The Met is favouring Tommy Robinson over the peaceful Nakba marchers

The Met is favouring Tommy Robinson over the peaceful Nakba marchers Submitted by Ismail Patel on Thu, 05/14/2026 - 15:38 Palestinian voices are being pushed to the margins, while xenophobic forces are granted proximity to the heart of state power Pro-Palestinian supporters gather after a march through central London, commemorating the anniversary of the Nakba, on 17 May 2025 (Henry Nicholls/AFP) On For decades, Nakba Day has marked a painful and deeply political moment for Palestinians around the world. The annual commemoration marks the mass displacement of more than 700,000 Palestinians during the creation of Israel in 1948.  Today, this catastrophe continues to shape Palestinian life and identity, along with the struggle for justice.  In London, Nakba demonstrations have long brought together Palestinians, trade unionists, faith leaders, students and human rights campaigners in peaceful mass marches through the capital. The Metropolitan Police know this. The annual demonstration is neither spontaneous nor unpredictable; it is a recurring civic and political event, one that has been coordinated with police for years. That is why the Met’s handling of this year’s march is not simply an operational failure. It is a political statement about whose protests, and voices, are acceptable in Britain . Despite being informed as early as last December that a coalition of Palestinian groups intended to hold their annual Nakba Day march on 16 May, the Met approved a far-right “Unite the Kingdom” mobilisation in central London on the same day, and then restricted the Palestine march’s access to Westminster.  When I contacted the Met police for a comment, they r...

Original source: Middle East Eye