Ben Jamal, the director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), has confirmed that he has been charged following Saturday’s chaotic march.
Jamal vowed to “vigorously contest” the allegations, which he dubbed “repressive”.
In a statement posted to the PSC website and shared on X, he accused the Metropolitan Police of. a “huge assault on the right to freedom of assembly and to protest”.
He wrote: “Yesterday I voluntarily attended an interview with the Metropolitan Police, to address allegations that I led, and incited others to join, a procession which forced its way through a Police line at the top of Whitehall, thereby breaching conditions imposed upon our protest.
“Within 2 hours of the interview concluding, Police officers turned up at my front door to inform me that charges were being brought against me.
“I am due in Court to face these charges on February 21st 2025, and will of course vigorously contest them.”
My statement on the charges brought against me, and the extraordinarily repressive actions of @metpoliceuk on Saturday. Thanks to all who’ve sent messages of Solidarity. Onwards together to Freedom, Justice and Equality. Full statement here https://t.co/x10byEFx0l
— Ben Jamal (@BenJamalpsc) January 20, 2025
More than 70 people were arrested at the march as demonstrators broke through a police line and entered an exclusion zone around the BBC and several central London synagogues.
Police said the demonstration amounted to the most “significant escalation in criminality” in the nearly 16 months of regular pro-Palestine marches.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his erstwhile Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell were also interviewed under caution in relation to the march, but no charges have yet been brought.
Jamal concluded his statement echoing the “from the river to the sea” slogan, which critics claim promotes genocidal intent against Jews.
He added: “The state wishes to silence our movement. It will not succeed. We will not stop protesting and campaigning until every brick in the wall of apartheid that imprisons and oppresses the Palestinian people is torn down, until Palestinians in exile are free to return to their homes and on every inch of their historic homeland, from the river to the sea, are finally able to live in freedom with justice.”