by Chris Corney, Waltham Forest Socialist Party
Numbers were boosted for the demonstration in solidarity with the people of Gaza in central London on 15 February.
In part, the atmosphere of defiance and determination was a reaction to the obstruction and arrests of peaceful demonstrators by the police at the last demo on 18 January. But, on this occasion, policing was low key, with no attempt by the police to change the route of the march, nor to block or arrest demonstrators.
Photo: Isai Marijerla
The police may have been stung by widespread criticism of their tactics on 18 January. Though it would be naive to imagine that there will be no further attempt to disrupt future protests.
Judging from placards and banners, another factor motivating marchers to turn out in greater numbers was the recent pronouncement by Donald Trump that Gazans should be forcibly removed from their homeland to make way for a “Riviera”. Disgust at this blatant call for ethnic cleansing, and the muted response of the Labour prime minister Keir Starmer, has drawn more people onto the street, even with the precarious ceasefire.
Socialist Party members participated in the march. Our placards said: “Stand up to Trump”, and “Starmer’s Labour means war and austerity”.
Hundreds bought the Socialist paper. Our front page said: “Stand up to Starmer and Trump”, with an article inside, saying: “Trump threatens new Nakba”.
And we collected contact details from marchers wanting to hear more about the Socialist Party.