Should any marches around or near the Cenotaph this weekend not be allowed?

Joseann

It's not just about the Sunday Remembrance ceremony though is it?
To my knowledge there are two remembrance festivals run by the Royal British Legion at The Royal Hall on the Saturday afternoon/evening. (The Albert Hall being on the edge of Hyde Park, so potential for clashes with protesters who will be in the area at the same time). Added to this, trouble on the tube and down side streets is possible.
I'm OK with a peaceful march going ahead alongside other events, obviously not in the same roads, but my problem with it is that the police are too afraid to enforce the law if anyone plays up.

The march starts on the edge of Hyde Park, round the back of Buckingham Palace, Vauxhall Bridge Road, across the river and then west to the American Embassy at Nine Elms. So some way from the Albert Hall.

Whitewavemark2

GrannyGravy13

It’s the Lord Mayor of London annual show/parade during the day on 11th Nov, we have cancelled our plans to go.

There is no way I will take young children to London at the moment, we have also cancelled a family meal in London 11/11

I no longer feel safe in my capital city.

Why? Are you letting Braverman’s rhetoric persuade your actions?

The Lord Mayor's procession is from the Mansion House, via Cheapside and St Pauls and ending at the Royal Courts of Justice so no where near the Cenotaph or Hyde Park. So you wouldn't be affected by the march.

GrannyGravy13

There should definitely be a veto on all marches this weekend apart from official remembrance ones.

It’s respect for the fallen, without them who knows where we would be?

👏👏

I agree lixy, we can't have hope for the future if we don't reflect and learn from the past.
Lest we forget.

varian

Of course a Peace March which is not planned to go anywhere near the Cenotaph and starts well after the Remembrance ceremony should be allowed.

We remember those who struggled and sacrificed their own lives to safeguard the rights we now enjoy - including the right to free speech, the right to protest and the right to demonstrate.a

I agree varian

But I don't think a pro-Palestine march and a Peace march are the same thing.
A Peace march would be totally appropriate - isn't that the whole point of remembering, so that it's never allowed to happen again?

It is not disrespectful to have a protest march this weekend. What nonsense. Those who want to do Armistice Day things can do them, remembering those of our own culture who lost their lives. Those who want to protest about Palestinians, many of whom are children, being killed now can do so.

It would be a very worrying development and smack of racism to ban a protest. The fact that there might be trouble is not the point. The people I know who are going to the march are not going to cause trouble and neither will I if I go.

Doubt anyone believes they can help the dead , is a service at the Cenotaph once a year too much to remember and thank the dead ?

Dear God. Does that mean the Jewish people who are expressing their concerns are lying. A Jewish man was killed on a pro Palestine March in California yesterday.
I am afraid I am aware of numerous examples of the Met police not acting within the law.
I would love the police, the Met in particular without being influenced by politicians or pressure groups. I have no confidence in that with regard to the met police.

There used to be an ad on TV for Erskine hospital.THe young man in WW1 uniform asked for funding because its great to remember the dead but what about the living?
These marches are for people living in terror ,being bombed to kingdom come and so maybe...just maybe they should come first to ensure more aren;t murdered .I saw a jewish man interviewd on TV this morning he was asked why he was marching .he said because he lost his parents in Auschwitz and he had no desire to watch genocide being committed on innocents.
Thats how I feel too look after the living the dead are long gone and dont need help

Are you aware that there are and have been a large contingent of people of the jewish faith on these marches. They identify themselves as Jewish and are apparently doing so without being intimidated.

Whatever you think of the police, you surely do not disagree with the Commissioner's statement that he can only operate within the law, as well as his intimation that the politicians should keep their noses out of his decisions.

I support the rights of all protests to go ahead. However I find it deeply patronising to be told that any worry people might have about going into London is because we have fallen for someones rhetoric. Actually we are able to think and make decisions for ourselves. I have listened to many Jewish people stating their fears after some of the behaviours on the Marches, their reactions are absolutely nothing to do with the government.
Oh and I would no more trust the Mets decision making than I would trust Trumps or Farage's. I dont want it placed it in the government hands but crikey thinking the met police are a force for good in this is not an opinion I share.

Of course a Peace March which is not planned to go anywhere near the Cenotaph and starts well after the Remembrance ceremony should be allowed.

We remember those who struggled and sacrificed their own lives to safeguard the rights we now enjoy - including the right to free speech, the right to protest and the right to demonstrate.a

sodapop

Actually don't have a lot of faith in the Met's decision making. They don't have a good record do they.

They can only act within the law though, certainly not outside of it as Braverman and Sunak seem to be suggesting.

Actually don't have a lot of faith in the Met's decision making. They don't have a good record do they.

National Front who are racist, anti-Semitic and pro Nazi march past Cenotaph this morning. But that’s okay because it’s clearly not a “hate march”.

Not clear why Sunak is questioning the police decision regarding the protest, when the police are following the rule of law.

Of course the trouble could come at the Royal Albert Hall. I'd forgotten it was Saturday evening. There could be a protest outside as inside is invite only. I think the PM and LOTO usually go. We shall all just have to wait and see.

MaizieD

Oreo

Oh there’s bound to be protesters out and about in London on the Sunday.

They have nothing to do with the planned march on Saturday.

I'm sure the police will be prepared for them.

I'm more worried about Tommy Robinson's plans to 'protect' the cenotaph...

I'm more worried about Tommy Robinson's plans to 'protect' the cenotaph ...

Not sure how he's going to get near it!

The irony of that plan has obviously by-passed his brain.

Remembrance Day is Saturday; it is always 11/11 and just happens to fall on Saturday this year.

Remembrance Sunday is on the nearest Sunday to 11/11 but never before.

In most towns and cities, including London, there will be services at war memorials on 11/11 as well as on Remembrance Sunday.

The protest march supposedly will begin after 11am but many veterans and their families will still be in the streets of the capital. I hope they remain safe and are not abused.
Our friends will be there.

I think it will turn out to be a damp squib. Quite frankly, if you want the majority of people to be on your side in your chosen country of residence you don't wave the red flag in front of the bull. As always it is the sideshows that cause the problem. As for anyone getting close to the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, I don't rate their chances. It will be heavily guarded with the Royals and top politicians there. I'll leave you to decide which of those two groups you'd go for first if you wanted to cause maximum mayhem. In addition you will have the military out in force on parade. Now, the Saturday - well, that could be less calm but I still think the main body will be on best behaviour and there's not much you can do about the rest. They are usually beyond reason and spoiling for a fight. I'll armchair watch at home.

The Metropolitan Police have to follow the law and the law states when they can ban a march. So far the requirements to ban the march have not been met so they can not ban it.
Even if the politicians don't follow the law the police have to.

Just for one day these protestors should be banned and that includes Tommy Robinson et al. They are free to March and protest within law constraints every other day of the year. Could we keep the Remembrance Day service at just that to show our respect. Attacking poppy sellers is not on either.

free speech yes,

damage and deface monument and government buildings is against the law and so not allowed.

I do think they have to be allowed to go ahead, because I imagine if they were to be banned some would turn up anyway and "free speech" is a tenet of our society, a fact to dwell on given Hamas paymasters, Iran certainly don't have recourse to protest, I just hope the police are able to corral the marches so they keep them in the designated area that they are supposed to be. The danger is of course if professional agitators from opposing sides break away and come into contact with each other, then I fear there could be one almighty punch up! I do hope any person seen displaying a hate fuelled banner is arrested and dealt with.

Suffice to say, I think the solemnity of a day that is full of meaning and a British tradition could possibly be marred which would be a great shame.

I'm from a military family so respect Remembrance etc, but all the fuss about this means load more people will try to gatecrash the protest to make trouble who probably wouldn't have bothered to come, thus upping the possibility of conflict. One of the reasons people fought in the wars was for the freedom of speech, protest etc, so a peaceful protest, well away from the ceremonials and even on a different day should be allowed.