Gaza Protest | November 4, 2023

While the Guardians of The Narrative stoke flames of division, last weekend's pro-Palestine rally on London's Trafalgar Square was peaceful and inclusive with a single message: end the slaughter.

I won’t lie.

I’ve been a little concerned about the recent protests in London.

Concerned about how they’re being weaponised… By all sides of our enduringly fractious public debate.

Concerned about the potential for violence… From any quarter.

Concerned particularly about those stoking the potential for violence.

Nigel Farage.

Douglas Murray.

Tommy Robinson (oft seen these days in an IDF t-shirt).

All presenting this coming weekend’s Palestine march (just one sleep before Armistice day) like some clear and present existential threat that can only be thwarted by English boots on hallowed ground.

I am certainly concerned about radical Islam.

I was on London Bridge during the 2017 terror attack so I’ve seen the impact of these ideologies up close. I’ve listened to Islamists on British streets boasting of their divine right to enslave Kafir. And the sight of Isis flags in UK cities, as seen on recent marches in support of Palestine, should concern every single citizen of this country.

As much as I’m firmly on the side of the Palestinian people (and the Israeli people, for that matter), it’s abundantly clear that Hamas is a radical Islamic terror group. And ignoring this isn’t helping Palestinian citizens in Gaza one bit. Hamas’ commitment to violence simply creates the geopolitical space for Israel to do the things it’s doing. None of which I agree with either, by the way. Netanyahu is walking proof that Jews aren’t immune from committing acts of genocide when it suits their imperial ambitions.

It’s entirely possible, dear reader, that there are no good guys in this conflict. And getting involved in a high stakes street brawl against, or at the behest of, Tommy Robinson doesn’t sound like my idea of a Saturday afternoon up the West End.

Luckily, having attended last weekend’s static protest at Trafalgar Square, I feel much more relaxed about how things are likely to play out. This isn’t to say that bad actors of one persuasion or another won’t try and spark off a civil conflict. That’s almost a given at this stage of the game. But the overriding impression I got from spending a few hours amongst pro-Palestine protestors this past weekend was that this is a peaceful movement focused primarily on ending the slaughter of innocent people.

I’ve been on too many protests to count over the past few years through lockdown, which has given me a fairly well-attuned sense of how these things run and how to judge the mood on the day.

After entering Trafalgar Square with a tiny bit of trepidation, it quickly became clear that the event would be peaceful and the whole tone of proceedings was positive and level-headed throughout.

Although I did, admittedly, hear the contentious ‘From the River to the Sea’ chant on two occasions, the vast, vast majority (99%+) of messages being shared were simply demands to ‘ceasefire’ and ‘stop killing babies’. Difficult to argue with.

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Yes there were protestors climbing on statues and monuments. But, let’s be honest, we see worse happening around the football. None of this behaviour felt aggressive, threatening or disrespectful and, as far as I’m aware, no major damage was done.

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Although there weren’t many children at the event, those that were didn’t feel out of place. This gentleman and his little girl were having a great time. Happy memories made.

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The Hard Left have long been aligned to the Palestinian cause. Socialist Worker were heavily represented on placards and at multiple stands scattered around the Square. Giving an air of professionalism and polish to proceedings. They’ve been in this fight for a long time and run a tight ship.

The speeches were certainly impassioned (as you’d expect from the Left), but lacking in original (or practical) ideas (as you’d also expect from the Left). The 1970s called guys, they want their political ideologies back.

The two speakers I heard were also too focused, for my money, on the upcoming General Election as a way of punishing the powers that be. IMHO there is no political solution to the challenges we face. Peaceful, united resistance and outright rebellion against the Establishment (all parties, including the head of state) is the only way we’re going to see fundamental change in this country and further afield.

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Is that possible for us to achieve, given how fractious our political discourse has become over the past several years?

I think so.

Not least because there is so much more that unites us than divides. This ‘Free Assange’ banner, for example, could have been at any of the freedom marches through 2020/2021. People on all sides have zero trust for the State, and are desperate for truth.

I’ll be writing more over the coming weeks about the phenomenon of Partisan Dealignment which I think perfectly describes our current situation. Most people in this country are politically and ideologically homeless. A new unifying political, social and economic movement is required and we need people with the minerals, resources and intellectual firepower to go after it.

Watch this space.

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How about the dreaded anti-semitism?

Something I’m fairly well attuned to given my name (Benjamin Rubin) is about as Jewish as Yom Kippur. (for the record, I’m a Christian).

Well I’m happy to say there was none in sight.

There were, however, plenty of Jewish voices in the crowd calling for peace. Including this organisation, Jewish Voice for Labour, set up right by the main stage. And a bunch of others scattered throughout the square.

Judaism, it would appear, is no more monolithic than Christianity or Islam.

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One intriguing sight was these ‘Jewish’ gentlemen protesting in support of Israel, complete with a phalanx of TSG Officers providing close protection so they didn’t get mobbed by the crowd.

Call me cynical, but this reeked of psyop and didn’t get much more than a cursory glance from most people walking past.

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Finally, as the afternoon came to a close, we retreated to the Admiralty which was fittingly rammed with Submariners in full dress uniform.

Quite the juxtaposition.

Especially given the increasing presence of Royal Navy ships off the coast of Gaza.

But at no point did it ever feel like anything more than a peaceful afternoon protesting in London.

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For more on the Trafalgar Square protest, including some great interviews with attendees, make sure to check out Brian and Mike’s opening segment on UK Column News from Monday.

If you are going to the protest march on November 11 in London, please take care and act responsibly.

Angry conflagrations will only give the Establishment the excuse they’re looking for to further impinge on our fundamental rights.

Don’t give them the satisfaction.

Cease fire, now.

E pluribus unum.

Out of many, one people.

Love.

Rubin

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