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In contemporary Britain, public demonstration is no longer a basic freedom. Instead, it has become a privilege that authorities allow or withhold as they see fit. This constitutes the implication of proposed measures that the current government is advancing, which would determine when and where demonstrations can take place, with potential imprisonment for those who defy these restrictions.

Erosion of Democratic Rights

Previous administrations had already undermined this fundamental freedom: the former Conservative government had given law enforcement sweeping additional powers, which global rights bodies had condemned as "serious and undue limitations" on democratic freedoms. Collectively, these incremental attacks on liberty have practically eliminated the hard-won right to public demonstration.

Exploiting Tragedy to Rationalize Suppression

The latest limitations are being defended by referring to last week's heinous antisemitic attack on a British Islamic center. We can all agree on widespread consensus that the safety of British Jews must be protected. However, using this horrific incident as a justification to stifle dissent is not only unrelated to that responsibility but perverts it.

"When you cannot draw the line at genocide, you probably can't draw the line at democratic principles," observed a well-known American author, whose words that applies equally for the present administration.

Historical Context of Protest

Reflect on Britain's long tradition of protest and direct action against racism and fascism, from the historic 1936 Cable Street confrontation to postwar Jewish anti-fascist movements and the 1970s demonstrations against the National Front. Many of these early protesters were branded as extremists in their time, even while they were advocating the rights of minorities.

Current Reality

In the current complicated landscape, here's what's actually happening: The Israeli government – a sovereign nation – is perpetrating what United Nations investigations have described as genocide. Its warfare have prompted the International Criminal Court to issue legal indictments against Israel's prime minister and his former defense minister.

International popular sentiment has changed significantly against Israel's military campaign. In Britain, a large percentage of the public think Israel has likely committed international law violations. Most people would endorse a complete ban on weapons exports to the nation, and back the detention of the Israeli leader.

Silencing Dissent

Having largely lost the public debate, pro-Israel advocates are now seizing on a despicable anti-Jewish attack to attempt to suppress a popular campaign against a ethical disaster. The British government seems involved in this effort. Ministers have failed to implement comprehensive sanctions on Israel and have permitted weapon shipments to continue.

People who are demonstrating against the destruction of Gaza have been labeled as dangerous radicals. Yet there's a significant reason why there hasn't been a more extensive suppression on these protesters until now: extremely few protesters have made genuinely hateful statements about Jewish people, giving police authorities minimal reason to take action.

Problematic Association

Equating Jewish heritage with the actions of the government of Israel is not only cynical but also harmful. The official definition of anti-Jewish prejudice, adopted by the British government and many organizations, has been appropriately questioned for potentially stifling legitimate criticism of Israel. However, there should be universal agreement about one of its key examples: that "making Jewish people generally accountable for actions of the state of Israel" constitutes prejudice against Jews.

Increasing Limitations

This is why we've reached a situation where law enforcement can propose that demonstrations criticizing Israel's policies should be called off because they might "inadvertently or deliberately" support anti-Jewish sentiment. Similarly, government officials have stated that recognition of Palestine as a nation has made organizations "implicated" in alleged abuse experienced by British Jews.

Inconsistent Treatment

On the same day as the religious center assault, the Israeli military killed dozens of Palestinians in Gaza – adding to the horrific toll from two years of ongoing violence that have taken many thousands of human lives. British political leaders and media outlets have hardly hidden the limited value they assign to Palestinian existence. This represents one of the boldest expressions of racism in our time.

Breaking Boundaries

Our government has already passed a dangerous boundary by proscribing a specific activist group, a non-violent, human rights-focused direct action organization. Thousands of British demonstrators have been detained, primarily for holding signs against mass killing and supporting the banned organization. Many of those detained are elderly citizens; among them a retired priest and the daughter of a World War II genocide survivor.

Global Comparisons

It's easy to see where this trajectory leads. In the United States, political leaders helped demonize pro-Palestinian protests: a former House Speaker implied that some were "connected to" foreign governments, while the current president described such demonstrations as anti-Jewish. In taking these actions, they contributed to normalizing the repressive measures on such demonstrations – and on free speech in general.

Looking Ahead

If a hard-right government comes to power, it would be granted extensive authority to suppress opposition. What might a Reform government do with this repressive toolkit? Our forebears struggled, suffered and died to establish our freedoms. We may eventually rue how easily we allowed them to be eroded.