The recent report that the Gospel Oak to Barking Line is to be renamed the ‘Suffragette Line’ is great news. Celebrating these heroines from East London helps put recent fatuous remarks by Home Secretary James Cleverly into perspective. Like his predecessors, who resisted the fight for women’s suffrage, he thinks there are just too many demonstrations.
Cleverly said pro-Palestine protesters have “made their point.” He questioned whether holding regular marches “adds value” to their calls for an immediate ceasefire given the UK government is in disagreement. (Times 28 Feb)
Cleverly did not attempt to make a case for stopping the national demonstrations due to any violence or threat to public order. All ten, held over five months, have been peaceful. The number of arrests proportionately has been less than for a typical Glastonbury Festival. He expresses concern instead about the cost.
I have participated in several of these peace marches in a personal capacity as part of the substantial Jewish Bloc, which includes both religious Jews and secular ones like me. Jewish support for an immediate ceasefire has been shamefully underreported. The response from Muslim participants has invariably been warm and appreciative. Those like former Home Secretary Suella Braverman who smear them as hate marches have clearly not been on one.
The policing cost, estimated at £25million so far, is a small price to pay for exercising a basic democratic right. It is insignificant compared say to the estimated £240million spent so far on the flawed Rwanda scheme. The cost is probably more than is necessary. Any display of antisemitism is vile and should be dealt with. But the routes are saturated with CCTV cameras. Given the demonstrations have been peaceful, it is questionable whether the large number of police deployed on the ground are needed.
Freedom of speech and assembly are time-honoured democratic means for urging change in government policy. It is unreasonable that the Home Secretary should seek to diminish these rights and expect those calling for an immediate ceasefire to reduce their protests as the death and suffering mount. The suffragette movement was formed in 1903 because demure pleas for change had fallen on deaf ears for decades. It took many years of demonstrations before they won the vote for women. They were on the right side of history. Our Home Secretary is not. ENDS. Paul Kaufman, Chairperson, East London Humanists
