Pro-Palestine protests set to focus on banks regardless of Rishi Sunak’s extremism warning | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Huge Pro-Palestine protests will proceed throughout the nation at this time – with further consideration targeted on them after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak yesterday claimed democracy is being focused by extremists.

Local demonstrations are deliberate for this weekend prior to a different nationwide march, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, in central London on March 9.

Many of the actions this weekend are directed towards Barclays Bank, which the PSC claims holds “substantial financial ties with arms companies supplying weapons and military technology to Israel”.

Branches of the financial institution shall be focused on excessive streets from Abergavenny, in south Wales, to Worthing, in West Sussex, based on the group.

Mr Sunak, talking at a lectern outdoors Number 10 Downing Street, spoke in regards to the present state of affairs in Britain, within the aftermath of the October 7 assaults by Hamas towards Israel, in an deal with to the nation on Friday.

He additional warned there have been “forces here at home trying to tear us apart”, claimed “our democracy itself is a goal” and decried a recent “stunning improve in extremist disruption and criminality”.

And he branded the victory of George Galloway in the Rochdale by-election “past alarming”.

Mr Sunak also spoke directly to those taking part in pro-Palestine protests, urging organisers to demonstrate peacefully and “with empathy”.

He said he had told senior police chiefs the public expected the protests to be policed rather than simply managed.

The Conservative Party leader said: “I need to communicate on to those that select to proceed to protest: do not let the extremists hijack your marches.

“You have a chance in the coming weeks to show that you can protest decently, peacefully and with empathy for your fellow citizens.

“Let us show these extremists unsuitable and present them that even once we disagree, we’ll by no means be disunited.”

The Prime Minister said a line has to be drawn so that while people should be able to “march and protest with ardour” in support of Gaza, demonstrators “can’t name for violent jihad”, to justify the actions of Palestinian militant group Hamas – a proscribed group in the UK, which bans any show of support – or “name for the eradication of a state or any type of hatred or antisemitism”.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer appeared to back the Prime Minister’s message calling for unity in the country.

In a statement, he said: “The Prime Minister is true to advocate unity and to sentence the unacceptable and intimidatory behaviour that we’ve seen lately.”

But his comments were also met with criticism, particularly from those he took aim at including Mr Galloway, who secured almost 40 percent of the vote in a constituency that has a strong Muslim population.

He accused Mr Sunak of using Britain’s Muslim population as a “whipping boy” and treating them as “second class voters”.

“And that’s what he was doing in Downing Street at this time, a despicable and harmful factor,” said the newly elected MP, who has become a divisive figure in British politics in recent decades.

“And secondly, alarmed on the rising help for Palestine, for Gaza in Britain, the try is being made to color these peaceable demonstrators – virtually all the time demonstrating and not using a single arrest being made, with out a lot as a paper cup being dropped – they’re attempting to conflate peaceable democratic protest in Britain with some type of mob, with some type of violence and intimidation.”

Mr Galloway also told Sky News reporter Sam Coates: “I despise the Prime Minister.”

Speaking ahead of today’s scheduled protests, Ben Jamal, director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign, responded to the Prime Minister’s address by suggesting he “look within the mirror” and expel some senior MPs from his party.

Mr Jamal posted on X saying: “So Rishi Sunak desires to cope with ‘extremists’. Maybe he ought to begin with politicians, political commentators and spiritual leaders who help a state, on trial for genocide, in its mass slaughter, and deliberate creation of famine. Not these protesting towards it.

“As for his ire at those who seek to divide us, does he ever look in the mirror, or around his cabinet table? Come back when you’ve kicked Suella Braverman, Robert Jenrick (and) Michael Gove out. That’s just for starters.”

Express.co.uk has contacted the financial institution to ask what extra safety measures it’s taking.