Cops swarming around peaceful protesters is highly disturbing

Watching cops swarm around peaceful protesters is highly disturbing and unforgettable

I covered the Leeds ‘Lift the Ban’ protest on 18 November. And it was a highly disturbing event I’ll never forget – not least because of the conduct of the cops.

The surreal event – marked by actions of the cops

Anyone witnessing the quiet civility of the people holding up signs saying “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” would understand that the state sending dozens of cops to arrest them was an absurd waste of their time and of public resources. And it wasn’t just the commitment and bravery of the protesters maintaining their calm in front of the state’s enforcers that shone through. It was the utter absurdity of the government’s ban on non-violent direct action group Palestine Action that put the police in that position in the first place.

As large groups of cops swarmed around one peaceful protester after another, reading their rights and trying to convince them to walk away quietly, it felt historic. Because these single acts of defiance, all unique and special sacrifices from compassionate souls resisting injustice, are happening all around the country. This is an unprecedented moment. And the disobedience is on a massive scale.

Witnessing each individual challenge the government’s suppression of democracy in service of a genocidal foreign power was powerful. Each act should give courage to us all. Each act should also make the state tremble. Because it has deeply undermined its legitimacy in the last two years, far beyond anything else it has done for a generation. And this movement is not over yet.

Enforcing immorality is wearing the police down

I usually keep a healthy distance from cops wherever possible, and had never stood so close to them as I did this week. And that proximity let me sense their energy, listen carefully to their tone of voice, and look into their eyes.

Police officers are slightly to the right of the general population, but still have diverse backgrounds and opinions. And you could see that in their behaviour. Some absolutely were aggressive and almost certainly hostile to the cause of Palestinian liberation in their private lives. But others behaved as professionally as possible in the circumstances (some clearly putting it on, others seemingly genuine). Then, there were some who looked very on edge, with others visibly rattled by having to arrest tranquil protesters largely in their 60s or 70s.

Many societies place great emphasis on respecting their elders. And the protesters here were teaching the cops a lesson in refusing to go along with the immorality of our leaders. Some police officers clearly tried to block out any comments from them, or to focus on repeating the words they had learnt to recite. But I could swear there were moments where you could see them die inside. Some clearly know that what they are doing is wrong – following orders that they should never have received.

Something has to give. And the pressure is going nowhere.

Featured image and video via the Canary

Tags: palestine police

Comments 1

Patrick McQueenie says:

8 months ago

When a Government allegedly a Democratic Government puts Police Officers on the streets it is not long until the Armed Forces are called in.
When the Western MSM show footage of other Nations with a different Ideology to ours. and the Police and Army begin their arrest process. the Government of any such Country are immediately condemned as Dictatorship’. If we the Normal Citizens of The Dystopian Hell which is the UK. which has been in the mixing bowl since Blair’ Abomination New Labour. Well My Fellow Citizens of the UK our Country is hurtling towards Totalitarianism. Only We can change the Destiny of the outcome and how our Country will be Governed. We will have a Choice to Dismantle the Class System which has never changed since time immemorial. The British Establishment has for Centuries blamed the Working Class, the Poor, Disabled, And Elderly Pensioners most of whom Worked all their Adult Lives. They know even in this Day and Age there are Enough Illiterate Stupid Racist Bigots in the Working Class who Will Keep THEM as The Ruling CLASS. This Crap about Lazy Pensioners, Greedy Lazy Disabled, the Easy Living of the Unemployed Defrauding YOU Tax Payers, Immigration, Feral Children and Young Adults BOLLOCKS. This My Fellow British Citizens is What the Establishment Call Divide and Conquer. OUR RICH GOVERNMENT Well has anyone ever seen a Politician Central or Local Government standing in The Pissing Rain. Waiting in a Food Bank Queue or sitting in a Dole Office. And all the while their Billionaire Masters Are Dodging Paying Tax Bills that would make your eyes water mate. “DIVIDE AND CONQUER” Remember these Words People of England. And to My Scottish Patriots I say this FOOL ME ONCE SHAME ON YOU FOOL ME TWICE SHAME ON ME. Please remember these Words People. And the LIES and Empty Promises made in 2014 by Self Serving Politicians and a Rotten to the Core Media. Let’s get our Freedom to choose our ain Government not one Voted into Westminster by the English Voters. Then at Least if the ones we choose Fuck it up they were Our Choice Not the Choice of Another Country’s Voters.