street to postwar Jewish groups opposing fascism and the 1970s demonstrations against the far-right organization. Many of these historical demonstrators were branded as extremists in their time, even while they were fighting for the freedoms of marginalized groups.

Current Reality

In today's complicated landscape, here's what's truly happening: The Israeli government – a sovereign nation – is perpetrating acts that international bodies have characterized as genocide. Its warfare have led the global justice body to release legal indictments against Benjamin Netanyahu and his ex-military leader.

Western public opinion has shifted dramatically against Israel's military campaign. In Britain, a large percentage of citizens think Israel has probably committed war crimes. Most people would support a total prohibition on weapons exports to the state, and back the arrest of the Israeli leader.

Silencing Dissent

Having essentially lost the public debate, Israel's supporters are now seizing on a despicable anti-Jewish attack to attempt to silence a mass movement against a ethical disaster. The British government appears to be involved in this effort. Government officials have failed to implement extensive restrictions on Israel and have permitted weapon shipments to continue.

People who are protesting against the destruction of Gaza have been characterized as dangerous radicals. Yet there's a significant reason why there hasn't been a more extensive crackdown on these demonstrators until now: very limited protesters have made genuinely hateful statements about Jewish people, giving law enforcement minimal reason to take action.

Problematic Association

Equating Jewish heritage with the actions of the government of Israel is not only cynical but also harmful. The official definition of anti-Jewish prejudice, adopted by the British government and numerous institutions, has been rightly questioned for potentially stifling valid commentary of Israel. However, there should be no disagreement about one of its central illustrations: that "making Jewish people collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel" constitutes antisemitism.

Escalating Restrictions

This is why we've reached a situation where police authorities can propose that demonstrations opposing Israel's policies should be called off because they might "inadvertently or intentionally" endorse antisemitism. Similarly, political figures have declared that acknowledgment of Palestinian statehood has made organizations "implicated" in supposed mistreatment faced by Jewish communities.

Inconsistent Treatment

On the same day as the synagogue attack, the Israeli military killed numerous of Palestinian civilians in Gaza – increasing the horrific toll from two years of daily atrocities that have taken many thousands of human lives. British politicians and news organizations have barely concealed the minimal importance they attach to Palestinian existence. This represents one of the most brazen expressions of discrimination in our time.

Crossing Thresholds

Our government has already passed a dangerous threshold by banning a specific activist group, a peaceful, human rights-focused direct action organization. Multiple thousands of British demonstrators have been arrested, primarily for carrying placards against genocide and endorsing the proscribed group. Many of those detained are elderly citizens; among them a former clergyman and the daughter of a World War II genocide survivor.

Global Comparisons

It's easy to see where this path leads. In the United States, government officials helped vilify demonstrations supporting Palestine: a ex-political leader implied that some were "linked with" other nations, while the current president characterized such protests as anti-Jewish. In taking these actions, they helped legitimize the repressive measures on such protests – and on free speech in general.

Future Concerns

If a hard-right government comes to power, it would be given extensive authority to suppress dissent. What might a new administration do with this repressive toolkit? Our forebears struggled, suffered and died to secure our freedoms. We may eventually regret how easily we allowed them to be eroded.