During the "Great Israel Real Estate" event demonstration, called by the Palestinian Youth Movement, I experienced firsthand the inadequacies of police handling at pro-Palestine demonstrations in the UK. The police, who are meant to protect and ensure the safety of all individuals, failed in their duties by providing advice that put me, and others, directly in danger.

In regards to the demonstration at the "Great Israel Real Estate" event, firstly, we were 'caged-in' within the area that we were allowed to protest. This meant that not only were we surrounded by police, but we were also surrounded by the Zionist counter-demonstrators.  The police also were filming us along with the Zionist counter-demonstrators and we saw that the police were not filming the zionists. Since the protest was happening on a pavement near a main road, the Zionist counter-demonstrators blocked the main road and this was allowed to happen by the police despite several activists requesting the police to move the zionist counter-demonstrators to the opposite pavement thereby freeing up the road. 

The fact that they were allowed to block the main road proved to be a particular issue for me since my car was parked on the road directly behind the zionist counter-demonstrators. When i told the police that I wanted to leave, I also told them that my car was parked behind the zionists before asking them how I can safely get to my car? I was told by the police that the only way to get to my car is by walking straight through the zionist counter-demonstrators, that I shouldn't agitate them and that they (the police) will be watching me from afar.

Knowing that the police were not going to safely escort me through the area blocked by the zionist counter-demonstrators. I proceeded to approach the zionist-counter demonstrators and as i was walking through them, someone barged in to me hoping for a violent reaction to which i continued walking, people were calling me a "Terror*st", "H*mas supporter", that I was told to "Go back to where i came from" to which I responded by saying that "I was born here" before continuing my walk. The zionists continued to follow me, told me to never come back and they took pictures of me for, presumably, doxxing purposes.

This experience has made me seriously question the methods and integrity of current policing strategies towards such peaceful demonstrations.

There is a growing concern among the pro-Palestine community and its allies about the impartiality and safety provided by law enforcement during rallies. Numerous incidents have been reported where demonstrators felt their safety was compromised due to poor policing strategies and inappropriate crowd management techniques. According to a recent report by Amnesty International, over the past year, there have been several documented cases of police misconduct and excessive use of force against peaceful pro-Palestine demonstrators.

The handling of these demonstrations under Police Commissioner Mark Rawley’s leadership has not only been disappointing but dangerous. The need for urgent change is thus evident and Mark Rawley must be held accountable for the way his forces have dealt with these demonstrations. His resignation would be the necessary first step in rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the pro-Palestine community.

A change in leadership could pave the way for a review and overhaul of current policing policies related to demonstrations, ensuring a more just, fair, and safe approach to managing such events in the future. We need a Police Commissioner who values all lives equally and promotes unbiased safety measures.

By signing this petition, you are calling for the resignation of Mark Rowley from his role as Police Commissioner. Sign now to stand up for justice, fairness, and a truly democratic right to peaceful protest.