UK; venue of rising hostility toward pro-Palestine march observers
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A legal consultant to pro-Palestinian protesters was transferred to hospital by onlookers following an incident on Westminster Bridge in London.
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UK Police arresting a demonstrator during the march on January 6 (AFP)
A 71-year-old legal observer has accused a group of police officers of intentionally knocking her down and leaving her injured and unconscious on the ground at a Gaza ceasefire protest in London.
Lesley Wertheimer, who was wearing a hi-visibility bib with the words "legal observer" emblazoned on the back, tumbled face down into the road as nearly 30 police officers surged toward Westminster Bridge during the first pro-Palestine rally of 2024.
Legal observers are certified volunteers who watch protests and offer basic legal advice to participants. The Met stated in 2021 that they perform an essential role in the independent oversight of policing.
Wertheimer has been actively volunteering since 1990 and stated that “no person should be charged, knocked over and harmed by the police and then have to rely on strangers helping them,” adding that the police have "no right" to intimidate them.
The Observer obtained video footage of cops going along Bridge Street toward Westminster Bridge on January 6. At least two male cops appear to collide with Wertheimer as they rush by, leading her to tumble face-first onto the road. Even though at least two of the police stare down at her lying prone and unmoving, no one stops to see whether she is wounded.
Passersby ultimately helped her get back on her feet after she blacked out.
Physicians and witnesses at the rally provided her with first aid assistance until she was able to visit a clinic. "If I had done that to a police officer I would have been in court the next day," she added. "They cannot go on treating the public like this."
Wertheimer filed a complaint with the Metropolitan Police two weeks ago and police have stated her allegations were being investigated. Supt Gerry Parker, one of the top police in charge of policing protests in London, stated, “Anyone who sees this footage will be understandably alarmed. We are urgently working to establish what happened. We’re aware the woman sadly suffered injuries.”
Her lawyer, Eva Roszykiewicz, called the case "particularly shocking", because officers did not attempt to help Lesly.
“Whether you are a legal observer or a member of the public, that is scary," Roszykiewicz expressed.
Wertheimer suspects she was intentionally targeted by police due to her recording of police actions in the protest when officers stopped hundreds of pro-Palestine demonstrators from crossing the Westminster Bridge.
Police aggression growing toward protest
“I have not been able to go out on my own since [the incident] because if something happened to me like this, who would be there to help me?”
Campaign group Netpol told The Observer that legal observers were being targeted much more frequently as of late.
Kat Hobbs from the group expressed that "police aggression" toward them was becoming more common and was being "driven by the growing hostility towards protest from the police and the Conservative government.”
Last month, two legal observers claimed they were attacked while witnessing the police response to an antifascist rally at the University of Manchester. One stated he fell to the ground after being smacked in the back with a baton.
When he got up, he stated that cops had tossed him back to the ground. The other observer stated she was shoved back and hit twice by cops. Both are ready to file official complaints with Greater Manchester police.
Today without any warning GMP drew batons on peaceful Palestine protesters. Two of our legal observers were injured. If you have any footage/pictures of police with batons drawn & the Insp in the picture below who also drew her baton pls email them to us asap @netpol pic.twitter.com/EGElDK6J9Y
— Green & Black Cross (@GBCMANCHESTER) February 10, 2024
Last week, Rishi Sunak stated that the country was slipping "into mob rule" and urged police commanders to crack down on rallies outside parliament, town halls, MPs' houses, and political offices.
Sunak has in the past threatened to hold the police commissioner "accountable" for approving pro-Palestine protests in London.
In October, the head of the Metropolitan police, Commissioner Mark Rowley, declared that his forces would be “absolutely ruthless” during pro-Palestine protests but said prosecutions would only happen when the law is broken.
Pro-Palestine protesters to be jailed 3 months, fined in UK: Cleverly
UK Interior Minister James Cleverly revealed a new public order offense in a statement in early February, saying that pro-Palestine protesters who climb war memorials could face jail for three months and a 1,000 pound ($1,260) fine.
Cleverly claimed that the protests “have seen a small minority dedicated to causing damage and insulting those who paid the ultimate price for their freedom to protest,” adding, “Peaceful protest is fundamental in our county, but climbing on our war memorials is an insult to these monuments of remembrance and cannot continue."
He stressed that this would be part of a plan to ensure police can keep public order and peace.
