Hi! It’s konkaz (@konkazuk).
The situation in Palestine remains severe, with ongoing violence and human rights violations in the occupied territories. In the UK, voices opposing this situation are growing louder, and protests are taking place frequently.
Recently, many people have been raising their voices in protest, especially against the prosecution of Ben Jamal, the director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC).
Therefore, this article is a report on my experience attending the protest against his prosecution on 21st February.
Who is Ben Jamal?
Ben Jamal is the director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC).
PSC is a British organisation established in the 1970s to support Palestinian rights and independence. It seeks to raise awareness of the situation in Palestine and pressures the UK government to change its policies on the issue.
As a key figure in this campaign, Jamal takes a strong stance on the hardships faced by Palestinians in the occupied territories and consistently expresses his support for Palestinian freedom and independence.
The pro-Palestinian demonstration in which he was arrested took place in London on January 18, 2025. More than 70 others were also arrested during the protest, leading to criticism of the police’s handling of the situation.
For Ben Jamal’s perspective on his arrest and the importance of protest, please refer to the YouTube video below.👇
On the Day of the Protest
On February 21, as Ben Jamal was scheduled to appear for pre-trial procedures, many gathered outside the magistrates’ court in Marylebone early in the morning to protest his prosecution, oppose the police’s repressive tactics, and defend the democratic right to protest.
Although the weather was dreary, as I reached the location by bus, I noticed Zoë Garbett, a familiar Hackney councillor, with her pink fringe. Just seeing her gave me a sense of reassurance.
There were many speeches at the protest, but I came across footage of Zoë Garbett and Owen Jones, a journalist and activist, so I’ll highlight them here.
First up is Zoë Garbett.
Next, Owen Jones.
As seen in the footage, Ben Jamal himself appeared during Owen Jones’s speech, prompting loud cheers from the crowd.
Activists and writers delivered messages of anger, while a choir sang songs of peace, each expressing their thoughts on the current situation. The event concluded without incident.
Wrapping up…
From Zoë’s speech, it’s clear that the police have been acting more oppressively—using intimidation tactics in front of a 4-year-old child, detaining people who were simply standing across the street, and restricting protesters’ movement by confining them to specific areas.
With Elon Musk and other far-right forces becoming more prominent, an unsettling atmosphere is spreading across the world. If the freedom to protest against environmental destruction, human rights violations, and for peace is lost, society will head in a very dangerous direction.
If we remain indifferent and ignore the situation, we might wake up one day to find that our freedoms have vanished without us even noticing. That’s why I strongly feel that these efforts are essential in today’s society.
Bye now,
konkaz
*You can read this blog post in Japanese from the link below.
👉 ベン・ジャマール氏起訴への抗議デモ：2月21日の現場レポート