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In today's Britain, public demonstration is no longer a fundamental right. Instead, it has become a privilege that authorities grant or deny at their discretion. This represents the underlying meaning of new regulations that the current government is advancing, which would dictate when and where demonstrations can take place, with possible prison sentences for those who disobey these limitations.

Erosion of Civil Liberties

Earlier governments had already undermined this essential right: the former Conservative government had given law enforcement sweeping new authorities, which international human rights organizations had condemned as "serious and unjustified limitations" on civil liberties. Taken together, these incremental assaults on liberty have effectively eliminated the hard-won right to public demonstration.

Exploiting Atrocity to Justify Suppression

The latest restrictive measures are being defended by citing last week's heinous anti-Jewish attack on a Manchester Islamic center. There should be widespread consensus that the safety of Jewish communities in Britain must be protected. However, employing this atrocity as a justification to suppress opposition is not only unrelated to that responsibility but perverts it.

"If you cannot draw the line at genocide, you probably can't establish limits at democratic principles," commented a well-known American author, a statement that rings true for the current government.

Historical Perspective of Demonstration

Consider Britain's long tradition of public demonstration and direct action against racism and fascism, from the 1936 Battle of Cable Street to postwar Jewish groups opposing fascism and the 1970s mobilizations against the National Front. Many of these early protesters were branded as extremists in their time, even while they were fighting for the rights of minorities.

Present Situation

In the current complicated landscape, here's what's actually happening: The Israeli government – a foreign state – is perpetrating what United Nations investigations have described as systematic destruction. Its military actions have led the global justice body to release legal indictments against Benjamin Netanyahu and his ex-military leader.

Western public opinion has shifted dramatically against Israel's military campaign. In Britain, a substantial majority of citizens believe Israel has likely committed international law violations. Most people would support a complete ban on weapons exports to the state, and back the arrest of Netanyahu.

Suppressing Opposition

Having largely lost the argument, Israel's supporters are now seizing on a vile antisemitic crime to attempt to suppress a popular campaign against a ethical disaster. The British government seems included in this effort. Government officials have failed to implement extensive restrictions on Israel and have permitted weapon shipments to proceed.

People who are protesting against the destruction of Gaza have been characterized as hateful extremists. Yet there's a significant reason why there hasn't been a broader suppression on these protesters until now: very limited protesters have made truly offensive statements about Jewish people, giving police authorities little justification to take action.

Dangerous Conflation

Equating Jewish heritage with the policies of the Israeli state is not only manipulative but also dangerous. The official definition of anti-Jewish prejudice, accepted by the British government and numerous institutions, has been appropriately challenged for potentially stifling legitimate criticism of Israel. However, there should be no disagreement about one of its key examples: that "making Jewish people collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel" constitutes prejudice against Jews.

Escalating Restrictions

This is why we've reached a point where law enforcement can suggest that protests criticizing Israel's policies should be called off because they might "inadvertently or deliberately" endorse antisemitism. Similarly, political figures have declared that acknowledgment of Palestinian statehood has made organizations "complicit" in supposed mistreatment experienced by Jewish communities.

Inconsistent Treatment

On the same day as the synagogue attack, the Israeli military killed numerous of Palestinian civilians in Gaza – adding to the terrible count from two years of daily atrocities that have claimed many thousands of lives. British political leaders and media outlets have barely concealed the limited value they assign to Palestinian life. This represents one of the most brazen demonstrations of racism in our time.

Breaking Boundaries

Our government has already crossed a dangerous boundary by banning Palestine Action, a peaceful, human rights-focused activist collective. Thousands of British protesters have been detained, primarily for holding signs against genocide and supporting the banned organization. Many of those arrested are pensioners; including a retired priest and the child of a Holocaust survivor.

Global Comparisons

It's easy to see where this trajectory leads. In the United States, government officials helped demonize pro-Palestinian protests: a ex-political leader suggested that some were "connected to" other nations, while the sitting leader characterized such protests as anti-Jewish. In doing so, they helped legitimize the authoritarian crackdown on such protests – and on free speech in general.

Future Concerns

If a conservative administration comes to power, it would be granted extensive authority to control opposition. What might a Reform government do with this repressive toolkit? Our ancestors struggled, endured hardship and sacrificed their lives to secure our freedoms. We may eventually regret how easily we permitted them to slip away.